Fukushima to host UFO Festival 2026 with alien costume parade

The UFO Festival 2026 is scheduled to take place on October 31, 2026, in the Iino Town shopping district of Fukushima City. Known as a ‘UFO village,’ the area will host one of Japan’s largest events dedicated to unidentified flying objects and extraterrestrials.

The festival’s centerpiece is an alien costume parade and contest, which expects approximately 2,000 participants from both Japan and abroad. The contest features various awards, including a ‘UFO Grand Prize’ offering 50,000 yen and local specialty products. The event is organized by the Iino Town Machizukuri Research Group, the International UFO Research Institute, and the Iino Town Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the parade, the festival will include stage performances, a gourmet event featuring ‘UFO dumplings,’ and a talk event titled ‘Will there be a UFO attack?!’ featuring Takeharu Mikami, the director of the International UFO Research Institute and editor-in-chief of Monthly Mu. A mystery tour led by Mikami is also planned for the following day, November 1, at Sengannmori.