Osaka Festival of the Lights 2026 Opened November 3: The Midosuji Illumination and OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance

The Osaka Festival of the Lights Executive Committee, made up of Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City and others, is holding the “Osaka Festival of the Lights 2026” from Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (national holiday) to Sunday, January 31, 2027. Its centerpiece, the “Midosuji Illumination 2026,” lights up the entire 4 km of Midosuji from around 17:00 to 25:00 from November 3 to Thursday, December 31. “OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026” in Nakanoshima runs from Friday, December 11 to Friday, December 25, with projection mapping on the Osaka City Central Public Hall. According to the official website, admission is free in principle.

What is the Osaka Festival of the Lights? 2025 attendance and economic impact

The Osaka Festival of the Lights is a winter light event consisting of two core programs, the Midosuji Illumination and OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance in Nakanoshima, plus area programs across the prefecture. The official website notes that the project makes use of the accommodation tax. On October 23, the official website announced that 26 organizations would take part in the 2026 area programs, including the “Osaka Prefectural Government Main Building 100th Anniversary Special Lighting: Festival of the Lights Version,” “Sakai Illumination 2026” and “Rinku Festival of the Lights 2026,” with dates varying by program. From November 3 to January 31, 2027, a digital stamp rally is also held, in which visitors collect stamps by scanning QR codes at each venue; each stamp counts as one entry in a prize drawing.

According to estimates published by Osaka Prefecture on March 27, 2026, attendance from November 3 to December 31, 2025 was about 7.15 million for the Midosuji Illumination 2025 (about 6.11 million the previous year) and about 4.35 million for OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2025 (about 3.88 million). The economic ripple effect of the core and area programs combined was calculated at about 185.2 billion yen (about 121.5 billion yen the previous year). For the period from April 9, 2025 to January 31, 2026, including the “Expo Special Lighting Period,” total attendance was estimated at about 45 million and the economic ripple effect at about 803.2 billion yen. Figures for other light events are compared in our roundup of attendance and economic impact of light events.

Highlights of the Midosuji Illumination 2026

The theme is “LINK: Light Moves the City.” To mark the 90th anniversary of the opening of Midosuji in May 2027, the entire 4 km from the Hanshin-mae intersection to the Namba Nishiguchi intersection is divided into five areas, each expressing an era from the 1940s to the present.

At Kita-Mido, “Interactive Digital Art,” in which images change with visitors’ movements, is presented. The Umeda air intake tower and the facades of buildings along the street are also lit up. According to Osaka City’s announcement, night markets are also planned in three areas, with dates to be announced later.

On Monday, November 23 (national holiday), from 17:00 to 19:00, a lighting ceremony will be held on Midosuji between the Yodoyabashi intersection and the Semba Chuo 3 intersection, with part of the street opened to pedestrians. According to Osaka City, it will be held after “Midosuji Runway 2026,” rain or shine, and canceled in stormy weather. Details are to be announced later.

OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026: what can be seen in Nakanoshima

OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026 presents light programs that make use of the waterfront scenery of Nakanoshima, a symbol of Osaka as a city of water, from around Osaka City Hall to Nakanoshima Park. During the event, projection mapping is projected onto the east facade of the Osaka City Central Public Hall, a national Important Cultural Property.

The theme is “Osaka, a Festive Night of Light.” According to Osaka Prefecture, windows of light that sparkle like jewels, falling snow and stars, and Santa Claus racing across the night sky appear, and the Central Public Hall shows a variety of faces. Screenings run from December 11 to 25, from 17:30 to 21:30, with a video of about 10 minutes scheduled to repeat every 12 minutes; the last screening starts at 21:20. Viewing is free, and no advance registration is needed. The projection goes ahead in the rain, but it may be suspended or canceled in stormy weather.

According to Osaka Prefecture’s selection results, the Midosuji Luminous Joint Venture is the contract candidate for the Midosuji Illumination 2026 work. The projection mapping on the Central Public Hall is produced by HITOHATA, INC., which announced its implementation on October 26. Highlights and access are covered in detail in our article on the Central Public Hall projection mapping.

Some displays can be seen even before the Central Public Hall screenings begin. The “Osaka City Hall Front Illumination Facade” in front of Osaka City Hall is three-dimensional 3D mapping using LEDs. The “Nakanoshima Illumination Street” on the Miotsukushi Promenade turns an avenue of zelkova trees about 150 meters long into a tunnel of light.

Both are lit from November 3 to December 31, from 17:00 to 25:00. The tunnel of light reportedly dates back to the start of OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance in 2003. From December 11 to 25, a “Light Marché” (16:00–22:00) is also held around Naniwabashi Station.

Prices, access and viewing tips

According to the FAQ on the official website, admission is free in principle, with some area programs charging fees. Events generally go ahead in the rain, though some programs may be canceled.

The Midosuji Illumination stretches over a long section from Umeda to Namba, so each station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line from Umeda to Namba is a nearest station. There is no dedicated parking for general visitors. No permission is needed to take photos for personal enjoyment, but on Midosuji, actions that obstruct traffic and the use of large equipment, tripods and drones are prohibited.

The Central Public Hall projection mapping in Nakanoshima is screened for only 15 days. Visiting between December 11 and 25, when it overlaps with the Midosuji lighting period (until December 31), lets you take in both core programs on the same night. According to HITOHATA, INC.’s announcement, the images are projected onto the east facade of the Central Public Hall, about a 1-minute walk from Exit 1 of Naniwabashi Station on the Keihan Nakanoshima Line, the nearest station, and about 5 minutes from Exit 1 of Yodoyabashi Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line and the Keihan Main Line.

Editor’s perspective

The Osaka Festival of the Lights estimates and publishes its attendance and economic ripple effect, and the project also uses accommodation tax revenue. This suggests that light staging is positioned as a tourism measure to draw people into the city at night. Ahead of the 90th anniversary of Midosuji’s opening, the 2026 edition shows the history of the street itself through light representing each era.

In the Kansai region, the 32nd Kobe Luminarie also awaits in the new year. This winter’s light events in Kansai are introduced in our roundup of illuminations and light events in the Kansai region, and light events across Japan in our roundup of projection mapping and light events across Japan. The care required when projecting images onto buildings that are Important Cultural Properties is covered in our article on projection mapping on cultural properties, and the museums of Nakanoshima in our Nakanoshima museum guide.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Osaka Festival of the Lights 2026 run?

From Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (national holiday) to Sunday, January 31, 2027. The Midosuji Illumination 2026 runs until Thursday, December 31, and OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026 in Nakanoshima from Friday, December 11 to Friday, December 25. Dates for the area programs vary by venue.

Is there an admission fee?

According to the official website, admission is free in principle. Some area programs charge a fee.

When can I see the projection mapping at Osaka City Central Public Hall?

During OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026, from Friday, December 11 to Friday, December 25, screenings run from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Under the theme “Osaka, a Festive Night of Light,” images of Santa Claus racing across the night sky and falling snow and stars are projected onto the hall’s east facade.

Overview

Name: Osaka Festival of the Lights 2026
Dates: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (national holiday) – Sunday, January 31, 2027
Midosuji Illumination 2026: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (national holiday) – Thursday, December 31, around 17:00–25:00, Midosuji (Hanshin-mae intersection to Namba Nishiguchi intersection)
OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026: Friday, December 11 – Friday, December 25, 2026, from around Osaka City Hall to Nakanoshima Park. Osaka City Central Public Hall projection mapping 17:30–21:30 (a video of about 10 minutes projected every 12 minutes, last screening from 21:20), free with no advance registration. Osaka City Hall Front Illumination Facade and Nakanoshima Illumination Street: Tuesday, November 3 (national holiday) – Thursday, December 31, 17:00–25:00
Lighting ceremony: Monday, November 23, 2026 (national holiday), 17:00–19:00, Midosuji (Yodoyabashi intersection to Semba Chuo 3 intersection)
Area programs: 26 participating organizations (dates vary by program)
Digital stamp rally: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (national holiday) – Sunday, January 31, 2027
Admission: Free in principle (some area programs charge fees)
Organizer: Osaka Festival of the Lights Executive Committee (Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, economic organizations and others)
Production of the Central Public Hall projection mapping: HITOHATA, INC.
Official website: https://www.hikari-kyoen.com/
*Information as of October 31, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: an image photo of the “Osaka Festival of the Lights” (from a press release by the Osaka Festival of the Lights Executive Committee secretariat announcing the 2025 edition)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on a press release from the Osaka Festival of the Lights Executive Committee (Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City) (September 24, 2026), a press release from Osaka Prefecture (March 27, 2026), a press release from HITOHATA, INC. (October 26, 2026) and information on the official website of the Osaka Festival of the Lights (viewed October 31, 2026).

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team

A note from the publisher

*Disclosure: The projection mapping on the Osaka City Central Public Hall introduced in this article is produced by HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE (About us).

According to Osaka City’s selection results (posted June 12, 2026), three companies submitted proposals in an open proposal competition for the commission to produce the Central Public Hall projection mapping, and after review by an expert panel, HITOHATA, INC. was selected as the best proposer (contract candidate). On October 26, the company announced that the 2026 projection would be carried out under its production. The company also produced the 2025 projection at the Central Public Hall (December 14–25).

The latest information on events produced by HITOHATA, INC. is available at HITOHATA, INC.’s event information. Inquiries about planning projection mapping on cultural properties, government buildings and other urban buildings are accepted through the company’s contact form.