Grand Sumo 2027: Full Schedule, Venues & How to Get Tickets

Grand sumo's 2027 season runs six 15-day tournaments (honbasho): Hatsu (Jan 10–24, Tokyo), Haru (Mar 14–28, Osaka), Natsu (May 9–23, Tokyo), Nagoya (Jul 11–25, at the new IG Arena), Aki (Sep 12–26, Tokyo) and Kyushu (Nov 14–28, Fukuoka). Each runs Sunday to Sunday. Buy tickets on the official English site sumo.or.jp/EnTicket, and arrive by roughly 14:00 to catch the top-division bouts, which always finish by about 18:00.

The Japan Sumo Association confirmed all six 2027 dates on 29 May 2025, so you can plan flights and hotels around them now — a rare treat for a live spectacle this atmospheric.

The 2027 grand sumo calendar

All six honbasho, in order. Dates are fixed (Sunday→Sunday); the 2027 Nagoya basho is held at the new IG Arena, which opened in July 2025 and replaced the old Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium (Dolphins Arena).

Each tournament has its own page with full access, seating and same-day-ticket details — start with the Tokyo Hatsu basho 2027 guide or the Nagoya basho 2027 guide for the new-venue lowdown.

How a honbasho works

A honbasho runs 15 consecutive days. Every wrestler in the top makuuchi division fights once a day; the wrestler with the best win–loss record after day 15 takes the Emperor's Cup. The whole card climbs the ranks through the day:

• ~8:00 gates open; lowest divisions fight from ~8:30 in a near-empty hall.
• ~14:15 the juryo (second division) ring-entering ceremony (dohyo-iri); juryo bouts from ~14:40.
• ~15:45 the makuuchi dohyo-iri, then the top-division bouts from ~16:00.
• ~17:30 the yokozuna (grand champion) bouts — the loudest, tensest moment.
• ~18:00–18:15 the day closes with yumitori-shiki, the bow-twirling ceremony.

On days 13–15 the schedule shifts about 30 minutes earlier, so check your day.

How to watch (and when to arrive)

If you want atmosphere over endurance, arrive around 14:00–15:00: you'll catch the juryo ceremony, the makuuchi ring-entering pageantry and every top bout through to the yokozuna and the closing bow ceremony. Early birds who come at opening see the young wrestlers in an empty arena — peaceful, and great for photos.

Seat types, from closest to most accessible:

• Tamari-seki — ringside floor cushions, the closest you can sit (16+ only, no food or drink, often allocated by lottery).
• Masu-seki — tatami boxes for up to four people (tiers A/B/C); you can eat your ekiben here.
• Isu-seki — Western-style arena chairs (tiers SS→C); the cheapest and easiest option, ideal for first-timers.

Personal photos are usually fine (no disruptive flash or tripods). One rule to know: throwing your seat cushion (zabuton) after an upset is officially discouraged for safety — keep it under you. And do try chanko-nabe, the wrestlers' hearty hotpot, sold in the Kokugikan basement and at Ryogoku restaurants.

Getting tickets

The safest route is the JSA's official English site sumo.or.jp/EnTicket, which accepts international cards; domestic sellers include Ticket Pia, Lawson and Seven, and resellers like Klook, Viator and JTB offer English support at higher prices. Advance sale opens roughly 5–8 weeks before each tournament, and popular days — Tokyo weekends and the final days — sell out. A limited number of same-day chair tickets (tojitsu-ken) are sold at the venue box office each morning, first-come; your best odds are mid-week days outside Tokyo.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of buying online, seat maps and same-day tactics, see our how to buy sumo tickets guide. First time at the sumo? Our what to expect & etiquette guide covers the rituals, food and dos-and-don'ts.

Approximate prices

Prices rise most years and vary by day and tier; 2027 prices are released with each tournament, so confirm on sumo.or.jp. As a rough guide (approximate 2026 prices, as of July 2026): ringside tamari around ¥20,000 per person; masu boxes around ¥9,000–15,000 per person by tier and day; chair seats from about ¥3,500 (C tier, weekday) up to ¥11,000+ (SS). Treat these as ballpark only — never as a fixed 2027 figure.

Which tournament should you pick?

• Easiest access & most dates in Tokyo: three of the six (Hatsu, Natsu, Aki) are at Ryogoku Kokugikan, about a 2-minute walk from JR Ryogoku Station's West Exit — unbeatable for first-time visitors, but weekends and final days sell fastest.
• News-worthy new venue: the Nagoya basho moves into IG Arena (opened July 2025), right in front of Meijo-koen subway station — a modern hall and often easier to get same-day seats than Tokyo.
• Regional atmosphere: Osaka's Haru basho (EDION Arena, near Namba) and Fukuoka's Kyushu basho (Fukuoka Kokusai Center) draw passionate local crowds and are the friendliest for walk-up same-day tickets.

FAQ

When is grand sumo in 2027? Six tournaments: Hatsu (Jan 10–24, Tokyo), Haru (Mar 14–28, Osaka), Natsu (May 9–23, Tokyo), Nagoya (Jul 11–25, Nagoya), Aki (Sep 12–26, Tokyo) and Kyushu (Nov 14–28, Fukuoka). Each runs 15 days, Sunday to Sunday.

How much do sumo tickets cost? Roughly ¥3,500 for a weekday chair seat up to ¥20,000 for ringside, with masu boxes around ¥9,000–15,000 per person (approximate 2026 prices, as of July 2026). Exact 2027 prices are released with each tournament — confirm on sumo.or.jp.

Where do I buy tickets? The official English site sumo.or.jp/EnTicket accepts international cards. Domestic sellers include Ticket Pia, Lawson and Seven; resellers like Klook and JTB add English support at higher prices.

Can I get same-day tickets? Yes — a limited number of same-day chair tickets (tojitsu-ken) are sold each morning at the venue box office, first-come. Odds are best on mid-week days outside Tokyo.

What time should I arrive? Arrive around 14:00–15:00 to catch the top-division (makuuchi) ceremony and every major bout through the yokozuna matches; the day always ends by about 18:00.

Which tournament is best for first-timers? The three Tokyo tournaments at Ryogoku Kokugikan are the easiest to reach (2 minutes from JR Ryogoku). For a newer, less crowded hall, try the Nagoya basho at IG Arena.

Is it worth it? Absolutely — the ritual, the ring-entering ceremonies and a packed hall roaring for the yokozuna make grand sumo one of Japan's most atmospheric live experiences, and top-division action fits neatly into an afternoon.