USJ Christmas 2026: Universal Holiday Wonders 13 Nov–17 Jan, Night Shows 25 Nov–11 Jan

Universal Studios Japan's Christmas season in 2026 is "Universal Holiday Wonders ～Discover U!!!～", running from Friday 13 November 2026 to Sunday 17 January 2027 at the park in Osaka. The two night shows — "Light Up the Night: Christmas Celebration" and "Joy of Lights", back for the first time in nine years — play at Gramercy Park from 25 November to 11 January, with no shows on 31 December. A front-of-stage special viewing area ticket starts at ¥1,700.

Checked 2026-10-14 against USJ's official holiday event page, the Light Up the Night and Joy of Lights pages, the operator's press release of 14 September 2026 (Japanese), the Japanese show pages, and the Lawson Ticket sales page for the viewing area.

At a glance

Night show times

USJ says show times differ depending on the day. The day-by-day Show Schedule is posted about one week before your visit, so treat the times above as the typical pattern on the official show pages, not a promise for every date. Both main shows are at Gramercy Park, so you can stay in one spot from the 5:30 p.m. Light Up the Night into the 6:00 p.m. Joy of Lights.

Light Up the Night is a night show with Elmo, Snoopy, Hello Kitty and other park friends in winter costumes, plus snowpeople and singers, ending with snow falling over the crowd. USJ's press photos are captioned as being from last year's run, so this show also ran in winter 2025.

Joy of Lights puts messages that guests have written to the people they love on a big screen, set to light and music. USJ calls it a return "for the first time in nine years", and the finale fills Gramercy Park with falling snow.

Special viewing area ticket (from ¥1,700)

This ticket gives you a spot in the area right in front of the stage for Light Up the Night and Joy of Lights, without queueing for a place.

• Price: from ¥1,700 including tax, the same for adults, children and seniors. Lawson Ticket notes that prices vary by date.
• On sale: 24 September 2026 – 11 January 2027.
• Where: USJ's official web ticket store (the Japanese site lists it; the English show page does not) and Lawson Ticket online.
• Lawson Ticket does not sell the first (5:30 p.m.) show; for that slot, look on the official store.
• The area has standing and seated sections; depending on capacity you may not get the one you want, and you cannot bring in chairs or other tall seats.
• It is not a park ticket. You also need a Studio Pass or annual pass.
• No cancellations or date changes after purchase. If a show is cancelled for bad weather or a system fault, Lawson Ticket says the ticket is refunded later.

Can I send a message to Joy of Lights?

Probably not from abroad. Messages shown on screen are chosen by lottery from advance entries, and the official entry terms (in Japanese) say entry and result notices are limited to people living in Japan. Entries run from 28 September to 14 December 2026, with a separate deadline for each show week — the first week (25–29 November) closes on 9 November, with results on 19 November (official entry page, checked 2026-10-14). Even if a message is chosen, the park ticket is still required. Anyone can watch the show itself with a normal park ticket.

Daytime programme and food

• Universal Food Festival: USJ says this year's holiday food festival is the biggest in the park's history in both menus and area. The participating restaurants are "to be announced"; on 14 October 2026 the official page still said "Details Coming Soon".
• Hogwarts™ Magical Nights – Winter Magic: a projection show on Hogwarts Castle, 13 November – 17 January, with Hogsmeade in winter decorations.
• Winter-only greetings and shows, including Minions Jingle Bello Meet & Greet, Universal Wonderland: Let's Smile Together!, and the singing show Power of Rock: Holidays are Rockin'.

The kids-free pass is for Japan residents

The "Holiday Kids Free Pass" lets one child (4–11, up to elementary school) in free with one adult from 13 November to 30 December 2026, from ¥8,400 for the pair. USJ says it is only for buyers living in Japan, who must upload an official document showing the child's age, so most overseas visitors will buy regular Studio Passes.

Is there a Christmas tree?

As of 14 October 2026, neither USJ's holiday event page nor its press release mentions a Christmas tree. We will add it here if USJ announces one.

New Year's Eve

Light Up the Night and Joy of Lights are not performed on 31 December 2026. USJ's holiday page lists "NO LIMIT! COUNTDOWN 2027" as part of the same winter season; check the official countdown page for New Year's Eve plans.

Getting there

The nearest station is Universal City on the JR Yumesaki Line; Lawson Ticket's venue note says the park is right by the station. See USJ's official train access page for journey times from Osaka, Shin-Osaka, Namba and the airports. Check Studio Pass prices and park hours for your date on the official web ticket store and park calendar once your plans are set.

Related

• The whole anniversary year: Universal Studios Japan 25th Anniversary 'Discover U!!!'
• A New Year shrine visit in Osaka: Sumiyoshi Taisha Hatsumode

Official page: https://www.usj.co.jp/web/en/us/events/christmas-2026/universal-holiday-wonders (checked 2026-10-14)

Update log: 2026-10-14 — first published from USJ's 14 September 2026 announcement, the official show pages and the Lawson Ticket sales page.