Sakai Town to host FISE international urban sports festival in 2026

Sakai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, has announced that it will host the 'IBARAKI SAKAI Urban Sports Fes. 2026' from November 25 to 29, 2026. The event will be held as part of the FISE international extreme sports festival, bringing approximately 250 top-tier athletes from around the world to the region.

A major highlight of the competition is the UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup 2026 series finale. This final round will determine the annual series champion and serves as a critical event for athletes earning points toward qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The scheduled disciplines include BMX Freestyle (Park and Flatland) and Roller Freestyle (Park).

Local resident and rising BMX star Reena Shirai, who recently won a World Cup event, expressed her determination to win on her home turf. Town Mayor Masahiro Hashimoto emphasized that the development of urban sports facilities is a central pillar of the town's long-term community revitalization strategy.