Japan Matsuri, a free festival centred around Japanese culture and food, is back in Trafalgar Square this October.
Described as the ‘best-loved’ event of its kind in the UK, Japan Matsuri has been hosted in London since 2009, and Trafalgar Square since 2012.
This year, it takes place on Sunday 4 October 2026, with its usual bonanza of stalls, workshops, demos, live music and dance.
What’s more, the vast majority of things going on here are FREE.
The 2026 programme features:
🍶 A grand opening ceremony, featuring the ceremonial opening of a sake barrel, followed by a mikoshi procession, which involves a phoenix-topped shrine being carried around the Square, amid joyful calls of “Wasshoi! Wasshoi!”
🥁 Soran Bushi, a traditional festival dance accompanied by traditional taiko drumming from Rikkyo School in England.
🎤 Main stage music performances from the likes of videogame choir Ready Singer One; soulful sounds from the Sakura Cherry Tree Project, modern pop and anime songs from YUZU — plus plenty more taiko drumming.
🎭 An anime cosplay catwalk.
📻 Radio Taiso exercise routines.
🥋 Martial arts demonstrations and workshops (inc. Kendo, Aikido and Ryukyu Kobujyutsu).
🍣 A ton of food stalls, with dishes including bao buns, matcha latte, rice balls, mochi, noodles, karaage fried chicken and katsu curry.
🇯🇵 Stalls from the likes of Central Japan Railway Company, Japan House London, the Japan Society and Nintendo.
🎎 Authentic Japanese prints, greeting cards and bookmarks to buy.
London’s had something of an obsession with Japan since at least Victorian times, when a ‘Japanese Village’ was built in Knightsbridge. It’s thought that almost 33,000 Japanese people live in London today.
Japan Matsuri, Trafalgar Square, 4 October 2026, free
