3-day Evangelion 30th Anniversary Festival to be held in Yokohama in 2026

A new festival celebrating 30 years of Evangelion will take place in Japan over 3 days in 2026.

The event, which will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the groundbreaking television anime series “Neon Genesis Evangelion”, will take the form of a large-scale festival event called “EVANGELION:30+; 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION”.

This three-day celebration will take place at Yokohama Arena in February 2026.

This unprecedented festival-style event aims to commemorate the series’ anniversary by offering a wide range of experiences for fans.

The three-day celebration will feature exclusive exhibits, interactive content, live musical performances, and merchandise sales.

“Neon Genesis Evangelion” first aired in 1995 and sparked a cultural phenomenon in Japan and around the world.

In 2007, the franchise was revitalized with the “Rebuild of Evangelion” film series, conceived and directed by the series creator Hideaki Anno.

The four-part film series, comprising “Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone,” “Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance,” “Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo,” and the concluding film “Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time” achieved significant critical and commercial success, grossing over 10.28 billion yen and attracting 6.73 million viewers in Japan alone.

The “Evangelion” series has consistently found new fans and maintained a broad appeal across diverse demographics over the 30 years since it first aired in Japan.

The “EVANGELION:30+; 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION” festival will be held from Saturday, February 21st, 2026, to Monday, February 23rd, 2026 (a national holiday in Japan), at Yokohama Arena, located in Shin-Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.

The event will feature two distinct areas: an exhibition area and a stage area, offering a comprehensive celebration of the franchise’s legacy and impact.

The stage area will host a variety of live performances and special presentations, including a special edition of the popular “Evangelion Wind Symphony” concert, which has been touring since 2018.

A new live performance incorporating video elements will also be featured, alongside a special stage appearance by Yoko Takahashi, the vocalist behind the series’ iconic opening theme “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis”.

Additionally, a secret special project will be unveiled during the stage presentations.

The exhibition area will adopt a thematic approach, exploring the past, present, and future of the “Evangelion” franchise.

The exhibits will be designed to appeal to both long-time fans and newcomers, offering an engaging and immersive experience.

Collaboration booths featuring partner companies will also be present.

A “Fans Market” will also be held, providing a platform for fans to showcase their original “Evangelion”-themed creations.

The market will be open to both professional and amateur artists and creators.

The first round of exhibitor applications has already closed, with the second round scheduled to open on Friday, May 9th, 2025, at 12:00 PM Japan Standard Time (JST).

Further details regarding the event’s schedule and ticket information will be announced after the summer of 2025.

Event Details

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Source: Official Website

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