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2nd Edition

KOKUYOSA 2026

North American International Yosakoi Festival

Bringing Yosakoi to the world stage

📅 Sep 19–20, 2026 | 📍 Lethbridge, Alberta | Free general admission
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Schedule
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Venue
WATCH

Last year's highlights

GUESTS

Special guests

Special guest
Chika Tamura
Yosakoi choreographer · workshop instructor
View profile →
Special guest
Yoshihiro Kaneko
Producer & choreographer — Narutaka
View profile →
PLAN YOUR VISIT

Plan your visit

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, Lethbridge

Dates

Sat–Sun, September 19–20, 2026. Performances all day, both days.

Location

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, Lethbridge, Alberta.

Admission

General admission is free — everyone welcome.

Getting here

About 2 hrs south of Calgary. Parking and transit info on the Visit page.

See full visitor guide
SCHEDULE

Schedule

9:00
Teams assemble & warm-up
10:00
Parade performance (all teams)
10:30
Opening ceremony
11:15
Flag performance — “Kaede”
11:20
Sponsor & KOKUYOSA introductions · meet the judges
12:10
Contest — Round 1 (all 12 teams)
13:20
Lunch break · mini workshop with Yoshihiro Kaneko · guest dance academies
13:45
Parade performance (all teams)
14:00
Partnership performances
14:30
Guest — Eisa (Okinawan dance)
14:45
Workshop — Chika Tamura
15:15
Contest — Round 2 (all 12 teams)
17:50
Awards & closing ceremony · Grand Prize performance
18:20
Final sō-odori — “Kaede / Yocchore”

Times are tentative and subject to change. Learn the sō-odori songs so you can dance along →

TEAMS

Participating teams

Japan
Narutaka
San -SUN-
Sensyu Sorya Dancing Team
SoftBank Yosakoi Club -One-
Tokyo Yosakoi Nanamarutai
USA
Kazanami
Kogyoku
Canada
APPARE Yosakoi Vancouver
Kochi Yosakoi Ambassador Kizuna International Team
Ōzora JCAM Yosakoi
Setsumai Yosakoi
YOSOCA
View all teams
NEWS

Latest news

July 11, 2026 · お知らせ

KOKUYOSA Featured in the Yomiuri Shimbun / 読売新聞「ニュースの門」でKOKUYOSAが紹介されました

KOKUYOSA has made the news in Japan! The July 11, 2026 edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun — one of…
June 30, 2026 · お知らせ

Announcing Our KOKUYOSA 2026 Special Guests / KOKUYOSA 2026 スペシャルゲスト発表

We’re delighted to introduce the special guests of KOKUYOSA 2026: Both guests embody the…
June 30, 2026 · お知らせ

Call for Volunteers — Help Make KOKUYOSA 2026 Happen / ボランティア募集 ― KOKUYOSA 2026を一緒につくりませんか

KOKUYOSA 2026 is looking for volunteers! We need helping hands across three days: No experience…
All news
DONATION

Support KOKUYOSA

Help bring the festival to life

Goal: $20,000 CAD · FundRazr campaign 2026

Donate now →

Individual Sponsor

COLLAB T-shirt — $100
COLLAB T-shirt — $100
T-shirt + Naruko set — $300
T-shirt + Naruko set — $300
Collab T-shirt + Evening celebration ×2 — $500
Collab T-shirt + Evening celebration ×2 — $500

Corporate Sponsor

Community Sponsor — $1,000
Community Sponsor — $1,000
Presenting Sponsor — $2,500
Presenting Sponsor — $2,500
GALLERY

Gallery

SPONSORS

Our sponsors

Become a sponsor
MERCH

Official merch

KOKUYOSA 2026 official T-shirt

Official T-shirt $35 · wooden medal $13 · naruko $45 · keychain $6 (all CAD) — at the festival and by Calgary pickup only.

See the merch
STAY IN THE LOOP

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