Japanese Festivals and Fireworks Displays in 2026

Learn the dates of the best summer festivals and fireworks displays in Japan, along with tips on access and how to enjoy these events in 2026.

Written by

Mayu

Previous experience as an editor at a women's media company in Japan. I lived in Australia for a while and joined MATCHA after returning to Japan. In charge of editing, promoting sponsored content, and creative direction. I love watching Western TV series.

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Festivals and Firework Displays in 2026

Festivals and Fireworks Displays in Japan

Summer in Japan is a time of vibrant festivals and firework displays that give us a chance to forget about the heat typical for this season.

If you visit Japan during July and August, don't miss out on these exciting events. While rare, some of these festivals are held in autumn, too! Read on to learn about festivities scheduled to be held this year.

Japanese Festivals and Fireworks in 2025

1. Festivals and Traditional Events
2. Firework Displays in 2025
3. Acces and Tips to Enjoy Japan's Summer Traditions

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Festivals and Traditional Events in 2026

Japanese Festivals and Fireworks Displays in Japan

As of April 2026, the official dates for most festivals from June to August have been announced.

Festival	Annual Schedule	2026 Schedule
Tokyo: Sanja Festival	Mid-May	May 15 - 17
Kyoto: Aoi Festival	May 15	May 15
Kyoto: Gion Festival	July 1 - 31	July 1 - 31
Fukuoka: Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival	July 1 - 15	July 1 - 15
Osaka: Tenjin Festival	July 24 - 25	July 24 - 25
Aomori: Nebuta Festival	Early August	August 2 - 7
Akita: Kanto Festival	Early August	August 3 - 6
Sendai Tanabata Festival	August 6 - 8	August 6 - 8
Kochi: Yosakoi Festival	August 9 - 12	August 9 - 12
Tokushima Awa Odori	August 12 - 15	August 11 - 15
Nagasaki Kunchi Festival	October 7 - 9	October 7 - 9
Takayama Festival (Autumn)	October 9 - 10	N/A
Chichibu Night Festival	December 1 - 6	TBA

Book Shinkansen and train tickets in Japan

Firework Festivals in 2026

Japanese Festivals and Fireworks Displays

Nagahama Kita-Biwako Great Fireworks Festival

Fireworks displays are held annually from June to August. As of April 2026 some of the fireworks have been announced. We will update the following schedule as soon as new dates are released.

Fireworks Event	Annual Schedule	2026 Schedule
Tokyo: Edogawa Fireworks Festival	August 5	August 1
Tokyo: Sumida River Fireworks Festival	End of July	July 25
Tokyo: Katsushika Fireworks Festival	End of July	July 28
Tokyo: Adachi Fireworks Festival	End of July	May 30
Osaka: Tenjin Festival Fireworks Display	End of July	TBA
Saitama: Kumagaya Fireworks Display	Early August	TBA
Osaka: Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival	Early August	October 17
Niigata: Nagaoka Fireworks	Early August	August 2 - 3
Shiga: Nagahama Kita-Biwako Great Fireworks Festival	Early August	TBA
Hyogo: Kobe Minato Hanabi Festival	Early August	TBA
Chiba: Kisarazu Port Festival Fireworks Display	August 15	TBA
Kyoto: Miyazu Toro Nagashi Fireworks Display	Mid August	TBA
Akita: All Japan Fireworks Competition	Last Saturday in August	August 29
Ibaraki: Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition	November 7	N/A

Access and Tips to Enjoy Japan's Summer Traditions

Japanese Festivals and Fireworks Displays Scheduled in 2024

Festivals and fireworks are a signature staple of summer in Japan.
Kyoto's Gion Festival, Osaka's Tenjin Festival, and Tokyo's Kanda Festival, all with a long history, are hailed as the three major festivals in Japan. The Awa Odori Festival in Tokushima, where participants will be dancing all night, and the National Fireworks Competition in Akita, a prefecture renowned for pyrotechnics, will also be welcoming spectators.

There are many types of rail passes for overseas visitors, such as the Japan Rail Pass, which allows unlimited rides on the Shinkansen and limited express trains.

These passes are perfect for those interested in traveling all over Japan or touring a specific region. They are all different, so use them in accordance with your itinerary.

MATCHA has partnered with KLOOK, a site handling rail passes and reservations for numerous programs. Do look for a pass that fits your plans.

There is also a budget-friendly Nippon Rent-A-Car 10% Discount Coupon from MATCHA for tourists visiting Japan.

We hope that you'll enjoy the popular festivals and firework displays in Japan this summer!

Read also

All pictures from Pixta.
This article is a revised 2025 version of the original published in 2020.

Written by

Mayu

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