What’s On: Japanese Cultural Events & Festivals

Browse All Japanese Events in the UK

Every event currently listed, across exhibitions, markets, gigs and theatre.
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Attack on Titan characters Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman, wearing Survey Corps uniforms and ODM gear

Last Chance Royal Albert Hall

Attack on Titan: Symphony from Paradis at the Royal Albert Hall

17 Oct 2026

Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP

Box seats from £95.01

Official Booking Read more

Visitor viewing large-scale photographic installations by Kikuji Kawada and Iwane Ai at the Kyotographie: Kawada Kikuji x Iwane Ai exhibition in Japan House London.

Last Chance Free Japan House London

From Hiroshima to Hawaii: Kyotographie at Japan House London

3 Jun 2026 – 18 Oct 2026

Japan House London: 101-111 Kensington High St, London W8 5SA

Free

Book tickets Read more

Crossing Borders: Japanese Popular Music, Culture and Identity title over a collage of vermilion torii gates, a five storey pagoda and a steel and glass station roof, with the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and Japan Foundation logos

Upcoming Free Goldsmiths, University of London

Crossing Borders: Japanese Popular Music Forum at Goldsmiths

30 Oct 2026

Linton Kwesi Johnson Lecture Theatre, Professor Stuart Hall Building, Goldsmiths, University of London, 80 Lewisham Way, London SE14 6NW

Free, registration required

Book a free place on Eventbrite Read more

Upcoming Loft Studios

OINIMOD Halloween: Manga Yōkai at Loft Studios, London

30 Oct 2026 – 31 Oct 2026

Loft Studios, 77 to 81 Scrubs Lane, London NW10 6QU

Tickets £30

Book tickets on Shotgun Read more

Upcoming Lyric Theatre

RepresentAsian 2026: Asian West End Stars at the Lyric Theatre

9 Nov 2026

Lyric Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7ES

From £20

Book tickets at the Lyric Theatre Read more

Asian Art in London event in a grand historic venue with vibrant purple lighting, a dramatic glass art installation and guests gathered for an evening reception

Upcoming Venues across central London

Asian Art in London 2026: The UK’s Premier Celebration Returns

29 Oct 2026 – 10 Nov 2026

Multiple venues in and around Central London (dealers, auction houses, museums, galleries)

Free at most participating galleries and auction houses, some museum exhibitions and talks ticketed separately

Visit Official Site Read more

Hatsune Miku in her steampunk MIKU EXPO 2026 Europe outfit, with goggles, a microphone stand and long teal twin tails, on a teal gradient

Upcoming The O2

MIKU EXPO 2026 London: Hatsune Miku at The O2 and Heaven

12 Nov 2026 – 13 Nov 2026

The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX

Standing £75 plus fees, on sale through AXS

Book tickets at The O2 Read more

Cellist performing against a dramatic red and black background with stylised yellow lightning effects inspired by anime.

Upcoming Symphony Hall Birmingham

The Sound of Epic Anime Birmingham

15 Nov 2026

Birmingham (Symphony Hall, Broad Street, B1 2EA)

Tickets from £20.50

Use code NARUTO for 15% off Read more

Yasuaki Shimizu playing a gold saxophone in a close-up portrait against a dark blue textured background

Upcoming Milton Court Concert Hall

Yasuaki Shimizu at Milton Court for EFG London Jazz Festival

15 Nov 2026

Milton Court, 1 Milton Street, London EC2Y 9BH

From £29 including fees

Book at the Barbican Read more

Hokusai's Under the Wave off Kanagawa, the ukiyo-e woodblock print of a towering blue wave curling over three fishing boats with Mount Fuji small on the horizon

On Now Free The Whitworth

Beneath the Great Wave: Hokusai and Hiroshige at the Whitworth

14 Mar 2026 – 15 Nov 2026

The Whitworth, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ER

Free entry

Plan your visit at the Whitworth Read more

Shingo Nakamura playing a DJ set behind Pioneer decks, with his name projected on the screen behind him

Upcoming The Lower Third

Shingo Nakamura at The Lower Third, London

14 Nov 2026 – 15 Nov 2026

The Lower Third, 26 Denmark Street, London WC2H 8NJ

Final release £20

Book tickets on RA Read more

Mitsuyo Uesugi in a pale slip dress and hairnet runs barefoot across a wet outdoor stage at night, holding a rainbow striped umbrella

On Now The Place

Rebellious Bodies Butoh Festival 2026 at The Place, London

16 Oct 2026 – 18 Nov 2026

17 Duke's Road, London WC1H 9PY

Most film screenings free, performances from £14.50

See the full festival programme Read more

Kyoto Jazz Massive group photo featuring the band members posing together against a brick wall

Later Islington Assembly Hall

Kyoto Jazz Massive at Islington for EFG London Jazz Festival

22 Nov 2026

Islington Assembly Hall, Upper St, London N1 2UD

£33.54 including booking fee

Book tickets on DICE Read more

Eclectic interior of Peter Cat jazz bar in Tokyo featuring Japanese cat figurines, lanterns, artwork, vintage decor and a historic jazz musician photograph ©Photo by Philip Arneill from his book Tokyo Jazz Joints

Later Barbican Hall

Haruki Murakami’s Jazz at Peter Cat at the Barbican

21 Nov 2026 – 22 Nov 2026

Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS

From £34 including the transaction fee, Young Barbican £18. Saturday is fully booked, Sunday 2pm has tickets.

Book Sunday tickets at the Barbican Read more

TC.KYLIE resting her chin on a synthesiser keyboard in front of a blue backdrop

Later The Lower Third

TC.KYLIE at The Lower Third: Keytar Jazz from Hong Kong

1 Dec 2026

The Lower Third, 26 Denmark Street, London WC2H 8NJ

£28.05 including fees

Book tickets on DICE Read more

Black and white still from Shōhei Imamura's Pigs and Battleships, 1961, showing young men gathered round a table in a crowded Yokosuka bar

Upcoming Institute of Contemporary Arts

Shōhei Imamura at the ICA: The Lower Depths Season

22 Oct 2026 – 13 Dec 2026

ICA, The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH

Tickets £13

Book at the ICA Read more

Bach Collegium Japan's choir and period instrument orchestra on stage in a wood panelled concert hall beneath a pipe organ, with a full audience

Later Barbican Hall

Bach Collegium Japan: Handel’s Messiah at the Barbican, London

15 Dec 2026

Barbican Hall, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS

From £24 including fees

Book tickets at the Barbican Read more

On Now Gillian Lynne Theatre

My Neighbour Totoro at the Gillian Lynne Theatre until Jan 2027, London

17 Aug 2026 – 3 Jan 2027

166 Drury Lane, Covent Garden, London, WC2B 5PW

Tickets £25 to £89.50, premium seats from £99.50

Book tickets Read more

Clear Day with a Southern Breeze (Red Fuji) by Katsushika Hokusai, iconic ukiyo-e woodblock print depicting Mount Fuji beneath a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Upcoming Dulwich Picture Gallery

Hokusai: Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji at Dulwich Picture Gallery

20 Oct 2026 – 17 Jan 2027

Dulwich Picture Gallery, College Road, London SE21 7AD

Tickets can only be booked by members. Membership starts at £46.

Get tickets Read more

Young person in an elaborate purple dragon costume celebrating Coming-of-Age Day in Kitakyushu, Japan

Upcoming Free Japan House London

Tradition/Rebellion: Coming-of-Age Style at Japan House London

11 Nov 2026 – 18 Apr 2027

Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High St, London W8 5SA

Free, with booking to guarantee entry at busy times

Book free tickets at Japan House London Read more

Past Events

Past Concorde 2

Boris: Pink 20th Anniversary at Concorde 2, Brighton

16 Oct 2026

Concorde 2, Madeira Shelter Hall, 286a Madeira Drive, Brighton BN2 1EN

From £34.19 including fees, face value £29.50. General admission, standing.

Past Wigmore Hall

A Kabuki Winterreise at Wigmore Hall: Schubert Meets Yasuna

11 Oct 2026

Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2BP

From £18

Past Design Museum

NIGO: From Japan with Love at the Design Museum, London

1 May 2026 – 4 Oct 2026

Design Museum, 224 to 238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG

Adult from £15.29, Child from £7.65, Student/Concession from £11.47

View all past events

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