The rich and diverse Taipei Theatre Awards program is focused on recognizing outstanding performances and innovative achievements in contemporary Taiwanese plays and musicals. For its first edition, there are 11 categories which include awards for productions, individuals, and special contributions. They include Best Play, Best Musical, Best Independent Spirit, Best Director, Best Actor/Actress in a Play, Best Actor/Actress in a Musical, Best Playwriting, and Best Theatrical Design.

Nominations for the Special Contribution Award are made not only by a jury of theatre observers, but also by the general public. This award highlights the value of theatre in terms of reflecting society from different perspectives and honors individuals or organizations for their special contributions to and achievements in contemporary theatre in Taiwan. With the establishment of these award categories, every theatre professional has the opportunity to showcase themselves and to receive well-deserved recognition and honor.

All contemporary theatre productions performed for the public in a theatre in Taipei City (including publicly owned and operated, publicly owned and privately operated, and publicly owned rented venues) for which there are official tickets sales for at least three shows are eligible to be considered for the Taipei Theatre Awards for the year they are performed. A preliminary review is conducted by a jury of theatre observers who watch performances on site and vote for the works they consider outstanding and worthy of further review. Once the final review committee selects the shortlisted works, a final review is held in the summer of the year following the performance to select the winners in each category which are announced during the awards ceremony.