2026 NTU Azalea Festival

As spring begins, National Taiwan University (NTU) campus sees the blossoming of beautiful azaleas and another annual NTU Azalea Festival. The theme of the 2026 NTU Azalea Festival is “As Streams flow with ancient water, youthful dreams dance with azalea flowers,” showcasing NTU’s unique natural landscape, cultural history, and youthful vitality. To expand the celebration of the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Azalea Festival, the university announced “The Beauty of NTU Photography Contest,” encouraging crowds to capture the splendid visuals for NTU and setting up for the centennial celebration.

This "30th Anniversary of the Azalea Festival and the Beauty of NTU" Photography Contest, themed "Silhouettes of Time: The Beauty of NTU," calls for photographic works focusing on campus scenes, human portraits, and campus memories. Photography enthusiasts are invited to record NTU's cultural heritage and youthful spirit through their lenses. The award ceremony is scheduled for 2027, with the works exhibited in both online and physical formats. All collected images will also be archived in the "Beauty of NTU" image database, providing resources for future activities and promotional materials for university departments, fulfilling multiple purposes with this one contest.

One of the highlight events of the Azalea Festival is the Department Expo and the Student Club Expo. Through meticulously designed exhibitions and orientations by NTU's departments, as well as brilliant performances and sharing by student clubs, students and their parents get to familiarize with the learning resources and campus life.

In addition to showcasing the features of each department at the Department Expo, this year, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST)—both members of the National Taiwan University System (NTU System)—have also set up booths. This allows students and parents to simultaneously explore the characteristics and resource integration achievements of leading comprehensive, normal, and technological universities. Meanwhile, the Student Club Expo will present the diverse talents of students and the vitality of club culture.

Furthermore, to accommodate students unable to attend in person, the online Department Expo platform has been established and continually improved. In addition to livestreams and introductions hosted by individual departments, it incorporates digital interactive elements for more immersive user experience. The platform will be updated after the festival concludes, serving as a vital channel for showcasing NTU's teaching and research achievements.

NTU President Wen-Chang Chen stated that the Department Expo allows visiting high school students to understand the specializations of various departments and institutes. NTU currently offers 283 Specialization Programs, with approximately one-third of graduates obtaining specialization certificates. An increasing number of students are also choosing the University Interdisciplinary Bachelor's Degree and the College Interdisciplinary Bachelor's Degree. In the future, upon graduation, NTU students will possess more than just a single degree; they will demonstrate the outcomes of interdisciplinary learning, empowering them to independently construct cross-disciplinary bachelor's degrees with greater direction and depth. He added that alongside interdisciplinary learning, cultivating a global perspective is also vital for students. To those ends, NTU’s Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of International Affairs have implemented the "NTU Beyond Borders" program, expanding annual subsidies for students to undertake overseas internships and studies.

President Chen also pointed out that the D-School @ NTU is undertaking the "Internship with CEOs” Program. A total of 19 enterprises are participating, offering exclusive internship opportunities directly under corporate chairpersons and CEOs to gain in-depth insights into corporate management, leadership, and decision-making processes. Additionally, with the support of alumni foundations, students from the three universities of the NTU System will soon have opportunities to participate in overseas innovation and entrepreneurship courses to broaden their horizons and capabilities.

NTNU President Yao-Ting Sung remarked that the Azalea Festival infuses an atmosphere of youth and joy into the typically solemn halls of academic research, attracting more young students to explore the curriculum features of the three NTU System universities. NTUST Vice President Chao-Cheng Wang noted that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the NTU System. Systems such as cross-campus course enrollment are operating very smoothly, providing students across the three universities with more options, and the institutions will continue to collaborate even more closely in the future.

Aside from the main events, university units have joined in hosting activities, from guided tours of the campus, NTU Museums, farm experiences, humanities and science-themed exhibitions, and interactive experiences. Campus shops and the surrounding commercial districts also launch special merchandise and limited-time discounts, allowing visitors to enjoy the most of the campus spring. The blooming status of the azaleas and event information are available on the Azalea Festival website. By fill out an online questionnaire, the participants get a chance to win limited-edition souvenirs.

For more event details, please refer to the official NTU Azalea Festival website:https://event.ntu.edu.tw/azalea/2026/index.html

"30th Anniversary of the Azalea Festival and the Beauty of NTU" Photography Contest Guidelines:https://event.ntu.edu.tw/azalea/2026/ntuphoto.html