Celebrating Nagoya During the Nagoya Festival 2026

The Nagoya Festival, which takes place annually in mid-October, is one of the most spectacular autumn festivals in Nagoya. The entire city is filled with a festive atmosphere, celebrating its past, present, and future.

If you love Japanese festivals and want to experience a vibrant energy and a mix of entertainment, culture, and history, this event is a must-see.

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How Did the Nagoya Festival Come to Be?

The Nagoya Festival began in 1955 under the name “Nagoya Trade and Industry Festival”. It was created by the government of Aichi Prefecture, the City of Nagoya, and the Nagoya Chamber of Commerce with the aim of promoting the city’s economy and commerce.

However, the citizens of Nagoya also wanted a festival that could entertain and educate citizens about Nagoya’s culture. And so began the Nagoya Festival.

Highlights of the Nagoya Festival Parade

Today, the Nagoya Festival is a colorful parade with more than 700 participants spanning approximately 2 kilometers in length. It begins at Nagoya Station, proceeds towards Nagoya City Hall, then continues down to Sakae, culminating at its destination in Yabacho.

Here are some of the highlights of this parade. Please note that the procession has changed to an exhibition at Hisaya Odori Park for 2026, where you’ll be able to see the floats up close!

Dashi Festival Floats

Four black, red, and teal floats are hoisted through the streets by men and women wearing indigo and white yukata.

Designated Cultural Property of Nagoya, Dashi Floats are the first act of the festival. Nine floats adorned with their finest attire, make their appearance in the vicinity of Nagoya City Hall.

A mechanical puppet in the front of a float at the Nagoya Festival.

Each of these floats has karakuri ningyō, which are traditional Japanese mechanical puppets, mounted on the top. They perform reenactments of myths and legends, often depicting a single scene from a larger play.

Don’t worry if you’re not entirely sure of the storyline. It’s still enjoyable to witness the incredible craftsmanship and ingenuity of the puppet makers at work. This craft boasts a history of around 1400 years.

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Kagura Zoroe

Dancers wearing indigo and white yukata with red obi belts, yellow sashes tied around their heads, and red leaf hats affixed on top dance with their arms outstretched facing left in the Nagoya Festival Yosakoi parade.

The kagura zoroe are portable altars found exclusively in the Nagoya region. They hold the designation of Cultural Assets. These smaller altars, adorned with gold leaf, make their appearance alongside the dashi floats.

Other Parades

After the more traditional parades showcasing the festival floats and kagura zoroe, it’s time for a wide variety of different parades.

Traditional and modern dance groups showcase their skills, brass bands play familiar tunes, cosplayers show off their costumes, and cheerleaders jump, shout, and cheer.

Representatives from Nagoya’s sister cities (Los Angeles, Mexico City, Nanjing, Sydney, Turin, and Reims) are in attendance and participate in the parade.

Nanachan, a giant white statue, is paraded down the street wearing a green helmet, green and black armor, and a blue and white chestplate made out of fabric.

Nana-chan, the gigantic mannequin usually standing outside the Meitetsu Department Store at Nagoya Station, is paraded through the whole city.

Four performers wearing orange yukata and red and black wigs greet festivalgoers. Three of the four are holding cardboard beaks to their noses, while the man on the far right wears a red and black tengu mask, featuring a Pinocchio-like nose that extends out on a point.

Each year there are different sports and cultural groups, showing off their varied skills. It will never be boring to attend the Nagoya Festival!

The Three Great Feudal Lords

Two men wearing historical Japanese samurai kimono haul a white horse adorned in orange and purple dressage. Atop the horse, another man in historical samurai wear holds up a handheld paper fan in his right hand and a windchime in his left, pointing it towards the crowd.

Another highlight of the Nagoya Festival is the appearance of Three Great Feudal Lords, the unifiers of Japan, and several other important historical figures with a significant connection to Nagoya and the region: Oda Nobunaga, the Lord of Owari (1534-1582); Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Lord of Owari Nakamura, (1537-1598); and Tokugawa Ieyasu, Lord of Okazaki, (1542-1616).

Five men wearing more rustic samurai outfits with pointed rice hats run with yellow flags attached to their backs, holding red and green nagahama swords and cheering.

Along with the appearance of each feudal lord, important historical battles from the Sengoku Period known as the Warring States Period are reproduced.

The feudal lords would be nothing without their wives, and so Nohime (Nobunaga’s wife), Nene (Hideyoshi’s wife), and Senhime (Ieyasu’s wife), follow their husbands, accompanied by their entourage of servants.

Don’t Miss the Other Events During the Nagoya Festival!

Five men wearing kimono with their left pecs and arms out in various archery poses.

During the same weekend, you can also watch several traditional martial arts performances such as kyūdō (Japanese archery) and kendō.

The Kobudō Tournament sees the participation from various martial arts schools of Aichi and Gifu. Kobudō is a collective term for traditional Japanese techniques using armor, blades, firearms, combat and horse-back riding.

Nagoya Festival Arimatsu tie dye fabrics in various patterns sit on a table.

At Oasis 21, there are crafts for sale from all over Aichi, including Arimatsu tie-dyed fabrics, items crafted from wood, and washi, Japanese paper.

A Nagoya Festival idol group from backstage, performing for a large crowd and holding their hands clasped above their head while the crowd copies them.

Hisaya Odori Park, which runs along the center of the city, will host idol groups, live music performances, comedy shows, and much more.

Three men dressed up as feudal lords pose with their wives on the steps of Osu Kannon. Behind them, performers hold up wooden signs with their family names.

After parading through the city, the three great feudal lords make an appearance in the Osu district with their wives. This is a great opportunity to see the beautiful costumes up close.

While you’re in Osu, why not join a Street Food Walking Tour? Click on the banner to learn more!

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Visit Nagoya’s Museums and Attractions for Free

Nagoya Castle and the keep from afar on a partly cloudy day.

Many of the popular attractions and museums in Nagoya will offer free admission during this weekend. This includes places like Nagoya Castle, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Tokugawa Garden, Shirotori Garden, and more.

Please be aware that these places may be more crowded than usual due to the free entry. Be sure to snag a physical copy of the Nagoya Festival guidebook or download the PDF online to show at the ticket gate. You can access the poster here.

When will the Nagoya Festival Be Held in 2026?

Four men in blue and white gingham outfits hoist a float in the parade while a man in a yellow and black hakama guides them with a large paper fan.

2026 marks the 72nd annual Nagoya Festival, will be held again this year on October 17th and 18th.

This year’s festival will feature the full collection of activities, events, and city-designated cultural property floats and the Children’s Mikoshi Parade.

For the latest information please visit the official website.

Nagoya Festival (名古屋まつり)
Date: 17th and 18th of October 2026
Location: Various locations in central Nagoya
💻　Website

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For more info about other fall events, check this post: Autumn Leaves and Autumn Festivals in Nagoya and Aichi

This post was last updated in August 2026.
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