The 2026 Railway Bento Festival kicked off on Friday, June 5, at Taipei Main Station, with the ringing of the train departure bell. Deputy Transportation Minister Wu Sheng-yuan (伍勝園) spoke at the event, stating that the festival has become an important platform connecting tourism, culture, design, and international exchange, allowing Taiwan's railway culture to reach the international stage and showcasing Taiwan's creativity and strength to the world.

Wu said that railways are a vital artery of national development, and railway bento boxes represent the warmest and most thoughtful element. He elaborated that the number of exhibitors has exceeded previous years, with 15 international railway companies from Japan and various other countries, demonstrating that Taiwan's railway culture is going global.

Taiwan Railway Corp. (TR) Chairman James Jeng (鄭光遠) said that this year's festival, themed "A New Era of Bento Travel," is the best stage to showcase the concrete realization of the valuable and mutually beneficial relationship between rail economy and rail tourism.

Jeng underscored that through the three main aspects of inheritance, innovation, and sustainability, the TR is working to allow everyone to rediscover the value of railway bento boxes. In addition to incorporating railway history elements, it has also partnered with eel farmers in Pingtung and Yunlin to launch high-quality farmed fish products, and the agriculture ministry to promote Taiwan's seasonal fresh fruits and other specialty products. He said he hopes everyone can experience the blissful taste of Taiwan's railway culture.