“2026 Kaohsiung Wonderland” is set to run from February 7, 2026, to March 1, 2026 at Love River Bay (愛河灣) and Kaohsiung Port Piers 16 to 18 (高雄港16–18號碼頭). The theme centers on Ultraman, combining large installations, night lighting, interactive shows, and a pier-side amusement zone designed for photos, families, and collectors.
Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) framed the story as “Ultraman arriving in the harbor city,” but with a local twist: a tribute to everyday frontline workers. His message is short and sticky: “Superheroes don’t necessarily need capes.”
FamilyMart turns the festival into an everyday collectible hunt
The event is not only on the waterfront. It’s also showing up in your commute. Kaohsiung’s Tourism Bureau and FamilyMart are teaming up for the third year, using limited items to push the festival vibe into daily routines. According to reporting and official info, the rollout includes: Ultraman co-branded Let’s Café and Let’s Tea cup designs starting February 4, 2026, a Q-style cup plug-on accessory for NT$59 starting February 11, 2026 (with purchase conditions), and a finale “tap-to-flash” light-up wristband giveaway from February 27, 2026 to March 3, 2026 with a minimum spend threshold.
Last year proved Kaohsiung can turn hype into hotel nights
This strategy is not a one-off. Last year’s IP-led event (the 2025 “Chiikawa” theme) was reported to draw over 6 million visits and generate over NT$100 billion in tourism value, with lodging occupancy commonly above 80%, and over 90% during the holiday period. That’s the real reason 2026’s Ultraman theme feels like it’s going to land: Kaohsiung already has a tested “flow” from waterfront crowds to food, lodging, and late-night spending.
| What | Figure | Time window |
|---|---|---|
| Kaohsiung Wonderland (Ultraman theme) dates | Feb 7, 2026 to Mar 1, 2026 | 2026 |
| FamilyMart Ultraman collab cup designs | Starts Feb 4, 2026 | 2026 |
| Cup accessory add-on | NT$59 (with purchase conditions) | From Feb 11, 2026 |
| Light-up wristband giveaway | Spend NT$688 to qualify | Feb 27, 2026 to Mar 3, 2026 |
| 2025 IP-themed winter event impact (reported) | Over 6 million visits; over NT$100 billion tourism value; lodging commonly above 80% and above 90% during holidays | Jan 25, 2025 to Feb 16, 2025 |
| Taiwan convenience store scale (industry) | NT$423.5 billion revenue in 2024; about 14,000 stores nationwide | 2024 |
Zoom out, and the timing gets even more interesting: Tsuburaya Productions launched the Ultra Series 60th Anniversary Project in 2025, planned to run for about two and a half years, with Japan-hosted “ULTRAMAN EXHIBITION” tour dates listed for 2026 (April to September). Kaohsiung’s February 2026 waterfront run lands right in that anniversary window, giving the city a chance to catch the wider wave of international fan attention, not just local holiday traffic.
Sources & References
Event dates, venue, programming highlights (updated Jan 16, 2026) — Kaohsiung Travel (khh.travel);
Mayor framing and “unsung heroes” theme — Kaohsiung Travel News (khh.travel) and CNA;
FamilyMart collaboration details (cup designs, NT$59 add-on, NT$688 threshold) — CNA and Liberty Times Playing;
2025 Chiikawa theme: reported visits, tourism value, and lodging occupancy — CNA;
Convenience store market scale (2024 revenue, store count) — UDN;
Ultra Series 60th Anniversary Project timeline — Tsuburaya Productions.
