The 2026 Changhua Children’s Arts Festival officially opened on the morning of June 18 at Yuanlin Performance Hall with the lively opening event I FUN ArtStart. This year's opening program featured a wide range of highlights, including an original family musical, interactive family challenge games, a family light-and-shadow exhibition, and the Fire Department's Little Firefighter Summer Camp. A centerpiece of the opening ceremony was the unveiling of the mosaic artwork Come for Tea by National Taiwan Normal University Honorary Professor Chen Ching-Jung, a renowned artist and Changhua native. Centered on Taiwan's tea-serving culture, the artwork echoes the festival's welcoming theme, "Just Come In," inviting everyone to step into Yuanlin Performance Hall, connect with one another, and experience the joy of the performing arts. County Mayor Wang Hui-Mei invited families from across Taiwan to visit the venue before August 29 to enjoy a variety of performances and workshops, embark on a magical theatrical journey, and immerse themselves in the boundless charm of the performing arts.  
 
County Mayor Wang expressed her gratitude to Council Speaker Hsieh Dian-Lin and all county council members for their strong support of the budget for arts promotion. In addition to the mosaic artwork created by living national treasure Chen Ching-Jung, the festival features a series of high-quality productions, including family musicals presented by Punctum Creative and MIT Animals Paradise. Parent-child challenge activities are also planned, featuring five drama-themed challenge stations and firefighting experience activities that combine fun with learning, allowing children to develop both artistic appreciation and basic fire safety knowledge. The Family Light and Shadow Art Exhibition also offers an immersive sensory experience through the gallery Flowing Time, Light, Shadows and Sound. 
 
County Mayor Wang noted that ticket sales have already exceeded 70%, while all workshop sessions have sold out. Visitors purchasing tickets on-site at Yuanlin Performance Hall can also enjoy special promotions, including a chance to win prizes with purchases of NT$400 or more and a 15% discount when purchasing tickets for two performances.  
 
Honorary Professor Chen Ching-Jung explained that the phrase "Come for Tea" is one of Taiwan's warmest expressions of hospitality. Growing up in Changhua, he often heard neighbors warmly invite one another to "come for tea," which became the inspiration for this mosaic artwork. 
 
The Cultural Affairs Bureau announced that the Children's Arts Festival Great Theater Gathering series features five outstanding productions. On July 25, Cloud Gate Family Theater will present One Thousand and 5678 Nights, inviting children on an adventure through music and movement. On July 26, Co-coism will perform I, Have a Question?, encouraging audiences of all ages to rediscover the world through a child's eyes. On August 1, 4 Goods Studio will present Live Happily Ever After, offering families an opportunity to reflect on life and explore the meaning of happiness together. On August 8, Slasher Ensemble Theatre will stage Whale, Where Are You Going?, winner of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe WOW Award, recommended by The Guardian and acclaimed with five-star reviews. The festival concludes on August 29 with Guang Xing Ge Puppet Theatre's A Foreigner's Journey in Taiwan – Theater Edition, allowing parents and children to experience the charm of the Taiwanese language through laughter and storytelling. In addition, from now until August 9, Slasher Ensemble Theatre will present the parent-child exhibition Flowing Time, Light, Shadows and Sound – Whale, Where Are You Going? in the exhibition hall of Yuanlin Performance Hall. The exhibition invites visitors of all ages to accompany a young boy on a journey to Changhua to visit his grandfather while enjoying an immersive sensory experience. 
 
Holders of tickets for the 2026 Changhua Children's Arts Festival can also enjoy discounts and special offers at participating cultural and arts partner stores, making a visit to Yuanlin even more rewarding. Tickets are available through OPENTIX at https://pse.is/92pnum or via the Yuanlin Performance Hall event webpage at https://performance.bocach.gov.tw/News_Toggle.aspx?n=6970&sms=13093