A full symphony orchestra performing music from Naruto, Demon Slayer, One Piece, Attack on Titan, Studio Ghibli and more comes to the UK this autumn. The Sound of Epic Anime arrives at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Friday 25 September 2026 under conductor Michael England, with tickets from £25.50.
Tickets start from £25.50. Japan Nakama readers can also save 15 per cent on either performance using the code NARUTO.
The Sound of Epic Anime, London
The composers behind the music
One of the highlights of this programme is the opportunity to hear music by some of anime’s most influential composers, many of whom have shaped the sound of their respective series for decades.
Several works come from Joe Hisaishi, the composer behind many of Studio Ghibli’s most celebrated films. His gentle piano piece One Summer’s Day, from Spirited Away, has become one of the most recognisable themes in Japanese cinema.
The rest of the programme introduces the composers behind some of anime’s biggest franchises:
- Toshio Masuda scored the original Naruto series (2002 to 2007), including the Main Theme, while Yasuharu Takanashi wrote the score for Naruto Shippuden.
- Kohei Tanaka composed We Are!, the original opening theme for One Piece, alongside music for numerous anime, games and stage productions.
- Shiro Sagisu wrote the score for Neon Genesis Evangelion. The Cruel Angel’s Thesis, one of anime’s most famous opening themes, was composed separately and performed by Yoko Takahashi.
- Yugo Kanno composed the music for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, including Tabidachi.
- Go Shiina wrote much of the Demon Slayer score, including the Rengoku theme. Gurenge, the series’ opening song performed by LiSA, became one of anime’s defining theme songs of the last decade.
What you will hear
Many of these scores were originally written for full orchestra, yet most fans have only experienced them through headphones, television speakers or cinema sound systems. Hearing them performed live reveals details that are often lost in recorded versions, from delicate string passages to the impact of live brass and percussion.
Unlike many anime concerts, which focus on a single franchise, The Sound of Epic Anime combines music from some of anime’s biggest series, including the Naruto Main Theme, Gurenge, We Are!, The Cruel Angel’s Thesis and Joe Hisaishi’s One Summer’s Day.
The programme is grouped by series, although the running order is not announced in advance, so there’s always the anticipation of waiting for your favourite soundtrack to begin.
You can preview many of the featured pieces through the official concert album on Spotify.
What to expect on the night
The London performance takes place in the Royal Festival Hall, one of the UK’s leading concert venues. The performance lasts approximately two hours and ten minutes, including an interval. Doors and bars open beforehand, and the event is recommended for ages seven and over. There is no separate host. Conductor Michael England introduces pieces himself from the podium, around eight short links across the evening.
If this is your first Anime orchestral concert
You don’t need any knowledge of classical music to enjoy the evening. Even if you’ve never attended an orchestral concert before, the familiar music makes the evening easy to follow.
A few things are worth knowing before you go:
- Feel free to react. Conductor Michael England told us audiences historically clapped between movements and even demanded instant encores, and his own view is that if the music moves you, react. Just save the chat for the interval.
- Discreet filming may be permitted during parts of the performance, but strictly no flash video or photography.
- There’s no dress code, so come as you are, or bring your favourite anime character to life with a bit of cosplay.
A must for anime music fans
From Studio Ghibli’s quiet piano melodies to the soaring themes of Naruto, Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer, the programme captures the breadth of anime music in one evening. It’s a chance to experience many of the soundtracks that have defined the genre, performed as they were written to be heard.
For fans whose favourite series span multiple franchises, it’s a rare opportunity to hear so many iconic anime soundtracks brought together in a single live performance.
Tickets, dates and the Japan Nakama reader offer
London
- Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
- Friday 25 September 2026, 7.30pm
- Tickets from £25.50
- Ages 7 plus, under 12s accompanied by an adult
- London Concert Orchestra, conducted by Michael England
Book the London performance
Royal Festival Hall
Claim 15% off
Enter the code NARUTO in the promotional code box before selecting your seats. The discounted prices will then appear across the seating map.
