TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Creative Expo Taiwan kicked off its annual creative brands exhibition Tuesday at Taipei’s Nangang Exhibition Center, marking the largest edition in the event’s history.
This year’s showcase centers on three key themes: IP licensing, cultural and creative branding, and cross-industry collaboration. A total of 426 exhibitors from 10 countries and regions are participating, presenting more than 650 intellectual properties and brands across 932 booths.
International participation has surged, with the number of overseas exhibitors tripling compared to last year. Over 60 global buyers are attending, and more than 360 matchmaking sessions have been scheduled, organizers said.
Running alongside the main exhibition, IP Star Pop Park features 34 original Taiwanese IP characters in a 360-degree immersive display, organized into five themed zones with photo opportunities.
This year also sees a record number of cross-sector collaborations. A total of 35 brands from nine major industries—including transportation, lifestyle, and retail—have partnered to integrate cultural innovation into daily life.
One highlight is an iPass card, inspired by the event’s visual theme, “Water Scapes,” designed by Yang Shi-ching (楊士慶). It aims to bring cultural aesthetics into routine experiences such as commuting.
Meanwhile, local craft brewery Sunmai has introduced limited-edition beer packaging based on the same theme and is serving fresh draft beer at the venue.
According to the Ministry of Culture, these initiatives reflect the event’s vision of making culture as fluid and pervasive as water—seamlessly integrated into everyday life, from eating and drinking to shopping and traveling.
The exhibition is open exclusively to professional buyers on Tuesday and Wednesday. General admission begins Thursday and runs through Aug. 11. Throughout the week, IP Star Pop Park will host licensing forums, one-on-one meetings, and exclusive buyer events—fostering global opportunities for Taiwanese IP while inviting the public to celebrate local creativity.
