A summer festival where illuminated Nebuta floats and mikoshi brighten the streets of Tsukuba
Matsuri Tsukuba
The 2026 edition of Matsuri Tsukuba has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/22 〜 2026/08/23Ended
- Season / frequency
- Late August each year / Every year
- Location
- Around Tsukuba Station (including Tsukuba Center Square, Oshimizu Park, Tonarie Tsukuba Square, Central Park, and Takezono Park)
- Area
- Ibaraki Prefecture・Tsukuba City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 10 min–1 h 30 min · limited express)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A summer festival in Tsukuba City, with food, stage performances, , and the Nebuta Parade at multiple venues around Tsukuba Station.
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: On-chan File:Matsuri Tsukuba nebuta01.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Keiichi Yasu File:エーゲ海のテーマ (36025293483).jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 DP3M7993Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Keiichi Yasu File:筑波山名物 ガマの油 (36000333544).jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 DP3M7985Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.About Matsuri Tsukuba
Matsuri Tsukuba is one of Tsukuba’s signature summer festivals, held in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, in late August each year.
Multiple venues are set up around Tsukuba Station, with a varied program featuring local food, music and dance performances, and parades with mikoshi and Nebuta floats.
In Tsukuba, an international city where nature, history, and science coexist, the festival is run as an event where the community and its people come together to shape the future.
Source: まつりつくば概要 ｜ まつりつくばオフィシャルサイト
Festival highlights
A major highlight is the grand festival parade, featuring mikoshi and Nebuta floats.
The Nebuta floats are illuminated and parade along Tsuchiura-Gakuen Line with dancers known as haneto and float pullers.
At the multiple venues, visitors can also enjoy music and dance performances by local groups, stage events, and stalls selling Tsukuba specialties.
Source: つくばねぶたパレード l 2026つくばねぶた祭り / まつりつくば2026 | 観光いばらき公式ホームページ
A summer festival where illuminated Nebuta floats and mikoshi brighten the streets of Tsukuba
What to expect
Visitors can enjoy food stalls, stages, performances, and dancing while exploring multiple venues around Tsukuba Station.
During the parade, mikoshi and Nebuta floats proceed along Tsuchiura-Gakuen Line, with haneto dancers and float pullers performing around the Nebuta floats.
The 2026 Nebuta Parade was scheduled to run from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
How to take part
General visitors can enjoy the stage performances, stalls, and parades at the venues.
Applications for haneto dancers and float pullers for the 2026 Nebuta Parade had been open, but applications have closed.
Participation requirements and whether same-day registration is available vary by event, so check the details before taking part.
Applications for haneto dancers and float pullers for the 2026 Nebuta Parade had been announced, but applications have closed.
The Tsukuba Nebuta Parade information site is listed as the application destination.
Visitors are invited to watch the festival by going directly to the venues around Tsukuba Station.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Around Tsukuba Station (including Tsukuba Center Square, Oshimizu Park, Tonarie Tsukuba Square, Central Park, and Takezono Park).
The festival address is 2-128 Azuma, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
- Train and bus
Get off at Tsukuba Station on the Tsukuba Express.
From Tsuchiura, Arakawaoki, and Hitachino-Ushiku stations on the JR Joban Line, take a Kanto Railway bus bound for Tsukuba Center and get off at the final stop.
- By car
From the Sakuratsuchiura IC on the Joban Expressway, take National Route 354 and Prefectural Route 55.
The organizers recommend using public transportation.
- Parking
Temporary parking is available.
Source: まつりつくば - Wikipedia
Address 2-128 Azuma, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Festival Information (The listed dates have passed)
In 2026, the festival was held on August 22 (Saturday) and the 23rd (Sunday).
Multiple venues are set up around Tsukuba Station, including Tsukuba Center Square, Oshimizu Park, Tonarie Tsukuba Square, Central Park, and Takezono Park.
The Nebuta Parade was scheduled to run from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Ibaraki Prefecture / Tsukuba City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
In 2026, 6 WBGT measuring devices were installed at the venues, and the heat index was recorded every hour.
When visiting, replenish fluids and salt regularly, and make use of the cooling tents and first-aid stations.
Visitors are asked to take their trash home, so please enjoy the festival by taking any waste you generate with you.
Source: 会場の暑さ指数について ｜ まつりつくばオフィシャルサイト / まつりつくばごみ持ち帰りキャンペーン／つくば市公式ウェブサイト
Nearby attractions
Nearby facilities designated as cooling shelters where visitors can cool off on hot days include the Tsukuba Startup Park Industrial Promotion Center, Tsukuba City Central Library, and Tsukuba Capio.
These are all introduced as facilities near the venues and are options for taking a break if you feel hot.
Opening hours vary by facility, so please check when you visit.
地図と測量の科学館
茨城県つくば市にある科学館
地質標本館
茨城県つくば市にある博物館
松見公園
つくば市の公園
研究学園駅前公園
茨城県つくば市にある地区公園
筑波実験植物園
茨城県つくば市にある植物の研究機関
筑波山神社
茨城県つくば市にある神社
Origins and History of Matsuri Tsukuba
The first Matsuri Tsukuba was held in 1981 by a group of festival enthusiasts.
The local government became involved in organizing the festival in 1984, and after Tsukuba City was established in 1987, the city took charge of the organizing office.
The festival continued to grow, with a parade along Tsuchiura-Gakuen Line beginning in 1998 after the road was closed to traffic, and the Mando Mikoshi making its first appearance in the parade in 2001.
Official information
For official information, visit the Matsuri Tsukuba Official Website.
The 2026 dates and venues are also listed in the Ibaraki Tourism event guide.
Information about applications to participate in the Nebuta Parade and its schedule is available on the Tsukuba Nebuta Parade information site.
Source: まつりつくばオフィシャルサイト
Matsuri Tsukuba at a Glance
Matsuri Tsukuba is a summer festival held around Tsukuba Station, where visitors can enjoy food, stage performances, mikoshi, and the Nebuta Parade.
In 2026, the festival was held on August 22 and the 23rd. The Nebuta Parade featured illuminated floats, haneto dancers, and float pullers.
Enjoy visiting multiple venues while taking precautions against the heat and remembering to take your trash with you.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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