London is set to become the centre of Japanese culture once again as HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026 returns to Olympia Events, London (Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX) from Friday 24 July to Sunday 26 July 2026. Running over three days, the festival is the UK’s largest celebration of Japanese culture, bringing together live music, anime, gaming, cosplay, food, fashion, shopping, traditional arts and special guests from Japan.

Since its launch in 2010, HYPER JAPAN has become a must-visit event for fans of Japan, welcoming thousands of visitors each year to experience everything from authentic Japanese cuisine and artisan crafts to pop culture, manga, anime and exclusive live performances. The 2026 edition promises another packed programme.

Among this year’s performers are internationally recognised dance sensation avantgardey, Japanese band THE SIXTH LIE, singer-songwriter UPIKO, Queen Bee, voice actor Chiaki Kobayashi, Elsie Lovelock, Pictonico!, and many more appearing across the festival weekend.

avantgardey Brings Viral Dance Energy to London

One of the biggest attractions at HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026 is avantgardey, the Japanese dance group that has become a worldwide social media phenomenon.

Produced by well-known choreographer akane, avantgardey is instantly recognisable thanks to its matching school uniforms, identical bob hairstyles and perfectly synchronised choreography. Formed in 2022, the group quickly gained international fame through TikTok, Instagram and television appearances, amassing more than five million followers across social media.

Their breakthrough came after reaching the finals of America’s Got Talent in 2023. The group will perform on Saturday 25 July and Sunday 26 July, with a selected line-up of members appearing during the festival. Their performances are expected to be among the most popular attractions of the weekend.

THE SIXTH LIE Returns to HYPER JAPAN

Japanese electronic rock band THE SIXTH LIE will also make a welcome return to HYPER JAPAN, performing on Friday 24 July and Saturday 25 July. Formed in Tokyo in 2015, the trio consists of vocalist Arata, guitarist and programmer Reiji, and drummer Ray. The band has earned an international following for mixing electronic music, rock and EDM.

Anime fans will immediately recognise THE SIXTH LIE from their work on the hit series Golden Kamuy, where they performed multiple ending themes, as well as music featured in A Certain Scientific Railgun. The band is no stranger to UK audiences, having previously performed at HYPER JAPAN during earlier festivals.

With three days of performances, cultural experiences, shopping, food and entertainment, HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026 is once again set to present the very best of modern and traditional Japanese culture in the heart of London, offering something for anime enthusiasts, music lovers, families and anyone curious to experience Japan without leaving the UK.

Tickets can be purchased via the Hype Japan website.

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