Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fest Draws Record 172,000
The three-day Tokyo event ran from October 30 to November 1, 2026, with overseas visitors at 1.7 times the previous year's figure.
The 13th Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fest 2026 Powered by dwango drew a record 172,000 visitors over three days in the Ikebukuro area of Tokyo, from October 30 to November 1, 2026, according to animeanime.jp. The number of overseas visitors came to 1.7 times the previous year's figure.
The program opened with Ikebukuro Halloween Night at Sunshine City on October 30, 2026, running from 16:30 to 22:30 for participants aged 18 and over. Daytime activities followed from 10:00 to 18:00 on October 31 and November 1.
The Ikebukuro Halloween Special Ceremony on October 31 brought Toshima City mayor Miyuki Takagiwa, Dwango director Daisuke Yokozawa, Animate Holdings president Yasuhiro Niwa and Sunshine City president Hidemi Waki to the stage, all in cosplay. Cosplayer Enako appeared as a special guest in a costume based on an original cloud-themed character.
Parade and new programs
About 400 cosplayers joined the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Parade, which ran from Sunshine 60 Street to the front of Hareza Ikebukuro with live music from the Tokyo Metropolitan Toshima High School brass band. Organisers also added a new Cosplay Gathering theme, Welcome to IKEHALO, alongside workshops where participants could try origami and calligraphy in cosplay.
The event was organised by the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fest executive committee, made up of Dwango, Animate, Hacosta, Sunshine City and Toshima City.
Quick answers
When was the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fest 2026 held?
It ran over three days, from October 30 to November 1, 2026, in the Ikebukuro area of Tokyo.
How many visitors attended the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fest 2026?
The event drew a record 172,000 visitors.
Who organised the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fest 2026?
The executive committee comprising Dwango, Animate, Hacosta, Sunshine City and Toshima City.