2026 Taiwan Culture Day Concert at Yongle Market Spotlights Folk Legends, Emerging Artists

The 2026 Taiwan Culture Day concert opened grandly at 6:00 p.m. today in the plaza in front of Taipei’s Yongle Market, marking the climax of the one-day cultural festival with a cross-generational musical feast. The commemorative concert featured heavyweight figures in the Taiwanese folk scene, including folk master Chen Mingzhang, Fang Youxin, and Zheng Yifen, as well as musicians from different eras such as the band A Root and the Shengxiang Band, showcasing the diversity and legacy of Taiwan’s musical culture.

Held annually since 2019, Taiwan Culture Day aims to promote the diverse development of Taiwanese culture and strengthen public identification with local heritage. This year’s concert serves not only as a review of the achievements of cultural policies over the past decade but also as a vision for the future direction of culture. The venue, the plaza in front of the historic Yongle Market, blends the atmosphere of a long-standing marketplace with modern music, symbolizing Taiwan’s cultural characteristic of coexisting tradition and innovation.

As one of the pioneers of Taiwanese folk music, Chen Mingzhang is renowned for his concise and sincere lyrics, having frequently incorporated local Taiwanese languages into his works to become a representative figure of the genre. Fang Youxin combines unique folk adaptations with modern music, presenting traditional pieces from a new perspective and winning the favor of younger audiences. Zheng Yifen, with her deep voice and interpretation of classical folk songs, brings the historical layers of Taiwanese music to the stage.

A Root and the Shengxiang Band represent the creative and performative styles of a new generation of Taiwanese musicians. A Root pushes Taiwan’s multilingual cultural landscape onto the international stage through creative music that blends Hokkien, Hakka, and English. The Shengxiang Band, known for its rhythmic rock style, fuses folk elements with modern rock to create a distinctive musical identity. The participation of these two bands ensures that the concert is not only a tribute to traditional folk music but also an exploration of the future development of Taiwanese music.

This cross-generational concert allows audiences to enjoy performances by musicians from different eras and, through the language of music, conveys the resonance of Taiwan’s multiculturalism. From Chen Mingzhang’s classic folk songs to Fang Youxin’s innovative adaptations, and further to the modern styles of A Root and the Shengxiang Band, each piece of music acts as a journey through time, guiding listeners from the past toward the future. The event also highlights the core philosophy of Taiwan Culture Day: while respecting history, it encourages bold innovation, ensuring that Taiwanese culture continues to shine on the global stage.

(Source: Central News Agency)