Big events in Osaka: the next dates

1st Anniversary EXPO 2025 (Expo memorial event)

1st Anniversary EXPO 2025 ～あの驚きと感動をもう一度～ ＠大阪来てな！

Sun 11 Oct 2026, 10:00–19:00

Mon 12 Oct 2026, 10:00–16:00

Expo pavilion exhibits and stages back for two days at ATC.

ATC Hall and ATC Piloti Plaza (Asia & Pacific Trade Center)

Exit sign: Cosmosquare Station exits 3 · 4; Trade Center-mae Station exit 2

Free

Entry to ATC Hall was by advance lottery (applications closed 13 Sep); the food and shopping zone in the Piloti Plaza is open to all.

Official page The venue

Nakanoshima Art Lights 2026

NAKANOSHIMA ART LIGHTS 2026

Fri 16 Oct to Sun 25 Oct 2026, 18:00–22:00

Light art across Nakanoshima Park, from the rose garden to the lawn.

Nakanoshima Park, rose garden to the lawn

Exit sign: Kitahama Station exit 1A; Yodoyabashi Station exit 1

Free, no booking

Night Glow & Music (hot-air balloons lit at night, live music) on 23-25 Oct, 19:00-21:30.

Official page The venue

Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks (38th)

第38回 なにわ淀川花火大会

Sat 17 Oct 2026, 19:00–20:00

A fireworks show over the Yodo River, made by the people of the neighbourhoods along it.

Yodo River banks between the Shin-Yodogawa Bridge (Shin-Midosuji) and the Yodogawa Bridge (Route 2) · Juso Station, Tsukamoto Station, Minamikata Station, Nishinakajima-Minamigata Station, Mitejima Station, Himejima Station

Reserved seats are paid, from ¥5,000 (adult) to ¥28,000 for the cruise.

This year the Umeda-side bank (from near Nakatsu to near Noda) is closed to the public for expressway works; viewing is from the Juso side.

Held in rain, called off in a storm; there is no postponement.

Official page

Hanaranman 2026 (city flower and green fair)

はならんまん2026

Sat 31 Oct to Sun 1 Nov 2026, 10:00–16:00

Flower beds by the city's greening volunteers, craft classes and rose-seedling giveaways, held every year since 1991.

Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park, by the central fountain

Exit sign: Tsurumi-ryokuchi Station exits 1 · 2

Free

Held in light rain; called off if a warning is in force for Osaka City at 7:00. The flower beds stay until 16 Nov.

Official page The venue

Midosuji Illumination 2026

御堂筋イルミネーション2026

Tue 3 Nov to Thu 31 Dec 2026, 17:00–25:00 (1:00 the next day)

About 4 km of Midosuji lit from Umeda to Namba, part of the Festival of the Lights in Osaka.

Midosuji, from the Hanshin-mae crossing to the Namba Nishiguchi crossing · Umeda Station, Yodoyabashi Station, Hommachi Station, Shinsaibashi Station, Namba Station

Lit from about 17:00 until 1:00. The lighting ceremony is on Mon 23 Nov, 17:00–19:00, on Midosuji (Yodoyabashi to Semba-chuo 3).

The wider Festival of the Lights in Osaka 2026 runs 3 Nov 2026 to 31 Jan 2027; most of it is free, a few area programmes charge.

Official page

Midosuji Runway 2026

御堂筋ランウェイ2026

Mon 23 Nov 2026, 14:00–16:00

A one-day show of music and entertainment on Midosuji, the city's main boulevard.

Midosuji, between the Yodoyabashi and Semba-chuo 3 crossings · Yodoyabashi Station, Hommachi Station

Free to watch; no advance sign-up.

The road is closed to traffic from about 11:30 to about 19:15 that day.

Official page

Christmas Commons

Christmas Commons

Fri 11 Dec to Fri 25 Dec 2026, 17:00–22:00

A new Christmas market in Nakanoshima Park with art, crafts and music, alongside the Hikari Renaissance lights.

Nakanoshima Park, rose garden to the lawn

Exit sign: Kitahama Station exit 1A; Yodoyabashi Station exit 1

Free, no booking

Official page The venue

OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026

OSAKA光のルネサンス2026

Fri 11 Dec to Fri 25 Dec 2026

Light shows along the waterside of Nakanoshima, the island at the heart of the city.

From around Osaka City Hall to Nakanoshima Park · Yodoyabashi Station, Kitahama Station, Naniwabashi Station, Oebashi Station

Exit sign: Kitahama Station exit 1A; Yodoyabashi Station exit 1

Free to watch.

Times differ by programme. The City Hall façade lights and the Nakanoshima illumination street run longer: 3 Nov to 31 Dec, 17:00–25:00.

Official page The venue

Morinomiya Ruins exhibition room, open days

森の宮遺跡展示室 一般公開（令和8年秋冬季）

Fri 18 Dec to Sat 19 Dec 2026, 11:00–15:00

A room under Morinomiya Piloti Hall showing Jomon and Yayoi shell-mound finds; open only a few days a year.

Morinomiya Piloti Hall, basement · Morinomiya Station

Exit sign: Morinomiya Station exit 2

Free, no booking

Official page The venue

Osaka International Women's Marathon (46th)

第46回大阪国際女子マラソン大会

Sun 31 Jan 2027, 12:15

Japan's only elite women's marathon, run since 1982.

Starts and finishes at Yanmar Stadium Nagai · Nagai Station, Tsurugaoka Station

Exit sign: Nagai Station exits 1 · 3

Watching from the stadium stands is free, unreserved.

Official page The venue

Osaka Marathon 2027

大阪マラソン2027

Sun 28 Feb 2027, 9:15–16:15

The full marathon (42.195 km), and the 7.2 km "720 Naniwa" run with a 720 m wheelchair race.

From in front of the Osaka Prefectural Government building to the finish in Osaka Castle Park

The first marathon wave starts at 9:15; the marathon closes at 16:15. Runner check-in (Osaka Marathon EXPO) is 26 and 27 Feb at INTEX Osaka, Hall 6.

Held in rain; called off if the weather makes it impossible to run.

Official page

Osaka Asian Film Festival (22nd)

第22回大阪アジアン映画祭

Fri 5 Mar to Sun 14 Mar 2027

Venues and tickets are not on the site yet.

Official page

Grand Sumo March Tournament (Osaka)

大相撲 令和九年三月場所

Sun 14 Mar to Sun 28 Mar 2027

EDION Arena Osaka (Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium)

Exit sign: Namba Station exits 5 · 31

Advance tickets go on sale on 6 Feb 2027; ticket prices change from the January 2027 tournament.

Official page The venue