Only one month to go until Hyper Japan Festival

There is just one month to go until HYPER JAPAN Festival returns for its 2026 edition at Olympia London from 24–26 July. The UK’s largest Japanese culture festival has just announced incredible new activations from Nintendo and Bandai Namco Toys and Hobby, as well as the Japanese Indie Games Area. They join what promises to be unforgettable weekend of music, food, fashion, gaming, workshops and shopping. Tickets are now available athyperjapan.co.uk/festival.

NINTENDO BOOTH

Nintendo is bringing exclusive in-app and in-person experiences to HYPER JAPAN, with Pikmin Bloom and the newly released Pictonico! app. 

As part as one of these experiences, HYPER JAPAN will host a dedicated Party Walk event in Pikmin Bloom. This in-game walking event is free to join and open to anyone with Pikmin Bloom installed, whether they are attending the festival or taking part from home. All Party Walk participants attending HYPER JAPAN can also stop by the Nintendo booth to collect a Pikmin-themed gift at the Nintendo booth, including a Pikmin-themed smartphone lanyard to take on their walks (while supplies last). At the booth, visitors will also be able to obtain a special HYPER JAPAN-themed photo badge Pikmin, available exclusively at the event in Pikmin Bloom. Guests can also look forward to getting a free Pikmin hat and having their photo and video with Pikmin taken as a digital memento of their day at HYPER JAPAN.

To make the most of these opportunities, guests should have Pikmin Bloom installed, follow HYPER JAPAN’s social channels for Party Walk updates and head to the Nintendo booth at the event.

In Pictonico!, players turn photos into minigames, creating unexpected and funny moments with their own photo gallery. Visitors will be able to play on the app at the Nintendo booth and take home a physical souvenir from their play session.

BANDAI NAMCO TOYS AND HOBBY BOOTH

Bandai Namco Toys and Hobby will be hosting their official booth at this year’s HYPER JAPAN, where there will be the opportunity to purchase official products, such as Gundam, Bandai Hobby, Tamagotchi, Shokugan, Banpresto, Megahouse, Ichibansho and Tamashii Nations. There will also be an iconic Gundam Statue on display for photo opportunities. 

There will be free Gundam workshops throughout the weekend, which will involve a free model kit for visitors to build during their allocated session. There will also be the chance to win big prizes with one lottery ticket at Ichibankuji (meaning ‘Number One Japanese Prize’).

JAPANESE INDIE GAMES AREA

The Japanese Indie Games Area brings together an exciting collection of innovative indie titles from some of Japan’s most talented independent game developers. This dedicated showcase brings together a diverse range of games that demonstrate the creativity, artistic vision and technical excellence of Japan’s indie gaming scene.

Visitors will have the opportunity to experience a wide variety range of games firsthand, meet developers and explore exciting new titles before they gain wide international recognition. The Japanese Indie Games Area is packed with hidden gems waiting to be discovered by hardcore gamers, aspiring developers and those who are simply looking for something new and unexpected. This will be a chance to be among the first to experience the future of Japanese indie gaming, and only at HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026.

NINJALA 2: THE UNCHARTED PLANET

GungHo Online Entertainment will be hosting a booth where HYPER JAPAN visitors can take part in the first hands-on demo of Ninjala 2: The Uncharted Planet in Europe. Those taking part can choose their own path and dive into the ‘Planetary Exploration Course’ for pure, adrenaline-pumping action, or take in the sights on the ‘Photography Course’. Everyone who plays either course at the booth will receive a Ninjala 2 giveaway item, including button pins featuring nine different designs.

Ninjala 2 is a two-part saga, and the first instalment, Ninjala 2: The Uncharted Planet, will launch in spring 2027 exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2. HYPER JAPAN visitors will be among the first to play the game, making it an unmissable opportunity.

Nintendo, Bandai Namco Toys and Hobby, Ninjala 2: The Uncharted Planet and the Japanese Indie Games Areawill be joining an already packed celebration of the best of Japanese culture, with live music, exhibitors, food and drink, shopping, fashion and much more. More information on the full HYPER JAPAN line-up can be found here: hyperjapan.co.uk/festival.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026 are on sale now. For more details and to purchase tickets, visithyperjapan.co.uk/festival.

HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026 Details

Venue
Olympia London
Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX

Dates & Times
Friday 24 July 2026: 12:00–20:00
Saturday 25 July 2026: 10:00–20:00
Sunday 26 July 2026: 10:00–17:00

Prices
General admission day tickets start from £28.35 (children 10 and under enter free).