The 2026 Cross-Strait (Kunshan) Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival opened on the evening of Sept. 16 in Kunshan, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, the festival organizers said. This year's event has two main lantern display areas, at Huiju Square and Zhouzhuang, along with a cross-Strait art exhibition, a traditional performing arts fair and a "Moonlit Cultural Gathering" in the forest.
At the opening ceremony, commemorative certificates were presented to winners of the seventh "Kunshan Mazu Cup" Youth Lantern Design Competition. The ceremony also included the premiere of Crossing the Sea, an installment in the micro-drama series Wait for Me to Come Home, which draws on the true story of an effort to return a veteran's ashes to his hometown.
The closing ceremony of the sixth Cross-Strait Youth Culture Month was held together with the festival. Launched in July, the two-month initiative has presented more than 70 activities spanning culture and the arts, technological innovation, sports, intangible cultural heritage, and innovation and entrepreneurship, attracting nearly 3,500 young people from Taiwan.
This year's program combines intangible cultural heritage with Taiwan-inspired elements, turning traditional crafts and techniques into illuminated patterns and visual motifs. Visitors can also explore attractions featuring AI-powered visual experiences and interactive installations that use light, sound and multimedia.
Kunshan is one of the Chinese mainland's most active destinations for investment from Taiwan and is home to a large concentration of Taiwan-invested companies, serving as an important hub for economic, trade and cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Strait. The festival was first held in 2013.