Popular Weekend Events in Osaka (June Updated)

This brand-new Ghibli Park exhibition will showcase the park's current state thanks to the collective efforts of visitors. A highlight of the exhibition is its interactivity. In addition to valuable exhibits, the park features various interactive facilities that allow adults and children alike to "see, touch, and explore."

The Tenjin Festival at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, is one of Japan's three major festivals, boasting a history of over a thousand years. In 2026, the festival includes a nighttime celebration on July 24th (featuring the release of deities, lion dances, and other rituals), followed by the main shrine ceremony on July 25th (featuring the transfer of deities, land processions, boat processions, and fireworks displays). Attracting 1.3 million visitors annually, the Tenjin Festival's grand finale is the fireworks display. Approximately 100 large boats light bonfires, and about 3,000 fireworks explode simultaneously, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

The Ikudama Summer Festival is one of Osaka's three major summer festivals (Ikudama Festival, Tenjin Festival, and Sumiyoshi Festival), held annually in July at Ikudama Shrine. Renowned for its vibrant festival atmosphere, it heralds the arrival of summer in Osaka. Affectionately known as "Ikudama-sensei," the Ikudama Festival attracts large crowds each year and is a cherished tradition that perfectly blends solemn Shinto rituals with lively folk celebrations. It is also famous for being held before other major Osaka summer festivals such as the Tenjin Festival. As the premier of Osaka's three major summer festivals, the Ikudama Summer Festival is held annually on July 11th and 12th at Ikukuni Shrine. A highlight is the "Rikudo-go," a procession of lion dancers and portable shrines led by the pillow drum. This is a summer festival where one can experience Osaka's rich history, traditions, and passion.

From April 25th (Saturday) to June 21st (Sunday), 2026, the Osaka Municipal Museum of Art will host a special exhibition commemorating its 90th anniversary: ​​"Giving It My All! The Story of Masterpieces – The Beautiful Chapters Seeked by the Osaka Municipal Museum of Art." As Japan's third oldest public art museum, the museum has undergone extensive renovations and thrived in Osaka. History has been preserved and forms the foundation for the future. It unfolds as a "narrative," passed down through generations in different forms. Art not only depicts the "narrative" itself but also visually conveys the spirit of the times and the people. The "works of art" that form the core of the museum eloquently tell its history. This exhibition, commemorating the museum's 90th anniversary, showcases numerous masterpieces from its collection and on loan, presenting the stories woven around the museum, the stories that give rise to art, and the origins and future prospects of art.

Yasumasa Morimura, Kenji Yanobe, and Miwa Yanagi will reunite at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka! These three artists, active on the international stage and who have previously crossed paths, will meet again in 2026, following their collaboration in 2019, the year after the World Expo. Why 2019? Will it attract audiences? What does the exhibition title "Disappearance" truly mean? What lies hidden behind the word "disappearance"? This exhibition primarily showcases new works and will also serve as a "treasure trove," condensing the creative journey of each artist. Sometimes collaborating, sometimes clashing, each artist, as an absolutely independent creator, will have their individual worlds converge and collide on the museum's stage.