TOKYO LIGHTS 2026, a creative light festival that illuminates Tokyo's night, will take place from May 23 (Saturday) to May 31 (Sunday), 2026, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and Shinjuku Central Park in the West Shinjuku area. This nine-day event combines an international projection mapping competition with immersive light art installations.
"VISIBLE TOKYO" Concept Brings Invisible Tokyo to Light
TOKYO LIGHTS, launched in 2021, is a light festival that combines a world-class projection mapping competition with experiential entertainment blending light, art, and technology. The 2026 edition centers on the concept of "VISIBLE TOKYO."
This theme aims to visualize aspects of Tokyo that typically go unnoticed—the flow of air and wind behind the towering buildings and neon lights, the lingering traces of human emotions, and the accumulated memories within the city. Through light as a universal language, these invisible elements of Tokyo will be expressed and made tangible.
Reference video: TOKYO LIGHTS 2024 Official After Movie
The key visual and art direction are handled by Kozo Fujita, who works across music, video, and advertising. His design expresses the "VISIBLE TOKYO" concept from both the city's grand scale and its delicate emotional dimensions.
Five Areas Exploring Different Facets of VISIBLE TOKYO
The West Shinjuku venue will feature five distinct areas, each offering unique perspectives on the "VISIBLE TOKYO" theme:
Visible CITY: Expresses Tokyo as an urban entity through the visualization of city flows, transportation, human presence, and data
Visible NATURE: Installation work capturing the breath of nature, rustling leaves, and subtle movements of life
Visible HEART: Art pieces projecting the traces of people's emotions, memories, and thoughts as light
Visible CONNECTION: Light interface connecting the city with nature, and people with the urban environment
Visible IMAGINATION: Participatory and experiential expressions stimulating people's creativity and inspiration
Light Art Park at Shinjuku Central Park
The "Light Art Park" at Shinjuku Central Park will present immersive installation works where visitors can experience human emotions, memories, natural rhythms, and urban connections through light, sound, and spatial production. Under the overall direction of Kenji Kohashi, who has successfully led numerous international events and large-scale festivals including the Osaka-Kansai Expo, the entire venue will be composed as a unified "city of light," where each visitor's presence and actions are reflected in the light's expressions.
Kenji Kohashi - Light Art Park Overall Director
After working as an actor and traveling the world, Kenji Kohashi has produced large-scale experiential events including ULTRA JAPAN and STAR ISLAND. He served as the event planning producer for the 2021 Paralympic closing ceremony and the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo. Currently serving as a director of the Japan Drone Show Association, he continues creating "future experiences" through regional revitalization and urban development, based on his unique approach to "experience design."
International Projection Mapping Competition at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
The "1minute Projection Mapping Competition" at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is a world-renowned international competition that has been running since 2012. Michiyuki Ishita, a pioneer in projection mapping, serves as the overall producer and chief judge. This competition brings together creators from around the world to compete with their creativity and technical skills within a tight timeframe of 1 minute to 1 minute 59 seconds.
The competition showcases a unique international stage where top creators and emerging talent from around the world compete, offering audiences the chance to see high-level, diverse works all at once.
Finalist works will be screened on May 23 (Saturday) and 24 (Sunday), with an awards ceremony including the Grand Prix (Tokyo Governor's Award) on May 30 (Saturday). Ticketing information and event schedules are currently being prepared for release around April.
The theme for 2026 is "Dialogue." Submissions from creators worldwide are still being accepted.
Submission period: December 1, 2025 (Monday) to March 1, 2026 (Sunday)
Michiyuki Ishita - Overall Producer, 1minute Projection Mapping Competition
A creative director and video spatial director, Michiyuki Ishita established the Projection Mapping Association in 2011. He has been invited to lecture and judge at numerous events both domestically and internationally, including planning and directing the world's largest projection mapping international competition. His work includes projection mapping planning for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and the Osaka-Kansai Expo venue, among many other unique projects that continue to expand possibilities in the field.
Event Overview
Name: TOKYO LIGHTS 2026
Venue:
- Light Art Park: Shinjuku Central Park (2-11 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023)
- Projection Mapping Competition: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1, Citizens' Plaza (2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023)
Dates: May 23 (Saturday) - May 31 (Sunday), 2026 (starting around evening, specific times TBA)
Light Art Park: May 23 (Saturday) - May 31 (Sunday), 2026
1minute Projection Mapping Competition:
- Screening: May 23 (Saturday) - May 24 (Sunday), 2026
- Screening/Awards Ceremony: May 30 (Saturday), 2026
- Screening: May 31 (Sunday), 2026
Grand Finale: May 31 (Sunday), 2026
Official Website: https://tokyolights.jp
Social Media:
- X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/tokyolights_jp
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyolights_jp/
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@tokyolightsjp
Official Hashtags: #tokyolights #tokyolights2026 #lightartpark #1minutepm
