Hello Kitty is in active cross-promotion across fashion, tech, events, and a live-action film, with a party game announced for late 2026 and a film set for 2028.
Hello Kitty's presence in 2026 is defined by a dense calendar of collaborations and events. In fashion, the character partnered with denim brand SOMETHING for a first-time denim line, with Converse for a 20-item apparel collection sold at PLAZA stores, and with BLACKPINK member Jisoo for a second wave of accessories and bags. A collaboration with Japanese general merchandise chain 3COINS will release over 40 products across three design concepts starting July 18. In tech, Insta360 announced a limited edition Go Ultra camera bundle with Hello Kitty-themed hardware and app features, and Gugenka will bring mixed-reality experiences featuring Hello Kitty and Pompompurin to Sanrio Fest 2026 in Yokohama.
Entertainment offerings are expanding. Bandai Namco announced Hello Kitty Party Land, a party game for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 featuring over 160 Sanrio characters and 40 mini-games, launching October 29. The Awaji Hello Kitty Apple Land facility on Awaji Island is introducing summer-themed merchandise and a new lunch show, Hello Kitty Jazz Caliente!!, running July 2 to September 29. A large touring shopping event, HELLO KITTY'S SWEETS MARKET -Chocolate lovers-, began June 17 at Ginza Mitsukoshi and will visit department stores nationwide through January 2027, offering chocolate-themed limited goods.
On the film front, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema's live-action/animation hybrid Hello Kitty film has David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima as co-directors, with Ramsey Naito producing. The film is scheduled for a worldwide release on July 21, 2028, and will include other Sanrio characters. Pompompurin led the interim results of the 2026 Sanrio Character Ranking at the time of the Sweets Market announcement.
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Hello Kitty's new bag line, the HELLO KITTY MINI SHOULDER BAG COLLECTION, arrives in mid-September at national retail stores for ¥4,290 (tax included). The bags use a 2-way design for hand-carrying or shoulder use, and the included strap allows crossbody wear. The compact bags offer more storage than they appear, in vintage-style faux leather with three color options.
CRONOS will release its second special collaboration collection with Sanrio character Hello Kitty at CRONOS stores and its online store from September 12, 2026. The lineup includes hoodies, tees, leggings, socks, towels, and a mascot. A Hello Kitty greeting event is scheduled the same day at the CRONOS Shinsaibashi store in Osaka.
Fashion brand SORIN and Sanrio's Hello Kitty release their first collaboration collection, SORIN♡HELLO KITTY, on September 3, 2026. The line offers three items: a ribbon bustier, sheer tops, and a layered tank dress, built around the MODERN CONTRAST STYLE concept. Sales begin at sanrio house stores in Tokyo and Osaka plus the official online store.
Avail will sell Kirimi-chan and Hello Kitty merchandise starting August 29 at stores nationwide and online from 12:00 PM the same day. Everyday-use goods include key cases, shopping bags, and die-cut cushions, with a one-item purchase limit per product. The online store also carries apparel like zip hoodies and pants with glittery fabric.
Aville, the fashion and goods retailer, will release a new line of Sanrio character merchandise featuring KIRIMI chan and Hello Kitty starting August 29. The items will be available at all physical store locations nationwide from that date, with the online store opening at noon on the same day. The KIRIMI chan lineup includes everyday-use items such as key cases, shopping bags, and die-cut cushions. Aville has placed a purchase limit of one item per product name per customer for these goods. The apparel portion of the collection will be sold through the online store, with no quantity restrictions. The clothing includes an all-over print zip hoodie and pants, a Hello Kitty embroidered zip hoodie, and pants with rhinestone details made from fabric with glitter. Aville directs customers to its official X account for further details on the release.
Hello Kitty from Sanrio is collaborating with Hobonichi Techo 2027, releasing 17 types of planners and stationery items on September 1, 2026 at 11:00 AM. The designs use the popular Hello Kitty Classic style from the 1970s, with poses exclusive to Hobonichi Techo. The Original size (A6) and Cousin size (A5) planner covers feature Kitty playing with or reading her planner, surrounded by ribbons, apples, and her friend Joey. The weeks weekly planner uses a necktie fabric weave to express Hello Kitty's playful poses, such as sitting neatly to read or putting the planner over her face. Other items include protective covers, the upright storage pouch stappo, the flat pen case comodo, clear files, writing boards, stickers, stamps, and sticky notes. Sales channels include the Hobonichi online store, TOBICHI direct-run stores in Tokyo and Kyoto, Loft stores nationwide, Amazon, and Rakuten. Items will also be sold at the Hobonichi Techo Store opening at Gransta Tokyo on September 16. The collaboration marks Hello Kitty's first appearance in the Hobonichi Techo lineup since 2016.
Madhappy will release its collaboration collection with Sanrio's Hello Kitty in Japan for the first time on Friday, August 21, 2026. The collection, the second between the brands, features graphic T-shirts, shirts, and knitwear inspired by Hello Kitty's playful world, with the cherry as a key design motif. Sales begin at the Madhappy Japan official online store and Madhappy Tokyo Store.
Sanrio's Hello Kitty has collaborated with lifestyle brand Her lip to, led by Haruna Kojima, for a limited collection themed 'LITTLE TREASURES'. The lineup includes tote bags, plush charms, tweed tote bags, camisoles, hair clips, and tees. Advance sales begin at a pop-up store on August 20, 2026.
Sanrio characters Pompompurin, Kuromi, and Hello Kitty are getting special Converse All Star sneakers. The three models launch August 21, 2026, at the Converse official online shop and select stores. Each pair is priced at 13,200 yen and features character-specific details like gingham patterns, embroidery, and ribbon laces.
Sushiro, the conveyor belt sushi chain, announced its first collaboration with Sanrio's Hello Kitty on July 17. The promotion will run in two phases: the first from July 29 and the second from August 19 at Sushiro locations nationwide. The theme is "KAWAUMA HELLO KITTY," with the concept "Cute Hello Kitty meets Sushiro's 'Delicious!'" Phase 1 includes sushi with collaboration picks (8 types) such as mala-style longfin tuna with fried onion, squid with plum and shiso, and shrimp with negitoro wrap. A dessert with collaboration stickers, apple mille crêpe Melba, is also available. Phase 2 offers sushi with clear picks (8 types) including large shrimp and squid with negitoro wrap, plus a dessert with seals, warabimochi and university sweet potato. Additional goods include a Tsukuro Set with a zipper pouch or mini charm, collaboration sheets, and soft drinks with mascots. Special collaboration stores will open in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Aichi, Osaka, and Fukuoka. An SNS campaign will award 20 winners digital meal vouchers.
The HELLO KITTY'S SWEETS MARKET ~Chocolate lovers~ event runs July 8-20 at JR Kyoto Isetan, featuring over 1,000 Sanrio character goods. Event-exclusive chocolate-themed items include plushies, mascots, and collaboration products with Pompompurin, who recently won the 2026 Sanrio Character Ranking with a record 70,647,379 votes.
Japanese general merchandise brand 3COINS will release a line of Hello Kitty collaboration items on July 18, 2026. The collection spans three design concepts and includes over 40 products such as handkerchiefs, bags, pouches, and stationery, with prices starting at 330 yen. Items will be sold at 3COINS locations nationwide and online.
Gugenka will produce two MR experiences at Sanrio Fest 2026 in Yokohama on June 27-28. Visitors can play a shooting game feeding ice cream to Pompompurin and friends, and meet Hello Kitty via VR headsets. The experiences are free for ages 13 and up, with an exclusive keychain available for purchase.
Awaji Hello Kitty Apple Land on Awaji Island, Hyogo, will release summer-themed Hello Kitty goods from June 24, including towel handkerchiefs and die-cut memo pads featuring Otohime and mermaid designs. New cups, bowls, and cutlery arrive July 4, and suntanned T-shirts and blankets from the Awaji Tan Hello Kitty series drop August 1. A new lunch show, Hello Kitty Jazz Caliente!!, runs July 2 to September 29.
Sanrio announced a large shopping event titled "HELLO KITTY'S SWEETS MARKET -Chocolate lovers-" where Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kuromi, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, and Chococat appear in chocolate-themed costumes. The event starts at Ginza Mitsukoshi on June 17, 2026, and tours department stores nationwide through January 2027, offering limited-edition merchandise including plushies, keychains, apparel, and collaboration food items.
Sanrio's Hello Kitty has teamed up with ladies' jeans brand SOMETHING for their first collaboration, releasing a line of denim apparel and accessories. The collection includes boot-cut jeans, bustiers, knitwear, bags, and plush toys, all featuring Hello Kitty designs from the Kao Hana Design Series. Items went on sale June 10, 2026, on SOMETHING's official website.
Bandai Namco announced Hello Kitty Party Land, a new party game featuring over 160 Sanrio characters, during the Nintendo Direct livestream on Tuesday. The game launches for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on October 29. It includes over 40 mini-games, 16 partner characters, and board games for up to four players.
A 20-item apparel collection collaborating Converse with Sanrio's Hello Kitty will launch sequentially from June 11, 2026, at PLAZA stores nationwide. The line includes T-shirts, denim skirts, hats, socks, bags, and pouches featuring designs where Kitty and her twin sister Mimmy peek out from sneakers and shoe cartons.
Insta360 has announced a limited edition Go Ultra camera collaboration with Sanrio's Hello Kitty. The bundle includes a pink camera body with ribbon accents, co-branded accessories like a selfie stick and neck strap, and app features such as a custom connection animation and four exclusive watermarks. It retains the standard Go Ultra's 5nm AI chip and 4K video capabilities, and adds Portrait Mode 2.0 with skin tone optimization and 11 film-style filters. The set goes on sale at Insta360's store and select retailers.
Sanrio announced the large shopping event 'HELLO KITTY'S SWEETS MARKET -Chocolate lovers-' touring department stores nationwide from June 17, 2026, at Ginza Mitsukoshi through January 2027. The event features chocolate-themed limited goods including plush toys, keychains, and apparel centered on Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters. Pompompurin currently leads the 2026 Sanrio Character Ranking interim results.
A second collaboration between BLACKPINK member Jisoo and Hello Kitty will launch June 12, 2026, at Kiddy Land, Tsutaya Bookstore, and other Japanese stores. The lineup includes 14 items such as key charms, tumblers, ballpoint pens, hair accessories, lunch bags, and foldable bags. Key charms come in 11 types including two secret variants.
Deadline reports David Derrick Jr. (Moana 2) and John Aoshima (Ultraman: Rising) are co-directing Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema's live-action/animation hybrid Hello Kitty film. Ramsey Naito joins as producer. The film opens worldwide July 21, 2028, and will include other Sanrio characters.