Sumo Tournaments in Japan 2026–2027
The next six Grand Sumo Tournaments — dates, when tickets go on sale, seat prices and access, checked against the Japan Sumo Association.
Professional sumo is only fought in public six times a year: three 15-day tournaments in Tokyo (January, May, September) and one each in Osaka (March), Nagoya (July) and Fukuoka (November). If one overlaps your trip, it is worth planning around — tickets go on sale four to eight weeks ahead and the best days sell out quickly.
- Sun, Nov 8 – Sun, Nov 22, 2026Fukuoka November Sumo Tournament (Kyushu Basho)Sports¥2,000
- Sun, Jan 10 – Sun, Jan 24, 2027Tokyo January Sumo Tournament (Hatsu Basho)Sports¥3,500
- Sun, Mar 14 – Sun, Mar 28, 2027Osaka March Sumo Tournament (Haru Basho)Sports¥3,500
- Sun, May 9 – Sun, May 23, 2027Tokyo May Sumo Tournament (Natsu Basho)Sports¥3,500
- Sun, Jul 11 – Sun, Jul 25, 2027Nagoya July Sumo Tournament (Nagoya Basho)Sports¥3,500
- Sun, Sep 12 – Sun, Sep 26, 2027Tokyo September Sumo Tournament (Aki Basho)Sports¥3,500
Watching sumo in Japan: common questions
- When are the sumo tournaments?
- Grand sumo holds six tournaments a year, each lasting 15 days from a Sunday to a Sunday: Fukuoka November Sumo Tournament (Sun, Nov 8 – Sun, Nov 22, 2026); Tokyo January Sumo Tournament (Sun, Jan 10 – Sun, Jan 24, 2027); Osaka March Sumo Tournament (Sun, Mar 14 – Sun, Mar 28, 2027); Tokyo May Sumo Tournament (Sun, May 9 – Sun, May 23, 2027); Nagoya July Sumo Tournament (Sun, Jul 11 – Sun, Jul 25, 2027); Tokyo September Sumo Tournament (Sun, Sep 12 – Sun, Sep 26, 2027).
- How much do sumo tickets cost?
- At Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, chair seats on the second floor cost about ¥3,500–9,500 and box seats (masu-seki, cushions on the floor, sold per box) about ¥8,500–15,000 per person, with ringside tamari seats at ¥20,000. Weekends cost a little more and a handling fee is added. Each tournament page lists that venue's official prices.
- When do sumo tickets go on sale?
- Four to eight weeks before each tournament. Upcoming sale dates: January 2027 tournament on December 5, 2026; March 2027 on February 6, 2027; May 2027 on April 10, 2027; July 2027 on May 15, 2027; September 2027 on August 7, 2027. Popular days sell out quickly — the November 2026 tournament in Fukuoka is already sold out.
- Where can I buy sumo tickets in English?
- The Japan Sumo Association's English site links to the official ticket seller, Ticket Oosumo, which has an English version. Buying there avoids the mark-ups of resale and tour sites.
- What time should I arrive?
- Bouts run all day, starting with the lowest divisions in the morning. The top division's ring-entering ceremony is around 3:40 PM and the last bout around 6:00 PM, so arriving by mid-afternoon covers the highlights; your ticket is valid for the whole day.