Matsuri Tsukuba 2026 (まつりつくば2026)

Matsuri Tsukuba 2026 (まつりつくば2026) is being held on August 22 and 23 around Tsukuba Station in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture. The annual summer festival is one of the largest events in Tsukuba, attracting large crowds to the city center.

The festival began in 1981, when it was organized by a group of local volunteers. It gradually developed into a major annual event for the city.

The highlight of the festival is the parade featuring nebuta floats, mikoshi (portable Shinto shrines), traditional festival performances, and dances performed by local groups.

The festival became particularly well known for its nebuta parade after a nebuta float was introduced in 1998. Nebuta are particularly associated with Aomori Prefecture, where enormous illuminated floats are featured in some of Japan's best-known summer festivals.

Because of increasingly hot summer temperatures, the festival is scheduled to move to September from 2027.