The 13th annual 1 Minute Projection Mapping Competition is set to take place at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building as part of the TOKYO LIGHTS 2026 festival. Organized by the Japan Projection Mapping Association since 2012, the competition draws top creators from around the world and serves as one of the most established international projection mapping events in existence. This year, the 18 finalists have been announced ahead of the May 2026 event.
A record 412 teams entered from 65 countries and regions, all competing under the theme "Dialogue." Each entry is a short work lasting between one minute and one minute 59 seconds. Following the initial selection process, 18 finalists have been chosen to compete for the grand prize.
Screenings are scheduled for May 23 (Saturday), May 24 (Sunday), and May 30 (Saturday), with the awards ceremony taking place on May 30. Additional screenings are planned for May 31 (Sunday). Attendees can participate in an audience vote for the Audience Award. For those unable to attend in person, including overseas viewers, the competition screenings and awards ceremony are expected to be broadcast online.
The 18 Finalists
The following 18 teams will compete in the 13th 1 Minute Projection Mapping Competition:
- Sunnana Inc. (Japan)
- Ari Dykier (Poland)
- HAASKR (France)
- Metanoia Creatives (Czech Republic)
- YY Ho (China)
- Taro Narahara (Japan)
- Alice Felloni (Italy)
- Anionavision (Romania)
- Signal Bleed (Brazil)
- VPM (Spain)
- Panagiotis Tomaras (Greece)
- 蓝洞 (China)
- Los Romeras (Spain)
- INMIYA (Russia)
- Bigcool (Thailand)
- Studio Zoltan Varga (Hungary)
- NOVAKIND (Thailand)
- VITAartBR 3DVideoMapping (Brazil)
Judges and Invited Artists
The competition features a panel of judges drawn from domestic and international projection mapping circles, as well as specialists from various industries. Two invited artists will also participate as judges: Kentaro Tanaka, winner of the previous competition, and Ouchhh, a globally recognized digital art production studio based in Turkey. Both will present invited works alongside the competition entries.
Judges:
- Hendrik Wendler / Curator, Genius Loci Weimar Festival / Germany
- Kota Hikichi / Creative Director, Representative Director of VISIONs Co., Ltd. / Japan
- Hisashi Sugiyama / CEO, Shinryoiki Inc. / Art+Tech Producer / Japan
- Champen Khulkeo / Founder & CEO, DECIDE KIT / Thailand
- Michiyuki Ishida / Creative Director, Representative of Japan Projection Mapping Association / Japan
Judges and Invited Artists:
- Ouchhh / Digital Media Artist / Turkey
- Kentaro Tanaka / Filmmaker and Graphic Designer, Previous Competition Winner / Japan
Grand Prize and Awards
The grand prize winner will receive a prize of 2,000,000 yen, along with a commemorative prize plate and additional awards. The prize plate combines Edo Kiriko cut glass with specialized metalworking techniques, reflecting Tokyo's traditional craftsmanship and spirit of innovation.
About the Event Producer
The competition is produced by Michiyuki Ishida, a creative director and spatial director who founded the Japan Projection Mapping Association in 2011. His work spans large-scale international events and public art installations, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building's projection mapping program "TOKYO Night & Light," a projection mapping installation at the Osaka-Kansai World Expo venue, and the NIGHT WAVE coastal light art project.
About TOKYO LIGHTS 2026
TOKYO LIGHTS is a light festival launched in 2021, centered around the projection mapping competition and immersive light art. The 2026 edition is themed "Visible TOKYO," exploring the invisible aspects of the city — the flow of air and wind behind the skyscrapers, the emotional traces of its people, and the layered memories of Tokyo — expressed through the shared language of light.
In addition to the projection mapping competition, the festival features the "Light Art Park" centered around Shinjuku Chuo Park. Under the overall direction of Kenji Kohashi, the park will feature immersive installations that allow visitors to experience human emotion, memory, natural rhythms, and the urban environment through light and sound.
Event Details
TOKYO LIGHTS 2026
- Dates: May 23 (Saturday) to May 31 (Sunday), 2026
- Venues: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building First Main Building, Citizens' Plaza / Shinjuku Chuo Park, 2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo
① 1 Minute Projection Mapping Competition
- Screenings: May 23 (Saturday) and May 24 (Sunday)
- Screenings and Awards Ceremony: May 30 (Saturday)
- Screenings: May 31 (Sunday)
- Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building First Main Building, Citizens' Plaza
② Light Art Park
- Dates: May 23 (Saturday) to May 31 (Sunday)
- Venue: Shinjuku Chuo Park
For more details on visiting and ticketing, visit the official TOKYO LIGHTS website: https://tokyolights.jp/
