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2026 In
Facts
- Noted
- Japan Wanko Festa 2026 in Odaiba attracted approximately 80,000 dogs and dog lovers from June 12 to 14 · 2026-06-17
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Oct 5
Square Enix announced the stage lineup for Fan Festival 2026 in Tokyo, the Final Fantasy XIV fan event running October 31 to November 1, 2026. Producer and director Naoki Yoshida gives the keynote on day one and is expected to bring news on the expansion The White Silver Wanderer. Day one also includes the Crystalline Conflict Regional Championship 2026 Japan final, a rapid-fire Q&A, and a paid-stream piano concert with Keiko and guest Amanda Achen. Day two adds a development panel on BGM production with Takafumi Imamura, Daiki Ishikawa and Masayoshi Soken, a LIVE Q&A, the Glamour Collection fashion show, and Naoki's Room with guests including Tatsuomi Hamada, k4sen, SHAKA and Karubi Akami. THE PRIMALS close the event with a paid special live. Most programs outside the music stages stream free, and live viewings of the keynote and THE PRIMALS concert go to Aeon Cinema locations.
Sep 18
Kodansha FES 2026 in Animate runs from October 10 to November 15, 2026 at Animate stores nationwide and Animate mail order. Buyers of eligible Kodansha books and magazines receive one Replica Mini Shikishi drawn from a set of 40 designs. Customers pick a group from A through D, then receive one sheet from it, without choosing the design. Animate mail order distributes the bonus differently, and the source points buyers to the official site for that guidance.
Aug 30
The Re:Zero Starting Emilia's Birthday Life 2026 in Marui pop-up shop celebrates Emilia's September 23 birthday. Newly drawn flower-themed illustrations appear on acrylic stands, can badges, keychains, and more. A purchase bonus offers a short story booklet by original author Tappei Nagatsuki. The event runs at Shibuya MODI from September 19 to 27 and at Kobe Marui from October 3 to 12.
Aug 28
NIGHT HIKE 2026 in Makuhari announced its fourth round of performers, adding nine acts including Takkyu Ishino, Sorashina, and Aiobahn. The festival also revealed the stage assignments for previously announced acts. New project 3M (MAKUHARI MEGA MIX) features 20 acts performing consecutively in a 60-minute nonstop set. The event runs October 31 and November 1 at Makuhari Messe.
Aug 28
Chubu Telecommunications (ctc), JeSU Aichi, and FENNEL announced on August 27, 2026, that they will co-host the joint corporate briefing session "GCEXPO 2026 in Nagoya" on October 4 at Nagono Campus in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. The event targets students actively seeking employment from the graduating classes of 2027 to 2029, regardless of faculty or department. Participation is free, but advance registration is required. In addition to corporate briefing booths, the event will feature esports exhibition matches, seminars related to esports, and game and stage booths. The initiative aims to connect the experience and skills cultivated through games to job hunting, allowing students to present their teamwork, goal achievement efforts, and quick decision-making ability as strengths. For companies, it creates a recruitment channel different from conventional job sites and briefing sessions, particularly connecting them with young people in the Chubu area to expand career options for staying or returning to the region. GCEXPO is a career event FENNEL previously held in Sapporo and Okayama, and this time ctc and JeSU Aichi join as local partners.
Aug 8
The music and art festival NIGHT HIKE 2026 in Makuhari announced its third lineup: 40 artists for a new DJ stage called 3M (MAKUHARI MEGA MIX). Each day, 20 performers get three minutes each for a 60-minute nonstop set. The lineup includes past NIGHT HIKE performers such as Yoshida Yase, KAIRUI, and D.watt.
Aug 7
The DJ unit JAMBORIDE, formed by BANVOX and SEKITOVA, is restarting after three years. The pair will play NIGHT HIKE 2026 in Makuhari on November 1, and will host a clubasia event in Shibuya on August 15 with tofubeats, Haraguchi Sasuke, valknee, and others. New music is in production.
Aug 6
The Final Fantasy XIV Hikari no Nouryou Matsuri 2026 in Shibuya Sakura Stage ran August 1-2. Day one featured a real-world puzzle game, a pop-up shop, a pop-up Eorzea Cafe, and a live program for the Switch 2 version, which launches August 4. The Dancing Green rhythm game drew a 90-minute wait.
Jul 26
The music and art festival NIGHT HIKE 2026 in Makuhari announced its second wave of performers on July 24, adding 10 acts including Kaf, Kizuna AI, Shinichi Osawa, Sasuke Haraguchi, and Kento Kocchi. The total lineup now stands at 47 acts. The event will take place on October 31 and November 1, 2026, at Makuhari Messe Exhibition Halls 9 and 11 in Chiba. This marks the first time the festival, which started in 2023 at Shibuya WOMB, has expanded to a 10,000-person scale at Makuhari Messe. The second-wave lineup also includes Utsu-P meet siinamota, a tribute project commemorating the 10th anniversary of the passing of Vocaloid producer siinamota, with Utsu-P as bandmaster and singer Sou as guest vocalist. Other additions are JAMBORIDE (BANVOX & SEKITOVA), Melty & Mr. Napuru & Andromeda-ko, okadada, and KOTONOHOUSE. The daily lineup was also revealed: Day 1 (October 31) features DUSTCELL, muque, Kairiki Bear, and others; Day 2 (November 1) includes Kaf, Kizuna AI, Shinichi Osawa, PinocchioP, and Natori Sana. Limited early-bird tickets are on sale until July 29, with general tickets priced at 11,000 yen for a one-day pass and 20,000 yen for a two-day pass.
Jun 30
The music and art festival NIGHT HIKE 2026 in Makuhari has released its key visual and first wave of performers, with around 50 artists announced from a total of over 100 acts across two days. The event takes place October 31 and November 1 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, featuring a cross-genre lineup including PinocchioP, Kanzaki Iori, DUSTCELL, and VTuber groups like KMNZ. Advance early bird tickets are on sale now.
Jun 17
FLAFFY Co., Ltd. hosted Japan Wanko Festa 2026 in Odaiba from June 12 to 14, attracting approximately 80,000 dogs and dog lovers. The event featured 180 pet-related brand booths, breed-specific meetups with 1,500 dogs, a dog run, and an Instagram live stream for remote attendees.