Osaka Comedy Festival 2026 Draws 73,658 Attendees
News related to:Mastek (UK) Limited · 2 min read
Osaka, Japan, OSAKA COMEDY FESTIVAL 2026, an international comedy event that took place in the Minami district from October 10 to 12, drew a total of 73,658 attendees. The festival, which aimed to sustain the momentum generated by Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, featured a variety of performances and events, including street and theater shows.
The festival was organized by Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, and the Osaka Cultural Arts Project Executive Committee. It was held at Namba Square and SPACE14 on the 14th floor of Shinsaibashi PARCO. One of the highlights was the SKIT COMEDY SHOW on October 11, which showcased performances by internationally recognized acts such as THE TOKYO IDIOTS, featuring TONY, WES-P, and GASSY. TONY, who reached the finals of Britain's Got Talent in 2023, and WES-P, who has appeared on the talent show in over 10 countries, brought their unique comedy to the stage.
CHALLENGE, a nonverbal comedy production that received a five-star review at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, also performed at SPACE14. Directed by Akira Ishida of the Japanese comedy duo NON STYLE, the show incorporated Japanese elements such as sword-fighting choreography and kendama, a traditional Japanese skill toy, to tell its story through facial expressions, physical movement, and music.
The festival concluded with a performance by GABEZ, a nonverbal performance duo known for their pictogram performance at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Their performance at Namba Square drew enthusiastic applause from spectators of all ages.
Akira Ishida, the festival's overall master of ceremonies and director of CHALLENGE, expressed his hope that audiences from overseas would find the performances funny.
The organizers announced that the festival will continue in 2027 and beyond. Details of the next edition, including dates and program information, will be announced on the official website and social media channels as soon as confirmed.
The event was managed by Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese entertainment company and talent agency. The company provided media materials, including official photographs from all three days and daily highlight videos, for news coverage of the event. Online use of video footage was limited to one video of no more than five minutes, with use permitted until December 31, 2026.
General inquiries and performance information can be directed to the same contact details.