Hello from the UK!.
This is Yoko from the London office of Tripleguns.
Here at Tripleguns, we supports cultural exchange “From Japan to the World” and “The World to Japan” through events production, localisation, and digital promotion.
With the meticulous attention to detail that comes naturally to us as a Japanese team — combined with extensive on-the-ground international experience and speed-focused support — we deliver top-class services that work seamlessly both in Japan and overseas.
Today, we are pleased to share the latest updates from London.
That’s right — many Japanese artists are coming to the UK again this year!
In 2026, Japanese music, traditional performing arts, and pop culture are set to have an even stronger presence in London than ever before.
As a personal note (and industry memo), we have compiled a list of notable concerts, live shows, and exhibitions by Japanese artists taking place in the UK in 2026 as of the end of February, presented in chronological order for easy reading!
■2 February – 4 May SAMURAI
📍 The British Museum, London
Following the hugely successful Hokusai exhibition last year, the British Museum is once again holding a major exhibition dedicated to Japanese art.
Samurai explores and deconstructs commonly held stereotypes of the samurai, revealing how the warrior class evolved over a period of a thousand years. Considering how the British Museum typically hosts only three to four special exhibitions per year, having two consecutive Japan-focused exhibitions is significant — and encouraging.
https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/samurai
■ 6–7 March Kodo〈鼓童〉
📍 Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London
The internationally acclaimed taiko ensemble Kodo returns to London.
Since their debut at the Berlin Festival in 1981, Kodo has performed over 7,000 times in 53 countries and regions. They appeared at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2001 and contributed to the official anthem of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™.
Known for their powerful fusion of tradition and innovation, their return to London is highly anticipated.
■ 25–28 March – Suzumeno Tears UK Tour 2026
📍
London – 25 March – SOAS University of London
Shropshire – 27 March – Clun Memorial Hall
Birmingham – 28 March – The Edge, Digbeth
Japanese folk duo Suzumeno Tears will embark on a UK tour in March 2026, performing across three cities: London, Shropshire, and Birmingham.
The tour begins on 25 March in London as part of the SOAS University Concert Series, followed by a performance on 27 March at Clun Memorial Hall in Shropshire, and concluding on 28 March at The Edge in Digbeth, Birmingham.
Blending folk traditions with diverse cultural influences, Suzumeno Tears are known for their atmospheric and evocative sound. Audiences can expect an intimate live experience that showcases the duo’s distinctive musical world.
■31 March Ichiko Aoba
📍 Royal Albert Hall, London
Ichiko Aoba continues her remarkable trajectory to international acclaim with an upcoming solo concert at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.
For a Japanese singer-songwriter to headline such a historic venue is meaningful in itself. A milestone moment.
■ 31 March England v Japan International Friendly Match
📍 Wembley Stadium, London
Not music, but equally symbolic.
Japan’s national football team (SAMURAI BLUE) will face England at Wembley Stadium, further contributing to the growing Japan–UK cultural and sporting exchange.
The Japan National team is also scheduled to play a friendly match against Scotland in Glasgow, making it a rare opportunity for football fans across the UK to see Japan’s national team in action.
■ 31 March – 1 April Masayoshi Takanaka
📍 O2 Academy Brixton, London
Legendary Japanese guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka will perform in London as part of the upcoming City Pop Waves event.
Originally scheduled for O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, the concert was later upgraded to the much larger O2 Academy Brixton due to overwhelming demand — and even with the venue change, tickets sold out almost immediately.
The rapid sell-out clearly demonstrates the continued surge in this City Pop legend’s global popularity. In recent years, Takanaka has experienced a remarkable resurgence among international audiences, as the worldwide rediscovery of Japanese city pop and jazz-fusion has introduced his music to a new generation of listeners.
■1 May – 14 October
NIGO: From Japan with Love
📍 Design Museum, London
The Design Museum will host the first overseas museum retrospective exhibition of NIGO®.
Covering over 30 years of his work — from A BATHING APE® to HUMAN MADE and his role at KENZO — this exhibition reflects London’s growing interest in Japanese creative culture beyond music.
https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/nigo-from-japan-with-love
■ 14–17 May The Great Escape Festival
📍 Brighton, England
https://greatescapefestival.com/
One of the world’s leading showcase festivals for emerging artists.
Japanese acts announced include:
・BED https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC4er_ZW-vWRrzm0mpESxKQ
・ako https://www.youtube.com/@mjgptw___ad
・Bialystocks https://www.youtube.com/@Bialystocks
・go!go!vanillas https://www.youtube.com/@gogovanillas_official1
・Kroi https://www.youtube.com/@KroiOfficial
We are confident the festival will becomes a gateway to wider European exposure!
■ 12–30 May YAMATO – The Drummers of Japan
📍 Peacock Theatre, London
Following Kodo in March, the drummers from YAMATO will be bringing their new production Hito no Chikara (The Power of Human Strength) to London for an extended run.
This is a clear indication of a strong and persistent demand in Europe for Japanese taiko drum performances.
■ 2-4 June ”Kaneko Ayano World Tour 2026″
📍 6.02 (tue) – MANCHESTER , UK | DEAF INSTITUTE
6.03 (wed) – LONDON , UK | O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON
6.04 (thu) – BRISTOL , UK | EXCHANGE
Actively touring not only in the UK but across the world each year, Kaneko Ayano continues to steadily grow her international fanbase.
This year she returns to the UK with three shows in three consecutive days — Manchester, London, and Bristol. A tough schedule, and major respect for taking on such an intense run!
■ 10–14 June DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2026/BABYMETAL
Japanese metal phenomenon BABYMETAL will take the stage at Download Festival 2026, one of the largest and most influential rock and metal festivals in Europe, held annually at Donington Park in the UK.
Over the years, Download Festival has hosted some of the biggest names in global rock and metal, making it a landmark event in the international live music calendar. For BABYMETAL to perform on the main stage at such a prestigious UK rock festival highlights the band’s growing presence and influence within the global metal scene.
Sharing the lineup with legendary acts such as Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses, and Linkin Park further reinforces BABYMETAL’s elevated international standing. Appearing alongside these iconic artists at Download Festival signals how firmly the band has established itself on the world stage.
As BABYMETAL continues expanding its global touring footprint, appearances at major European festivals like Download Festival demonstrate the band’s ability to connect with audiences far beyond Japan, strengthening its position as one of the most internationally recognised Japanese acts in rock and metal today.
■ 11 June BAND-MAID WORLD TOUR 2026
📍 Electric Brixton, London
Japanese rock band BAND-MAID will perform in London as part of the BAND-MAID World Tour 2026, continuing their steady expansion across Europe.
Originally planned for a smaller venue, the London show was upgraded to Electric Brixton following strong ticket demand. The change reflects the band’s growing popularity in the UK and their steadily expanding international fanbase.
With consistent touring and powerful live performances, BAND-MAID continues to strengthen its presence in the European rock scene.
■ 25 June Foo Fighters: TAKE COVER TOUR 2026 feat. Otoboke Beaver
📍Anfield Stadium（Liverpool）
Otoboke Beaver will take the stage as a support act at Anfield Stadium.
The band is on an accelerated track to wider recognition as evidenced by them supporting major stadium acts like Green Day and Jack White in the UK.
These major stadium appearances highlight Otoboke Beaver’s growing presence in the global punk and alternative music scene, as the band steadily expands its recognition among international audiences.
■ 19 July – Atarashii Gakko!
📍Roundhouse, London
One of the most internationally recognised Japanese acts in recent years, Atarashii Gakko! continues to attract strong global attention.
Celebrating their 11th anniversary in 2026, the group will perform their London headline show
“LONDON 降臨 – AG! 11th Anniversary Show” on 19 July at the Roundhouse.
Before arriving in London, the band is also scheduled to appear at several European festivals, including performances in Berlin and Ostrava, further highlighting their growing presence across the European live music scene.
The upcoming concert marks their return to London since the “ATARASHII GAKKO! World Tour Part I” in June 2024, making it a highly anticipated performance for their UK fans.
■ 23 July QUEEN BEE
📍Electric Ballroom,London
QUEEN BEE will headline their first European tour, with stops confirmed in London and Paris.
Fronted by vocalist Avu-chan, the Japanese band is known for its powerful vocals, theatrical aesthetic, and bold rock sound. Blending multiple musical genres with dramatic stage concepts, QUEEN BEE has built a reputation for unforgettable live performances.
Their distinctive style—featuring striking costumes and the iconic use of “juri fans” during concerts—has made the band a truly unique presence in the Japanese rock scene.
As they bring their dynamic performances to Europe for the first time, the shows in London and Paris will introduce QUEEN BEE’s one-of-a-kind sound and visual world to new audiences across the European live music scene.
■24–26 July HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026
📍Olympia London
The UK’s largest Japanese cultural festival is back!
QUEEN BEE will headline the opening day, with Avantgardey also confirmed as performers.
More announcements are expected.
Avantgardey will perform on Saturday.
Avantgardey will also perform on Saturday.
Formed in 2022, the Japanese dance group quickly gained global attention on TikTok and Instagram as the “mysterious uniformed bob-haired group.” Their unique choreography and distinctive visual style have attracted fans from around the world.
Avantgardey will make their first appearance at HYPER JAPAN, bringing their energetic performance to the stage at HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026 at Olympia London (Kensington).
More artists and programme details for HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026 will be announced soon.
Please check the official website for the latest updates.
■7 August City Pop Waves presents Masayoshi Takanaka
📍Crystal Palace Park
At last, a festival dedicated to Japanese city pop is coming to London.
This event marks what is believed to be the first large-scale outdoor festival in the UK focused entirely on Japanese music, making it a notable moment in the long history of live music events in Britain.
Headlining the festival is legendary Japanese guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka, one of the most iconic figures in Japan’s fusion and city pop scene.
Jazz keyboardist Himiko Kikuchi has already been announced as part of the lineup, performing a special set recreating her 1987 jazz-fusion classic “Flying Beagle.”
With more artists yet to be announced, it will be exciting to see what kind of audience gathers and how this new city pop festival in London will take shape.
■ 22 September LiSA – LiVE is Smile Always 15
📍Troxy, London E1 0HX
LiSA, best known for the global hit “Gurenge” the opening theme of the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, will celebrate her 15th anniversary with the arena tour “LiVE is Smile Always ~15~”, starting in April 2026.
As part of the celebrations, LiSA will also embark on her first-ever European and UK tour, performing four shows across Italy, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.
Demon Slayer has enjoyed enormous popularity across Europe, including the UK. The theatrical release of “Mugen Train” became a global box-office phenomenon, and the more recent “Infinity Castle” arc released in 2025 has also achieved major commercial success.
Beyond dedicated anime fans, the series has reached a much broader audience in Europe, with manga, figures, and related merchandise widely embraced by younger fans and students.
■12 November 〈HATSUNE MIKU〉 –MIKU EXPO 2026 EUROPE
📍The O2, London SE10 0DX
Hatsune Miku returns to Europe with the MIKU EXPO 2026 EUROPE tour, visiting seven cities across the region.
As one of the most internationally recognised virtual artists from Japan, Hatsune Miku continues to attract a global fanbase through large-scale concerts and multimedia performances.
The theme for the 2026 tour is “Steampunk,” a concept that is likely to resonate particularly well with UK audiences, given the country’s strong cultural connection to steampunk aesthetics and design.
The 2026 Trend
Across genres we see:
✔ Traditional performing arts
✔ City Pop
✔ Metal / Rock
✔ Indie
✔ Stadium-level support acts
The breadth and variety of Japanese cultural exports to the UK is remarkable.
From museum exhibitions to stadium concerts, from anime icons to design retrospectives, we can see that Japanese culture has embedded itself firmly in British mainstream life and is likely to keep expanding from there.
Planning an Overseas Event?
Tripleguns is committed to supporting Japanese companies and artists expanding internationally.
Our services include:
- International concert production
- Exhibition and pavilion management
- Local coordination
- Bilingual production support
If 2026 is the year you are considering overseas expansion, we would be delighted to speak with you.