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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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Last year's highlights

SCHEDULE

Schedule

9:30
Parade performance (all teams) Must-see
All 12 teams dance their way along the parade route beside the garden gate to open the festival — every costume, flag and naruko on the move at once. The most colourful moment of the day.About the parade →
9:40
Taiko drum performance
Powerful Japanese festival drumming by a local taiko group warms up the stage for the opening ceremony.
9:50
Opening ceremony
Welcome greetings from the organizers and special guests.
10:30
Flag performance "KAEDE"
Giant yosakoi flags swirl across the stage together to the festival song "KAEDE". Yosakoi flag-bearers train for years — watch for the moment the flags cross.
10:40
Sponsor & KOKUYOSA introductions · meet the judges
Meet the sponsors who make the festival possible, learn what KOKUYOSA is about, and say hello to today's judges.Meet our sponsors →
11:20
Lottery to decide the contest order
The performance order for the judged round is drawn live on stage.
11:30
Contest Round 1 — judged performances (all 12 teams) Must-see
The heart of the festival. Each team performs a 6-minute set in front of the judges — the Grand Prize and all awards are decided on these performances.How judging works →The awards →
12:42
Workshop: dance "SuperNova" with Yoshihiro Kaneko
Yoshihiro Kaneko, vocalist of the yosakoi band Narutaka, teaches everyone a short dance. Grab a pair of naruko and join in — no experience needed.About Yoshihiro Kaneko →
13:02
Sō-odori, then lunch break
Sō-odori means "everyone dances" — dancers and audience together. Then it's lunch: food vendors are on site all day.Learn the sō-odori songs →
13:30
Guest: Danceworks Dance Academy
Young dancers from a local Lethbridge dance academy take the stage.
13:40
Guest: Ignite Dance Academy
A second local dance academy performance.
14:00
Parade & partnership performances Must-see
A second parade, followed by one-time-only partnership performances: teams from Japan and North America dance together in mixed pairs created just for KOKUYOSA.Meet the 12 teams →
14:40
Guest: Eisa (Okinawan traditional dance)
Eisa is a traditional drum-dance from Okinawa, performed with hand drums and powerful chants.
14:55
Workshop: naruko & seicho yosakoi with Chika Tamura
Chika Tamura, one of Japan's leading yosakoi choreographers, teaches how to use the naruko and the classic seicho yosakoi from Kochi.About Chika Tamura →
15:25
Round 2 — free performances (all 12 teams)
Each team returns with a longer 12-minute set. No judging this round — pure performance, and many teams save their surprises for it.Full timetable & running order →
17:49
Awards & closing ceremony · Grand Prize performance
The Grand Prize and all awards are announced — and the winning team performs one more time.About the awards →
18:19
Final sō-odori "KAEDE / Yocchore" Must-see
The whole garden dances together one last time. Pick up a pair of naruko and join the circle — this is how a yosakoi festival ends.Learn the sō-odori songs →

Short on time? Plan your visit around the Must-see moments: the opening parade, the judged Contest Round 1 and the final sō-odori. Final schedule — timings may shift slightly on the day. Full timetable & day guide → Learn the sō-odori songs so you can dance along →

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

Please note: the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden interior is closed to visitors during the festival weekend due to paving repairs. All performances and activities take place on the adjacent festival grounds.

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
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

September 5, 2026 · お知らせ

KOKUYOSA Returns to Lethbridge, Sept 19–20 / 第2回北米国際よさこい祭り、9月19日・20日開催(入場無料)

LETHBRIDGE, Alberta — The sound of the naruko returns to southern Alberta. KOKUYOSA, the North…
September 5, 2026 · お知らせ

Your Complete Guide to KOKUYOSA 2026 / 当日ガイド完全版:入場無料・スケジュール・見どころ

KOKUYOSA 2026 is almost here! The 2nd North America International Yosakoi Festival takes over N…
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…
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

Sponsors and Partners

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

Become a KOKUYOSA insider

News, lineup, and event updates — straight to your inbox.

Endorsed by

Consulate-General of Japan in Calgary / Kochi Prefecture / City of Kochi / Yosakoi Festival Promotion Association / Yosakoi Festival Venue Federation / Kochi City Tourism Association / Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi Executive Committee / YOSAKOI Soran Festival Organizing Committee

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