Takao Rock

Takao Rock (打狗祭 — 'Takao' is the old name for Kaohsiung) is the city's flagship rock and indie festival, staged at the striking waterfront Kaohsiung Music Center (KMC). For the venue's fifth birthday the 2026 edition expands into a programme spanning the whole of October: the free two-day core, billed 'Hi-ing 5', runs 10–11 October across five zones and three stages; a ticketed 'KMC Select' concert follows on 17 October; and 'V FUTURE PARTY', a VTuber music festival in three sessions, closes the run on 31 October. It's a showcase of Taiwanese rock and indie in one of the country's boldest new music buildings, right on the Love River waterfront.

Partial. Taiwanese-language rock band Sorry Youth (拍謝少年) is confirmed to headline a ticketed 'Noise Zone (噪音特區)' concert on 10 October. The rest of the 2026 bill — including the free outdoor stages — is still being announced; watch the official site and socials.

1. The festival's outdoor stages are free. In recent editions Takao Rock runs free open-air stages (the 'Coral' and 'Sea Urchin' stages) — just show up, no ticket needed.
2. Some special concerts are ticketed. Headline indoor/'Noise Zone' shows (e.g. Sorry Youth on 10 Oct) are sold separately, typically via OPENTIX (Taiwan's NTCH ticketing site). OPENTIX takes international Visa/Mastercard; you register with an email and don't need a Taiwan phone or ID.
3. No real-name ticketing. Paid tickets aren't tied to your ID.

Route: From Kaohsiung Airport (KHH), take the MRT Red Line to Formosa Boulevard (美麗島), transfer to the Orange Line and get off at Yanchengpu (鹽埕埔, O2) — the Music Center is about a 10-minute walk on the waterfront. The Circular Light Rail also stops right by KMC (真愛碼頭 / 駁二大義).

Staying: The Yancheng / Pier-2 (駁二) district around the venue is full of hotels, hostels, cafés and the Pier-2 Art Center — a good base that keeps you walking distance from the stages.