'Culture Points' cash to be available for 13-22-year-olds in 2026

Taipei, Dec. 29 (CNA) Taiwan residents aged 13-22 will be eligible to claim NT$1,200 (US$38.32) in cash handouts, known as Culture Points, from Jan. 1, 2026, to spend on cultural activities or at related venues, the Ministry of Culture (MOC) said Monday.

The program, which was launched in 2023 to encourage more young adults to participate in cultural activities and boost Taiwan's cultural and creative sectors, was originally only open to 18-21-year-olds.

It was expanded in 2024 to include 16-17-year-olds, and in 2025 began offering NT$600 in Culture Points to children aged 13-15 on a trial basis.

At a news conference Monday, Culture Minister Li Yuan (李遠) said the program would be expanded once again in 2026, by making all Taiwanese residents aged 13-22 eligible for NT$1,200 in Culture Points.

From Jan. 1, citizens of Taiwan and eligible foreign nationals born between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2013, will be able to claim NT$1,200 in handouts digitally through an MOC app, the ministry said.

The points, each equivalent to NT$1, can be used at designated independent bookstores, record stores, live music events and venues, cultural parks, bazaars and screenings of Taiwanese films.

They must be used during the calendar year 2026. In 2025, foreign nationals with alien permanent resident certificates or spouse-based resident visas who met the age requirements were eligible to claim Culture Points.

The points can be spent using a QR code. Children without smartphones can contact the MOC's customer service line to apply for a paper-based QR code, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the ministry noted that over 80 percent of those eligible had used their 2025 Culture Points as of Monday, spending nearly NT$1.5 billion.