#Art Festivals

[March 2027] Art Event Calendar: Art Fair Tokyo, the Boso Art Festival, a Kyoto Art Fair and More

In March 2027, art fairs follow one after another in Kyoto and Tokyo, and two art festivals with Fram Kitagawa as general director open in Chiba Prefecture. Covering venues from Aomori and Kanazawa to Tottori, we list in date order 11 events opening in March and 20 exhibitions continuing from February or earlier.

GLOW Eindhoven 2026 Opens November 7 with the Theme “CONNECT” and the City’s First Drone Show

GLOW, the light festival in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, opened on November 7. The theme is “CONNECT.” The roughly 5 km route is free, and at the Philips Stadion the festival will stage what the organizers call the city’s first drone show.

The 16th Gwangju Biennale Runs Through November 15: Artistic Director Ho Tzu Nyen Gathers 43 Participants in a Single Building

The 16th Gwangju Biennale, with Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen as artistic director, is on view in Gwangju, South Korea, through Sunday, November 15. It brings 43 artists and groups together in a single building, including 60 paintings by Tokyo-based Sasaki Ken.

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.

The 61st Venice Biennale Runs Through November 22: Awards Decided by Visitor Vote After Jury Resigns; Ei Arakawa-Nash at the Japan Pavilion

The 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, conceived by the late Koyo Kouoh, runs through Sunday, November 22. After the jury resigned, the awards are being decided by visitor vote, and Ei Arakawa-Nash’s Japan Pavilion exhibition travels to Tokyo in 2027.

Light Festivals Around the World 2026–2027: Dates and Open Calls for Lyon, Vivid Sydney and Amsterdam

Amsterdam opens on November 26 and Lyon on December 5. Sydney and Prague have also announced their 2027 dates. We sort out the dates and scale of major light festivals, how their open calls for works operate and their official attendance figures.

[February 2027] Art Event Calendar: Exhibitions Opening and Winter Light Events

All 30 scrolls of Jakuchu’s “Colorful Realm of Living Beings” come together at The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan, and the Hans Haacke exhibition and the Great Van Gogh exhibition in Kobe also open. We list February’s events in date order, including winter light events such as the Sapporo Snow Festival.

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.

First “Coral Islands Science and Art Biennale” Ran on Kikai Island Until November 8, Presenting an Uplifted Coral Reef Island Through Video, Sound and Light

A coral reef research institute on Kikai Island, Kagoshima, and the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature co-hosted the first edition of this art festival. Works by Shoyo Miyao and others were installed at six sites on the island, including a beach and an underground dam tunnel. Viewing the exhibits was free.

Matsumoto Architecture Art Festival 2026 ADVANCE: Second Phase Runs Until December 13, with Lee Ufan, teamLab and Others at 19 Venues in Matsumoto’s Notable Buildings

The second phase of the art festival using notable buildings in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, as venues began on November 3. Expanding to Asama Onsen, 18 artists from Japan and abroad present works until December 13, including a “Last Supper” made of salt and video inspired by Jakuchu.

MAFIN 2026 at Daishoin on Miyajima; Four Artists Including Chim↑Pom Reflect on Peace from the Eternal Flame

The second edition of a contemporary art exhibition held at Daishoin Temple on Miyajima begins on November 20. Starting from the Eternal Flame, which has burned for about 1,200 years, four artists and groups including Chim↑Pom and Sumi Kanazawa show their works. Admission is free.

[2026–2027] Guide to Contemporary Art Exhibitions: From Mariko Mori to the Sapporo International Art Festival

The Mariko Mori exhibition at the Mori Art Museum opened on October 31, and the Sapporo International Art Festival begins in January 2027. From museum solo shows to festivals in cities and on a mountaintop, we introduce 13 exhibitions across Japan by region.

[2026–2027] Guide to Photography Exhibitions and Festivals: From the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum to KYOTOGRAPHIE

The Tokyo Photographic Art Museum hosts its emerging photographers exhibition and a Kimura Ihei Award anniversary exhibition, while Lieko Shiga’s solo show opens in Aomori. We introduce 11 exhibitions and festivals across Japan through KYOTOGRAPHIE in spring 2027.

Yebisu International Festival for Art & Alternative Visions 2027 Opens February 5 at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum; New Works by Four Commissioned Artists to Premiere

The international festival of moving images and art runs from February 5 to 21, 2027. The theme and participating artists have not been announced, but the four artists of the third Commission Project are set to present new video works.

2027 Sapporo Snow Festival Runs for Eight Days from February 4; 77th Edition at Odori, Tsudome and Susukino

The 77th Sapporo Snow Festival takes place from February 4 to 11, 2027, at three sites: Odori, Tsudome and Susukino. The Odori Site centers on five large snow sculptures, and 2-chome will be a venue for the Sapporo International Art Festival 2027.

KYOTOGRAPHIE 2027 Opens April 17; Kyoto International Photography Festival to Include an Exhibition by the KG+ Award Winner

The Kyoto International Photography Festival “KYOTOGRAPHIE 2027” runs from April 17 to May 16. The theme and venues will be announced later, and the 2026 KG+SELECT award winner will hold an exhibition in the main program.

January 2027 Art Event Calendar: FF40 Anniversary Exhibition, Tale of Genji Exhibition, Sapporo International Art Festival and More

The Final Fantasy 40th anniversary exhibition and the Tokyo showing of the Tale of Genji exhibition open at the Tokyo National Museum, the Sapporo International Art Festival 2027 begins, and light events continue at Shirakawa-go, Kobe Luminarie and elsewhere. A date-ordered guide to events starting and exhibitions ending in January.

New “SORA MIZU KU ART FESTIVAL” Opens March 20, 2027; About 25 Artists in Narita, Inzai and Sakae

Narita City, Inzai City, Sakae Town and Chiba Prefecture will hold a new art festival from Saturday, March 20 to Sunday, May 23, 2027. With Fram Kitagawa as general director, about 25 artists and groups will present works in the area around the airport and Lake Inba.

Setouchi Triennale 2028 Dates Set: 117 Days over Spring, Summer and Autumn; Open Call for Works Until October 30

The next Setouchi Triennale will be held in three sessions in spring, summer and autumn 2028, for a total of 117 days. The venues span 17 areas, including Naoshima and Teshima. The open call for works closed at 10:00 on Friday, October 30, 2026.