Highlights
- Three days, Oct 30–Nov 1, 2026: the first edition in five years to include Halloween day itself (Sat Oct 31)
- 18+ "Ikehalo Night" at Ikebukuro Sunshine City on Fri Oct 30, 4:30–10:30 PM
- About 400 cosplayers parade from Sunshine 60-dori to Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL (planned) on Sat Oct 31 from 2:20 PM
- Special guests Enako and Toshiya Miyata of Kis-My-Ft2 at the Naka-Ikebukuro Park main-stage Special Ceremony, Sat Oct 31 from 1:20 PM
Background & story
Held since 2014 around the east side of Ikebukuro in Toshima City, it is one of Japan's largest Halloween cosplay events; 2026 is its 13th year, and the 2025 edition drew about 161,000 visitors over three days.
Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2026 ("Ikehalo") runs for three days, Friday October 30 to Sunday November 1, 2026. Friday 4:30–10:30 PM is the 18+ "Ikehalo Night" at Ikebukuro Sunshine City; on Saturday October 31 and Sunday November 1 the main festival fills the Ikebukuro area from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. It is the first time in five years that Halloween itself falls inside the festival. Watching the stages and parade is free with no ticket; cosplaying or shooting photos requires a paid registration ticket (standard advance ¥2,980 per day). Checked on the official site, 2026-10-13.
At a glance
| Dates | Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31 and Sun Nov 1, 2026 |
| Ikehalo Night | Fri Oct 30, 4:30–10:30 PM, Ikebukuro Sunshine City, 18+ only (no high-school students) |
| Main festival | Sat Oct 31 & Sun Nov 1, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM, Ikebukuro area |
| Stage events | 11:00 AM–4:30 PM (main stage at Naka-Ikebukuro Park) |
| Photo hours | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (Ikehalo Night: 4:30–9:30 PM) |
| Changing rooms | 8:45 AM–6:00 PM (check-in start depends on ticket type) |
| Check-in | World Import Mart Building 4F, Sunshine City (Oct 31 & Nov 1; Kids tickets check in elsewhere) |
| Just watching | Free, no ticket |
| Cosplay / photographer | Paid registration ticket required (table below) |
| Organiser | Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival Executive Committee (Dwango, Animate, Hacosta, Sunshine City, Toshima City) |
| Official | Official site (English) / X @niconico_cos |
Tickets and prices (2026, tax included)
Tickets differ by how you take part (cosplayer or photographer). Each is valid for one day except the 3DAYS pass, and sold-out types are not sold on the day (official ticket page, checked 2026-10-13).
| Ticket | Advance | Same day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (cosplay / photographer) | ¥2,980/day | ¥3,480/day | Check-in 11:00 AM–5:00 PM |
| Premium (cosplay / photographer) | ¥3,980/day | ¥4,480/day | Check-in from 8:45 AM, hospitality area, partner photo studios |
| Premium 3DAYS (cosplay / photographer) | ¥10,000 | ¥11,000 | Ikehalo Night + both days, overnight luggage storage, skip check-in after day one |
| Ikehalo Night (cosplay / photographer) | ¥3,480 | ¥3,980 | Oct 30 only, check-in 4:30–9:30 PM |
| Junior & senior high (photographer only) | ¥1,480/day | ¥1,980/day | Student ID required |
| Kids (elementary age and under, cosplay only) | — | ¥500/day (cash on the day) | Preschoolers free; Toshima-resident elementary pupils also free (with ID) |
Advance tickets are sold on e+ (eplus) until 11:59 PM JST the day before; a processing fee is added at purchase.
Rules visitors get wrong
- Change at the venue. You must change in the official changing rooms; arriving or leaving in costume is prohibited (the Sunshine City Prince Hotel plan and the Cosset Ikebukuro changing-room ticket are the exceptions).
- Shooting cosplayers needs a photographer ticket, whatever camera you use. Watching and casual souvenir snaps need no ticket.
- Ask before you shoot. Photos only with mutual consent; no shooting while walking, no extreme low angles, no posting without permission.
- Ikehalo Night is 18+. High-school students cannot enter.
- Show your ticket at check-in and keep the participant badge visible all day.
Full rules (exposure guidelines, props, tripods and lighting limits) are on the official participation rules page.
Highlights
- Main stage (Naka-Ikebukuro Park): the "Niconico Cosplay Collection" runway, family Halloween stage and more. Special guests cosplayer Enako and Toshiya Miyata of Kis-My-Ft2 appear at the "Ikehalo Special Ceremony" on Sat Oct 31 from 1:20 PM (no Nov 1 appearance has been announced).
- Ikehalo Cosplay Parade (Sat Oct 31, from 2:20 PM): about 400 cosplayers walk from Sunshine 60-dori via Animate-dori to Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL (planned route); watching from the street is free.
- Ikehalo Night (Oct 30): an 18+ evening edition at Sunshine City for night shoots and socialising.
Getting there
Sunshine City, where check-in and the changing rooms are, is about an 8-minute walk from Exit 35 of Ikebukuro Station (JR, Tokyo Metro, Seibu, Tobu). The festival spreads across the streets of Ikebukuro, so check the area on the "Ikehalo MAP" the organiser publishes on the official site. For another Tokyo-area Halloween option, see Disney Halloween 2026.
Sources: official site (overview, tickets, rules), Anime! Anime! (July 31, 2026), Dtimes (Sept 6, 2026), Sunshine City access. Checked 2026-10-13.
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- Sunshine City (check-in and changing rooms) is about an 8-minute walk from Exit 35 of Ikebukuro Station (JR / Tokyo Metro / Seibu / Tobu). The festival spans the Ikebukuro area; see the official "Ikehalo MAP". Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Check tickets and details on the official page (button above).
- Paying
- Watching only: free, no ticket. Cosplay or photographer tickets: Standard ¥2,980/day advance (¥3,480 same day), Premium ¥3,980/day, Premium 3DAYS ¥10,000, Ikehalo Night ¥3,480, junior/senior-high photographer ¥1,480/day, Kids (elementary and under) ¥500 on the day. Smaller venues in Japan are often cash-first — carry some yen (cards/IC not guaranteed).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- anime fans, night owls, groups of friends
Good to know
Change only in the official changing rooms; arriving or leaving in costume is banned (exceptions: the Sunshine City Prince Hotel plan and the Cosset Ikebukuro changing-room ticket). Shooting cosplayers needs a photographer ticket whatever camera you use, and only with consent. Check-in on Oct 31 and Nov 1 is at World Import Mart Building 4F, Sunshine City (Kids tickets check in elsewhere); photo hours 10 AM–5 PM. Ikehalo Night is 18+ (no high-school students). Sold-out ticket types are not sold on the day (official site, checked 2026-10-13).
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2026?
- October 30 (Fri), 31 (Sat) and November 1 (Sun), 2026. Friday is the 18+ Ikehalo Night at Ikebukuro Sunshine City, 4:30–10:30 PM; Saturday and Sunday run 10:00 AM–6:00 PM across the Ikebukuro area (official site, checked 2026-10-13).
- Do I need a ticket just to watch? How much are tickets?
- No. Watching the stages and parade, or taking casual souvenir photos, is free with no ticket. To cosplay or to shoot as a photographer you need a registration ticket: Standard ¥2,980/day advance (¥3,480 same day), Premium ¥3,980/day, Ikehalo Night ¥3,480, junior/senior-high photographer ¥1,480/day.
- Where do I change? Can I arrive already in cosplay?
- A cosplay ticket gives you the official changing rooms and cloakroom. On Oct 31 and Nov 1 check-in is at World Import Mart Building 4F in Sunshine City (Kids tickets check in elsewhere), and changing rooms open 8:45 AM–6:00 PM (start time depends on ticket type). Arriving or leaving in costume is prohibited, except with the Sunshine City Prince Hotel plan or the Cosset Ikebukuro changing-room ticket.
- Do I need a ticket to photograph cosplayers with my phone?
- If you are there to shoot or interact with cosplayers, yes, whatever the device: the official rules require a photographer ticket regardless of equipment. Casual souvenir snaps without cosplaying need no ticket. Photos are allowed only with mutual consent, during photo hours of 10:00 AM–5:00 PM.
- Who can attend Ikehalo Night?
- Ikehalo Night (Oct 30, 4:30–10:30 PM) is for ages 18 and over; high-school students cannot enter. To cosplay or shoot you need an Ikehalo Night ticket (¥3,480 advance, ¥3,980 same day) or a Premium 3DAYS ticket.
- When and where is the cosplay parade?
- The Ikehalo Cosplay Parade starts at 2:20 PM on Saturday October 31, with about 400 cosplayers walking from Sunshine 60-dori via Animate-dori to Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL (planned route). Watching from the street needs no ticket (official programme page, checked 2026-10-13).
Getting there
Ikebukuro area, centered on Sunshine City — 3-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo