Taipei takes its performing arts seriously. The national theater and concert hall stand on Liberty Square, the city has a newer arts center by Rem Koolhaas's firm OMA up by Shilin Night Market, and between them and the smaller stages there is something on most nights: orchestras, dance, theater and traditional opera. Most of it is easy for visitors: the big venues sell through OPENTIX, which has an English service for foreigners, and both main venues are steps from an MRT exit.
National Theater & Concert Hall
- Address No. 21-1, Zhongshan S. Rd., Zhongzheng District (Liberty Square)
- Building hours 11:30 to 21:00
- Box office OPENTIX counter at Gate 1 of the National Theater and of the Concert Hall, daily 12:00 to 20:00
- MRT Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station (Red Line, R08; Green Line, G10), Exit 5
The National Theater & Concert Hall (國家兩廳院) are the two halls on Liberty Square, in front of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: the National Theater (國家戲劇院) and the National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳). Designed by the architect Yang Cho-cheng and completed in 1987, they are Taiwan's national stage for theater, dance, opera and classical music.
The program runs all year. The flagship events are the Taiwan International Festival of Arts (TIFA), the NTCH Summer Jazz series and the Artquake Autumn Festival. Guided tours of the buildings are also offered; see the NTCH site for times.
Getting home. From Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station the last trains leave at 00:32 toward Tamsui, 00:48 toward Guangci/Fengtian Temple, 00:23 toward Songshan and 00:54 toward Xindian. The last connection to the Blue Line at Taipei Main Station leaves at 00:32.
Combine a show with the square itself: → Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Taipei Performing Arts Center
- Address No. 1, Jiantan Rd., Shilin District
- Building hours Tuesday to Sunday 12:00 to 21:00; closed Mondays
- MRT Jiantan Station (Red Line, R15), Exit 3, about 2 minutes on foot
The Taipei Performing Arts Center (臺北表演藝術中心) opened on August 7, 2022. Designed by Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten of OMA, it has three theaters: the Grand Theater (大劇院), the spherical Globe Playhouse (球劇場) and the Blue Box (藍盒子). It hosts the city's Taipei Arts Festival and Taipei Fringe Festival, and visitors can walk a public loop through the building or join a guided tour. The Metro has even added its name to the station: Jiantan (Taipei Performing Arts Center).
The center is a short walk from Shilin Night Market, so dinner before the show is easy. From Jiantan Station the last trains leave at 00:33 toward Guangci/Fengtian Temple (through Taipei Main Station) and 00:47 toward Tamsui.
TaipeiEYE: Taiwanese and Peking opera for visitors
- Shows Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 20:00
- Tickets NT$800, free seating; half price for visitors over 65; 15% off for students and children 4 to 12
- Address No. 113, Sec. 2, Zhongshan N. Rd. (enter from Jinzhou St.)
- MRT Shuanglian Station (Red Line, R12), Exit 2; Minquan W. Rd. Station (R13, O11), Exit 8; or Zhongshan Elementary School Station (Orange Line, O10), Exit 2
TaipeiEYE (臺北戲棚) puts on short evening shows of traditional theater for visitors, in runs of a few weeks each. The late-2026 program alternates Taiwanese opera (The Mermaid's Tale) with Peking opera (The Leopard, then Monkey King Fights the Skeleton Demon, running into January 2027). Photos are allowed during the show and applause is welcome at the exciting moments. Book on its website, which is in English, and check the schedule there before you go.
Cloud Gate Theater in Tamsui
- Address No. 36, Lane 6, Sec. 1, Zhongzheng Rd., Tamsui District, New Taipei City
- MRT Tamsui Station (Red Line, R28), Exit 2, then bus 836 to Hobe Fort (Cloud Gate Theater) stop and 3 minutes on foot
The home of Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theatre (雲門舞集) is the Cloud Gate Theater (雲門劇場) on a green hillside in Tamsui, between Hobe Fort and the Tamsui Golf Course, looking out over Guanyin Mountain and the river mouth. It was the first theater in Taiwan built with private donations; the main theater has a little over 400 seats, and there is an outdoor lawn for up to a thousand people.
From Tamsui Station Exit 2, bus 836 stops at Hobe Fort (Cloud Gate Theater), 3 minutes from the door; bus Red 26 stops at Hobe Fort, a 10-minute walk up the tree-lined lane. On some performance nights Cloud Gate runs a shuttle bus between Tamsui Station Exit 2 and the theater, about 15 minutes with no stops; times are on each show's page. Make a day of it: → Tamsui day trip
Tips for a night at the theater
- Buy on OPENTIX for the national venues. Its English service lets visitors register without a Taiwan phone and even order by form; see buying tickets as a foreigner.
- Check the language. Plays are often in Mandarin or Taiwanese, while music and dance need no translation. Look on the program page for the language and any surtitles before you buy.
- Parking discounts exist at both main venues for same-day ticket holders, but the MRT is easier.
For parents: some of these stages also teach. Taipei Performing Arts Center runs a summer musical theater camp, and Cloud Gate has a dance camp for ages 6 to 9. Camps.Asia lists both, along with more kids' camps in Taipei.
Sources
National Theater & Concert Hall (introduction, transportation); OPENTIX (help center); Taipei Performing Arts Center (venue, opening timeline, MRT, theaters); TaipeiEYE (programs, tickets, location); Cloud Gate (Cloud Gate Theater, getting here); Taipei Metro (first and last trains by station). Checked October 2026.