Maebashi International Art Festival 2026 opens in Japan

The inaugural Maebashi International Art Festival 2026 launched in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, running for 80 days until December 20. Produced by Jin Tanaka, CEO of JINS Holdings, the festival utilizes 19 different venues across the city center, including museums, hotels, shopping streets, and vacant buildings, to showcase contemporary art, architecture, fashion, and music.

High-profile participating artists include Martin Margiela, Mika Ninagawa, Naoki Ishikawa, Tadashi Kawamata, and Yoichi Ochiai. Notable installations include Margiela’s work at Arts Maebashi and site-specific pieces by Ninagawa and Kawamata that integrate with the local architecture and urban environment.

In collaboration with JR East, the festival features several tourism-focused initiatives. These include a digital stamp rally connecting Tokyo stations to Maebashi, a 5km walking tour of art monuments, and specialized travel packages that combine Shinkansen transport with festival passports and hotel stays at Shiraiya Hotel.