The Northguan Scenic Area Headquarters will hold the “2026 Island Life Festival — Raise the Tide” at Heping Island GeoPark in Keelung from September 19 to 20. The festival’s first official key visual has been unveiled under the annual theme “Island of White Tides: Raise the Tide,” bringing together Keelung’s 400 years of maritime history, Heping Island’s natural landscapes, and contemporary lifestyle aesthetics. Visitors are invited to follow the tides to Heping Island, observe the first ray of sunlight at Alabao Bay, and continue their journey through coastal markets, island picnics, and moonlit music performances, experiencing the island’s captivating scenery at different times of the day.
Heping Island GeoPark is not only home to world-class sunrise views and precious coastal erosion landforms but also serves as an important maritime gateway through which Keelung connects with the world. As Keelung celebrates its 400th anniversary in 2026, the Island Life Festival will take Heping Island as its starting point to reflect on 400 years of maritime activities and the history of encounters among harbors, settlements, and diverse communities. Through music, picnics, markets, guided cultural walks, and sustainability initiatives, the festival will transform the region’s rich maritime culture into an island lifestyle experience that visitors can enjoy, participate in, and share.
For this year’s festival, Heping Island GeoPark will introduce a vintage nautical chart in the background, interweaving Heping Island’s coastal erosion landforms, Keelung Islet, and coastal life scenes to depict an island scenery that transcends time. At the center of the image, a white tent unfurling in the sea breeze will serve as the most distinctive symbol of the “Island of White Tides.” The white color is inspired by sea foams and symbolizes purity, inclusiveness, and sustainability. The tides, meanwhile, represent the cultural energy that has continued to flow, bring people together, and renew itself throughout Keelung’s 400-year history. This imagery brings the city’s memories into contemporary life and makes every visitor who sets foot on the island part of its ongoing story.
The Northguan Scenic Area Headquarters explained that the “2026 Island Life Festival” will connect the island’s daily scenery through the theme “Sunrise over Alabao Bay and Moonrise over Heping Island.” Drawing on Heping Island’s distinctive natural environment and maritime culture, the festival aims to establish a tourism brand that combines cultural depth, lifestyle aesthetics, and sustainability. More than a festive gathering, the event seeks to offer the public a fresh perspective on Heping Island: bringing history to life through travel, turning sustainability from an abstract concept into actions that people can experience firsthand, and forging new connections with maritime culture through music and everyday activities.
A Journey Beginning from the First Ray of Sunrise at Alabao Bay: Healing Mantra Sounds and Beach Cleanups Revitalize the Island.
Among the festival’s featured activities is the “Sunrise Aesthetic Experience Tour,” which takes visitors to Alabao Bay to watch the sunrise as the first morning light illuminates the coastal erosion landforms. More than a sightseeing excursion, the experience combines healing mantra sounds with coastal cleanup activities. Through sounds, breathing, environmental observations, and actual actions, festival participants will be able to reconnect with the ocean. As they take in the morning light and the sound of waves, they will be able to slow down and find calm through healing mantra sounds before giving back to the ocean through beach cleanups. In this way, watching the sunrise becomes more than capturing a beautiful view; it becomes a complete experience that encompasses appreciating nature, connecting with the island, and protecting the environment. Participation is limited and requires advance registration. For detailed session schedules, meeting times, and registration requirements, please refer to the announcements on the Sunrise Aesthetic Island Experience official registration webpage.
Seven Acts Across Two Days: Flamenco, Taiwanese-Japanese Music, and Indie Creativity Meet on the Coast
The festival, taking place on September 19 and 20, will feature the “White Tide Night,” “White Tide Picnic,” “Sustainable White Tide Market,” and cross-cultural musical performances. The “White Tide Night” music program will begin at 5:00 p.m. Over the two days, seven performing acts representing a diverse range of styles will take the stage, such as flamenco dance, international musical exchanges, and original works by Taiwanese indie bands, transforming Heping Island into a stage where maritime culture meets diverse musical traditions. On September 19, the MiFuego Flamenco Dance Troupe will kick off the festivities with its dynamic dancing and rhythms. Additionally, Katayama Ryota, Liang He-Xuan, and NUTS, who will take turns performing and engaging in musical dialogues between different cultures and styles amid the sea breeze and moonlight. As dance steps, voices, and instrumental sounds transcend language barriers, they reflect Keelung’s cultural character as a port city that has connected with the world for 400 years. On September 20, performances will continue with SHIMA-IRO BAND, Four Pens, and PillowMutt. Named after an island, SHIMA-IRO BAND will bring the spirit of cross-cultural exchanges to the stage. Four Pens will combine acoustic guitars with keyboards and warm vocals to create delicate indie folk and pop music. Having toured Japan and other destinations, the band reflects this year’s theme of exchanges among island communities. PillowMutt, meanwhile, will bring the creative energy of a new-generation indie band, bringing the two-day festival to a close with a musical finale that captures both youthful vitality and the coast atmosphere.
In addition to the musical performances, the festival will feature the Sustainable White Tide Market and White Tide Picnic, inviting visitors to browse the market in the sea breeze and savor local flavors. The White Tide Picnic lawn party will encourage attendees to dress in white, transforming Heping Island’s natural landscapes into a vibrant cultural space infused with everyday lifestyle aesthetics. The festival will also incorporate the “Keelung 400 Island Guided Cultural Walk,” offering visitors different perspectives on the history of harbors, settlements, and island communities. Together, these activities will showcase Heping Island’s many facets such as morning light, sea breezes, and moonlit evenings.
The Northguan Scenic Area Headquarters invites the public to visit Heping Island in early autumn. Start the day by watching the sunrise at Alabao Bay, finding inner calm through healing mantra sounds, and protecting the coastline through beach cleanup activities; in the afternoon, browse the market and enjoy a picnic; after nightfall, listen to cross-cultural music performances in the sea breeze. By following the changing light and tides throughout the day, visitors will experience firsthand the festival’s unique blend of nature, culture, music, and sustainability under the theme of “Island of White Tides.”
[Event Information]
Event Name: 2026 Island Life Festival
Event Theme: Island of White Tides: Raise the Tide
Dates: Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, September 20, 2026
Main Event Hours: 3:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Venue: Heping Island GeoPark, Keelung
Activities: White Tide Night, White Tide Picnic, Sustainable White Tide Market, cross-cultural musical performances, Sunrise Aesthetic Island Experience, healing mantra sounds, coastal cleanups, the Keelung 400 Guided Cultural Walk, and more.
Performers:
Saturday, September 19: MiFuego Flamenco Dance Troupe, Katayama Ryota, LiangChord, and NUTS
Sunday, September 20: SHIMA-IRO BAND, Four Pens, and PillowMutt
Northguan fan page
North Coast & Guanyinshan National Scenic Area Website
