Juniper
The 2026 Taiwan IP Expo in Malaysia, organised by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), officially opened today at Oasis Avenue, Sunway Pyramid. Building on the strong response and commercial success of its inaugural edition in Malaysia last year, the expo continues its collaboration with the Malaysia Creative Intellectual Property Association (MYCIP) to further connect Taiwan and Malaysia’s creative content industries.
This year’s edition combines both retail showcase experiences and business matching opportunities, bringing together 12 Taiwanese original character IPs alongside 12 Taiwan–Malaysia cross-border collaborations presented for the first time. Through Malaysia as a regional gateway, the expo aims to create broader opportunities for Taiwanese original IPs to expand into the Southeast Asian market. “Malaysia is not only an important market for Taiwanese original IPs entering Southeast Asia, but also a valuable partner in driving regional creative and cultural collaborations.
Taiwan and Malaysia share many similarities in both cultural background and industry landscape, which gives us strong confidence in the future potential for IP licensing partnerships and industry exchange between both sides. This year, beyond bringing 12 Taiwanese original character IPs to Malaysia, we are also strengthening business matching, cross-border collaborations and retail partnerships. Through these efforts, we hope Taiwanese original IPs can not only gain greater visibility, but also successfully enter regional markets and create broader opportunities together with our Malaysian partners,” said Yang Chung-Tian, TAICCA Deputy CEO.
Expanding Taiwan IPs into Southeast Asia Through Malaysia This year’s expo features a curated selection of 12 original Taiwanese IPs, spanning feel-good characters, pet-inspired worlds, contemporary design, and illustrated storytelling.
Among the highlights are:
● Kittensisland, one of the top-performing IPs at last year’s Malaysia debut, achieving the second-highest sales on-site
● Takokuma, which has successfully entered the Japan and Korea markets through its original animation and illustrated storytelling
● Kuroro Space Exploration Team, which has built a strong following across Thailand, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore through books and merchandise.
Beyond product showcases, the event places a stronger emphasis on commercialisation and market integration, enabling Taiwanese IPs to engage more actively with local consumers, creators and business partners.
12 Taiwan–Malaysia Collaborations Debut, Showcasing Cross-Cultural Creativity
A key highlight of this year’s edition is the debut of the Taiwan–Malaysia Crossover Art Exhibition, featuring 12 collaborative works between creators from both markets. These partnerships reinterpret original characters through a cross-cultural lens, combining Taiwan’s creative identity with Malaysian cultural influences.
Participating Malaysian creators include well-known names such as Bichi Mao, local webcomic Relaxed Comics, designer Jefferson Ng, alongside emerging talents from Malaysia’s illustration and design scene. “This year marks the second edition of Taiwan IP Expo Malaysia, and we are encouraged by the stronger response compared to last year. It reflects the growing potential for deeper exchange between Taiwan and Malaysia’s IP industries. Through the Taiwan-Malaysia IP Collaboration Initiative, we hope to spark more creative and commercial collaborations and eventually create more opportunities for Malaysian original IPs to be introduced to Taiwan,” said Lau Shaw Ming, President of Malaysia Creative Intellectual Property (MYCIP).
Business Matching and Public Engagement Strengthen IP Ecosystem
In addition to the exhibition, the expo features expanded business matching sessions, connecting stakeholders across branding, retail, licensing, publishing and content industries. Compared to last year, the scale of industry participation has grown, reflecting rising demand for original IP and licensed content in Southeast Asia.
On the public front, visitors can experience a range of interactive elements including:
● AR-powered games
● Character mascot appearances
● Creator sharing sessions
● Exclusive merchandise showcases
TAICCA has also partnered with Sunway Pyramid on a spend-and-redeem campaign, further driving visitor engagement and on-ground participation.
From Showcase to Localisation: Building Long-Term IP Growth
Taiwanese IPs are increasingly evolving beyond simple character showcases into deeper forms of localisation and market development. For instance, Kittensisland has initiated localised content in Malaysia, drawing inspiration from the country’s multicultural festive traditions to create region-specific products and designs.
As the IP and creative economy continues to grow, original characters are no longer limited to visual identity, they are expanding into publishing, animation, retail, brand collaborations and experiential engagement.
The Taiwan IP Expo Malaysia 2026 serves as a structured platform to bridge Taiwan’s creative ecosystem with Southeast Asia, creating new opportunities for creators, brands and industry players on both sides.
The five-day expo runs until May 24, 2026, and is open to the public at Oasis Avenue, Sunway Pyramid, offering visitors the opportunity to explore exhibitions, experience interactive installations and discover exclusive merchandise.
Featured Taiwan–Malaysia IP Collaborations
● Pee Yong × 阿喵菜市场 (Market the Cat)
● 鹅不是鸭 (GooseDay) × 鲨鱼先生 (Mr. Shark)
● bao doodle × 妯米 (Nozomii)
● 猫人 (Nekojin Workshop) × 小猫岛 (Kittensisland)
● 果酱日常 (iAdoptedACat) × 动物警探达克比 (Duckbill – The Animal Detective)
● Ahmek × 酷樂樂 (Kuroro)
● Ah-B BlowWater × AH!Q
● Lok × doudle studio
● Jefferson Ng × 章鱼熊 (Takokuma)
● Michael Chuah（幽灵猫样 Yuurei Neko Sama）× 鯊童宇宙 (Shark Boy Universe)
● Bichi Mao × 丑白兔 (Ugly rabbit)
● 无谓君 (Nothingwejun) × Bounce
