Blending cultural heritage, innovations, and trade, the 2025 edition of the Taiwan Cultural and Creative Expo (August 2 – 11, 2025, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park and Nangang Exhibition Center, Taipei) will focus on water as an essential element of daily life, shaping Taiwan’s cultural landscape.
As the largest cultural event for global buyers and domestic professionals, Creative Expo Taiwan serves as an essential, dual platform, perfectly balancing business trade and cultural showcase, highlighting local content and creative trends while also driving economic growth.
“Water Scapes”: Showcasing Taiwan’s Living Water Culture
This year’s theme, “Water Scapes”, informs the concept of the exhibition. Curated by Chief Advisor Jou-Jiun Gong and designers Ellen Peng and Blaire Ko, it includes four thematic areas – “The Island of Seascapes”, a floating installation and audiovisual works that reflect the connection between water, the environment, and cultural memory; “The Realm of Mist”, recreating the atmosphere of mountain mist using fragrances and natural materials, guiding visitors through a sensory journey; “The Spirit of Water”, highlighting myths, rituals, and spiritual traditions related to water among Indigenous, Pingpu, and Han communities; “Taiwan as Endless Streams”, showcasing iconic water-inspired artifacts and creations from various regions across Taiwan.
The ever-shifting nature of water serves as a metaphor for the dynamic and layered identity of Taiwanese cultural expression – ever-moving, crossing boundaries, and continuously transforming itself.
The theme expands beyond the main exhibition to include a curated selection of creative works exploring the cultural significance of water. These range from immersive narratives and films like The River, The Great Buddha+, and Whale Island, to stories of water-based industries – such as Gold Leaf and The Taste of Salt Island – and folk culture publications such as the Taiwan Mazu Calendar and the Taiwan Monster Atlas. Musical and cinematic projects highlight water’s role in identity and ecology – such as Island of Women, Co-Forest, and Reflected River.
Additionally, to deepen public engagement, the Expo will host the special Waterway Walking Tours to offer guided explorations of Taiwan’s water-shaped urban landscapes.
The Programme
With a compelling programme, this year’s event promises to deliver the perfect platform for industry professionals interested in building new relationships and connecting with peers in a creative, inspired environment, bridging cultural curation and commercial exhibitions.
On August 2, the Cultural Curation Pavilion will open at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. The Business & Licensing Pavilion will follow on August 5 at Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1, boasting the largest number of participating IP licensors and creative brands to date.
The business pavilion will set the stage to provide attendees with an insightful overview of Taiwan’s Licensing Industry, highlighting its assets and business opportunities. In the following days, attendees will benefit from an insightful overview of the Licensing industries of Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Europe, while also receiving practical advice for a global expansion of Taiwanese IPs. Taiwanese young talents and creativity will be showcased, with a tour of the exhibition area and one-to-one meetings with Taiwanese IP professionals.
For more information, please visit https://creativexpo.tw/
