News

Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition GIFU Teams Up with Gifu Park’s Gifu Castle Rakuichi: Ukiyo-e Set Meal and Tea, Plus ¥200 Off for Visitors in Kimono

The “Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition GIFU,” opening November 6, has announced four collaboration products with the neighboring Gifu Castle Rakuichi in Gifu Park, including a set meal inspired by Hokusai’s “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji” and tea with sweets. Visitors coming in kimono or showing the JAF app get ¥200 off same-day tickets.

Architect Toyo Ito and Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto Among 2026 Order of Culture Recipients; Nihonga Painter Hiroshi Senju Named a Person of Cultural Merit

The recipients of the Order of Culture and the Persons of Cultural Merit for fiscal 2026 were announced on October 23. Architect Toyo Ito and Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of “Super Mario” and other games, will receive the Order of Culture, and Nihonga painter Hiroshi Senju was named a Person of Cultural Merit. The conferment ceremony will be held at the Imperial Palace on November 3.

Berlin’s Festival of Lights Draws About 3 Million in 10 Nights: Works and Contest Results from the 22nd Edition

The 22nd edition of Berlin’s light festival was held at about 40 locations from October 9 to 18, and the organizers announced that about 3 million people attended. In the video contest at the Brandenburg Gate, Spain’s Sinoca took first place by audience vote.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Opens December 11: 28 Galleries Designed by the Late Frank Gehry, Tickets Now on Sale

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has announced that Guggenheim Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island will open on December 11, 2026. The building, designed by the late Frank Gehry, has 28 galleries, and an exhibition on Gehry will be held to mark the opening.

Singapore’s Light to Night 2027 Begins January 15, with Pop as the Theme of the 11th Edition

The 11th edition of Light to Night, an arts festival led by National Gallery Singapore, will take place from January 15 to 31, 2027. Taking its cue from the Gallery’s pop art exhibition, it adopts pop as its theme; the works have not yet been announced.

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Opens in LA on September 22, with More Than 1,300 Collection Works in Over 30 Galleries

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, opened in Los Angeles on September 22. The five-story building designed by MAD displays more than 1,300 works from the collection in more than 30 galleries.

Lumen Prize 2026 Winners to Be Announced in November: 89 Finalists Across Three Categories Include Works Shown in Japan

In 2026, the Lumen Prize, an international award for art and technology, selected 89 finalists from entries from 82 countries. Winners will be announced in November, and the top prize, the Gold Award, carries $15,000.

Meow Wolf’s Sixth Venue Will Occupy a Vacant Los Angeles Movie Theater: Titmouse Partnership Announced, Opening Date TBA

US company Meow Wolf is building its sixth permanent exhibition in a vacant movie theater in West Los Angeles, with animation for the exhibition by Titmouse. The opening is slated for “late 2026 to early 2027,” and no date has been announced.

Seoul Light DDP Autumn 2026 Draws 700,000 with Music-Reactive Visuals for the First Time; Winter Edition Begins December 17

The autumn edition of the media art festival that uses the 222 m facade of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul drew 700,000 visitors over 11 days in September. It introduced visuals that change with the music for the first time, and the winter edition begins on December 17.

Turner Prize 2026 Shortlist Exhibition Now On in Middlesbrough, UK: Winner Announced December 10, Prize of £25,000

MIMA in Middlesbrough, UK, is holding a free exhibition of the four artists shortlisted for the 2026 Turner Prize, Britain’s contemporary art award. The winner will be announced at a ceremony at MIMA on December 10 and receives £25,000.

Ukiyoe Immersive Art Museum GINZA to Open in Spring 2027, Bringing Permanent Ukiyo-e Immersive Art to Ginza

The immersive ukiyo-e exhibition that has toured 11 cities in Japan and abroad will become a permanent facility in Tokyo in spring 2027. It will present more than 300 works by Hokusai, Hiroshige and others in eight visual spaces, along with displays of original prints and a gallery, but its location and prices have not yet been announced.

Art Aquarium Museum GINZA to Close on January 6, 2027, with a 20th-Anniversary Exhibition in Shibuya That Spring

The goldfish art exhibition that has run at Ginza Mitsukoshi since May 2022 will end its Ginza run on January 6, 2027. Its final special exhibition, “A Hundred Splendors of Ginza Goldfish,” is now on, and a special exhibition will open in Shibuya from spring 2027.

Hirosaki Castle Chrysanthemum and Autumn Leaves Festival Ran Until November 8, with Projection Mapping on Flower Art and Bamboo Lanterns

An autumn festival that began in 1962 was held at Hirosaki Park in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, until November 8. Video was projected onto flower art depicting the White Tiger, and bamboo lanterns made with citizens and illuminated cherry and maple trees lit up the park at night.

Evening Special Viewing Illumination at Shiromine-ji from November 13: Second Edition After Two Years, with Activities in the Important Cultural Property Guest Hall

Shiromine-ji (Sakaide, Kagawa Prefecture), Temple No. 81 of the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage, opens its grounds at night on weekends and national holidays in November. Following the first edition in 2024, this is the second, and the treasure hall, normally open by reservation, is also specially opened.

Sankeien’s “Yaso” from November 20 Stages a Scenic Garden at Night with Color, Light and Sound; Co-organized by Yokohama City and Selected for a Japan Tourism Agency Program

At Sankeien, a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty in Yokohama, an event inviting visitors to tour staged color, light and sound will be held on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holiday evenings during the autumn-leaf season. A commemorative project for the garden’s 120th anniversary, it has been selected for a Japan Tourism Agency program.

“Feel the Sound” Opens in Takanawa on November 20 with Ryuichi Sakamoto + Daito Manabe and Others: An Immersive Exhibition Co-produced with London’s Barbican

From November 20, MoN Takanawa will host “Feel the Sound,” an immersive exhibition co-produced with the UK’s Barbican Centre. With artists including Ryuichi Sakamoto + Daito Manabe and Max Cooper, it lets visitors feel sound with their bodies. Adult tickets cost 2,500 yen.

Hakodate International Art Festival to Hold Preview Edition in October 2027, Produced by GLAY’s TERU

A new art festival in Hakodate will make use of historic buildings to bring together art, music and food. After a three-day run at a single venue in 2027, the main edition in 2028 will last about a month and aims to draw around 150,000 visitors.

TOKYO MIDTOWN AWARD 2026 Results Announced: Misuzu Akimoto and Doshu Tokumoto Win the Grand Prix

“Soft Building Blocks” won the Grand Prix in the design competition and “Wave Goodbye, Waves” in the art competition, from a total of 1,579 entries. The 16 award-winning and selected works were on display until November 8.

Adachi Museum of Art Announces Four Special Exhibitions for Fiscal 2027, Including a Bunten 120th Anniversary Show and an Autumn Show Featuring Yokoyama Taikan’s “Muga”

The Adachi Museum of Art in Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture, has announced its spring, summer, autumn and winter special exhibitions in the Main Building starting in March 2027. Drawing on the museum’s collection, they take up themes such as Nihonga painters of the government-sponsored exhibitions and works that marked turning points for painters.