The 7th Taiwan Cittaslow Annual Meeting and Forum was held from August 12 to 14, 2026, in Majia Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan. Under the theme “How AI Can Help Protect Traditional Culture and Support Sustainable Tourism,” the event brought together 36 international guests from Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and the United States. Cittaslow Corea Network Coordinator Bon Son also joined the event in Taiwan. Jointly organized by the Cittaslow Taiwan Committee and Nanhua University, the three-day event provided an opportunity for international partners to share experiences in promoting Cittaslow values and sustainable local development, while strengthening international exchange and mutual learning.
The forum featured Cittaslow representatives and experts from different countries, who shared practical experiences in technology applications, local knowledge, traditional culture preservation, and sustainable tourism. Discussions explored how emerging technologies can help safeguard local cultures and ways of life in an era of rapid development. For the first time, members of the Cittaslow Taiwan Committee were also invited to share their experiences alongside international speakers, with a total of 15 sharing sessions. The sessions provided an opportunity for participants from different communities to exchange their practical experiences and approaches to Cittaslow development.
Cittaslow Taiwan Committee Chairman and Sanyi Township Mayor Ming-Chung Lu noted that the 2nd Taiwan Cittaslow Town Selection Program was also held during the annual meeting. Six awards were presented to encourage member towns to showcase their local, cultural preservation efforts, and innovative practices. The program provided an opportunity for Cittaslow towns to learn from and exchange experiences with one another, demonstrating the diverse ways in which Cittaslow values are being put into practice across Taiwan. Nanzhuang Township and Chihshang Township received the same score and jointly received the Cittaslow Future (Best Cittaslow Innovation Award), highlighting the diverse achievements and innovative approaches of Cittaslow towns in Taiwan.
In addition to the forum and exchange sessions, the three-day program invited international guests to explore Majia Township through Indigenous cultural experiences, traditional crafts, food and environmental education, as well as participation in the Majia Harvest Festival and Township Sports Games. Majia Township Mayor Ching-Jen Lo expressed his hope that the event would provide international partners with a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s Indigenous cultures and of how local communities integrate culture, the environment, and everyday life in their pursuit of sustainable development.
The annual meeting also strengthened connections between communities that are working toward international Cittaslow certification. Majia Township is currently actively pursuing international Cittaslow certification, while Kulu Township in Sabah, Malaysia, is also working toward the goal of becoming a Cittaslow. During the annual meeting, the two townships established a sister-township relationship, laying the foundation for future cooperation and mutual learning.
Through the continued efforts of the Cittaslow Taiwan Committee and Cittaslow Friend Nanhua University to promote international exchange, the annual meeting brought together partners from different countries and communities in Majia to share local development experiences and approaches to common challenges. The event demonstrated the diverse achievements of Cittaslow towns in Taiwan in cultural preservation, local innovation, and sustainable development, while further strengthening connections among international Cittaslow partners through continued exchange and mutual learning. Together, the participating communities continue to explore local development models that are culturally distinctive, sustainable, and livable.