HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026 takes over Olympia London on 24–26 July — the UK’s biggest Japanese culture festival, with 30,000+ attendees, 500+ exhibitors, live J-pop performances, food, workshops, cosplay, and anime. Tickets are on sale now from £28.35.
What Is HYPER JAPAN Festival?
HYPER JAPAN is the UK’s largest annual celebration of Japanese culture, running since 2010. It covers everything from J-pop concerts and anime screenings to traditional crafts, food, fashion, gaming, and cosplay — all under one roof at Olympia London.
This year’s festival moves to the Grand Hall at Olympia and is shaping up to be the biggest edition yet, with a stacked music lineup, 500+ exhibitors in the HYPER MARKET, a dedicated Japanese Traditional Market Area, and an expanded workshop programme.
Music Lineup
Confirmed acts for each day:
- Friday 24 July: QUEEN BEE, UPIKO, THE SIXTH LIE
- Saturday 25 July: avantgardey, Eir Aoi, THE SIXTH LIE
- Sunday 26 July: Voice actor Chiaki Kobayashi, avantgardey
QUEEN BEE are known for their anime tie-ins including Tokyo Ghoul:re, OSHI NO KO, and Chainsaw Man. Eir Aoi is one of Japan’s most prominent anime singers. THE SIXTH LIE performed the ending themes for Golden Kamuy (seasons 1 and 3) and the opening theme for A Certain Scientific Railgun.
What to Expect
HYPER MARKET
500+ exhibitors across anime collectables, Japanese fashion, beauty, gaming, and a brand-new Japanese Traditional Market Area with authentic heritage crafts.
Food Hall
Onigiri, melon-pan, takoyaki, yakisoba, sashimi, sake, matcha — a full spread of Japanese food and drink.
Workshops
Japanese tea ceremony, calligraphy, origami, kintsugi, kimono dressing, Awa Odori dance, and a Jujutsu masterclass. Workshop tickets require a separate add-on purchase alongside a general admission ticket. Spaces are limited — book in advance.
Cosplay
HYPER JAPAN is one of the UK’s biggest cosplay gatherings. All styles welcome.
Ticket Information
- General Admission: from £28.35 per day
- Multi-day tickets: available for those attending more than one day
- Tomodachi Bundle: 5 General Admission tickets at a group discount rate
- Under 10s: free with at least one full-price adult ticket (up to 3 children per adult). Must still book a free ticket.
- Carers: free carer ticket available alongside a full-price adult ticket
- Note: Tickets are non-refundable
Buy tickets at Gigantic → or via hyperjapan.co.uk
Opening Hours
- Friday 24 July: 12:00–20:00
- Saturday 25 July: 10:00–20:00
- Sunday 26 July: 10:00–17:00
Venue & Access
Olympia London (Grand Hall)
Hammersmith Road, Kensington, London W14 8UX
- Tube: Olympia station (District line, Overground) — 2 min walk. Kensington (Olympia) station is directly adjacent.
- Bus: Routes 9, 10, 27, 28, 391 all stop nearby
- Train: Kensington (Olympia) is served by London Overground from Clapham Junction and Shepherd’s Bush
If You’re Learning Japanese
HYPER JAPAN is a great place to use what you’ve learned — or to realise you want to learn more. Between the music, the food stalls, the workshops, and the conversations with Japanese exhibitors, the festival is genuinely immersive in a way that’s hard to replicate elsewhere in the UK.
Get more out of HYPER JAPAN with Japanese lessons
From reading signs and menus to following conversations with Japanese speakers at the festival, even a few lessons make a real difference. Our certified native teachers offer private lessons from £23 — online or in person in London.
Related Articles
- Japanese Events in London: Spring 2026
- Tokyo Nights London 2026: Sumo, Sushi and Sake in One Night
- European Sumo Championships 2026: Stirling, Scotland
- 5 Things Japanese Learners Should Do in London
Written by Ayaka Uchida — CEO of A-Digital Works, founder of Nihon GO! World.