Tokyo Game Show 2026 runs 17-21 September at Makuhari Messe, Chiba - the show's first-ever five-day edition, marking its 30th anniversary. Your complete guide to business day and public tickets, what's new, who's exhibiting, the indie showcase, and how to get to Makuhari Messe.
| Detail | Info | Detail | Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | 17-21 September 2026 | 🏛️ Location | Chiba, Japan |
| 🎮 Focus | Video games - console, PC, mobile, hardware, esports, VR/AR, indie | 🏢 Venue | Makuhari Messe |
| 🔁 Frequency | Annual | 🌍 2026 exhibitors | 759 (484 domestic, 275 international) from 51 countries/regions |
| 👥 Last attendance | 263,101 (2025); organiser expects ~300,000 in 2026 | 🎟️ Access | 2 business days (industry only) + 3 public days |
Quick Answer: When is Tokyo Game Show 2026 and what is it? Tokyo Game Show 2026 runs at in Chiba, - its edition and, for the first time in the show's history, a . The first two days, restricted to screened game-industry professionals (10:00-17:00); the final three, open to anyone with an advance ticket (9:30-17:00, closing at 16:00 on the Monday holiday). Public one-day admission is (about $20); tickets must be bought in advance through official channels - . Note that as of 25 August 2026, the Fast and Premium ticket tiers have both - standard 1-Day Admission is the practical option if you're buying now. Organised by (Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association) with co-organisers and , TGS 2026 has confirmed across from , and the organiser is projecting roughly , up from 263,101 in 2025.
If you searched "Tokyo Game Show 2026," you're likely one of three people: a fan planning a trip around the public days and wondering which ticket to buy, an industry professional deciding which of three Business Day pass tiers is worth the money, or an exhibitor or investor trying to work out whether one of Asia's biggest gaming events is the right stage for a launch. This guide answers all three.
It covers the full 2026 schedule and daily hours, every ticket type - public and Business Day - and what each one actually includes, what's genuinely new about this milestone edition, the indie showcase and Sense of Wonder Night, who's exhibiting, and how to get to Makuhari Messe. For the structured event listing, see our Tokyo Game Show 2026 show page.
Tokyo Game Show is one of Asia's largest and most influential video game trade shows, held every autumn at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, just outside Tokyo. It's organised by CESA, the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association, with co-organisers Nikkei BP and Sony Music Solutions, and 2026 marks its 30th anniversary since launching in 1996.
Unlike Gamescom in Cologne, which splits roughly into public days with a trade-only Wednesday morning, TGS runs the split the other way: two full Business Days come first, reserved entirely for screened industry professionals, followed by three Public Days for anyone with a ticket. That structure - and TGS's heavier concentration of Japanese publishers, mobile and hardware makers - makes it a genuinely different show from its European and American counterparts, even though Gamescom drew the larger overall audience in its last completed edition - 357,000 visitors in 2025 versus TGS's 263,101.
The 2025 edition drew 263,101 visitors and exhibitors from 47 countries and regions. For 2026, CESA is projecting roughly 300,000 attendees and has already confirmed more international reach - 51 countries and regions, exceeding last year's count before the show has even opened.
Two things make this edition a genuine departure rather than a routine annual return, and both shape how you should plan your visit.
It's the first five-day Tokyo Game Show ever. Every previous edition ran four days; 2026 adds a full extra day, officially themed "The Longest Five Days of Nonstop Play." CESA Chairman Haruhiro Tsujimoto framed the extension around capacity, not just novelty: an extra day, he said, "increase[s] opportunities for visitors to try out games and expand[s] business opportunities for exhibitors," following a 2025 show that drew over 260,000 people into the same halls in four days. Nikkei BP President Tetsuya Iguchi echoed the logistics angle, framing the goal as enabling "safe, comfortable gaming enjoyment" alongside more room for industry networking.
It's the 30th anniversary, marked with a dedicated commemorative programme: a special anniversary website, a new TGS NEWS STUDIO broadcast covering the show, and - as a genuine collector's curiosity rather than a mainstream ticket option - a ¥3,300,000 (roughly $22,000) 30th Anniversary Ticket bundling three-day admission with a framed pure-gold commemorative medal set, sold pre-order only.
The key visual was created by illustrator Zashikiwarashi, returning for a second consecutive year after producing the 2025 artwork, keeping a consistent visual identity across the milestone year.
TGS 2026's structure splits cleanly into an industry-only opening and a public back half:
| Days | Dates | Hours | Who's admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Days | Thursday 17 - Friday 18 September | 10:00-17:00 | Screened game-industry professionals only (18+, non-students) |
| Public Days | Saturday 19 - Sunday 20 September | 9:30-17:00 | Anyone with an advance public ticket |
| Public Day (holiday) | Monday 21 September | 9:30-16:00 | Anyone with an advance public ticket - note the earlier 16:00 close |
The organiser notes public-day opening may occasionally start up to 30 minutes early depending on conditions - arrive at the stated time regardless, since queues form well before doors open on the busiest public days.
Minors, students and children cannot attend Business Days under any circumstances - this isn't a soft recommendation but a hard eligibility rule enforced at registration and again at check-in.
Every public ticket must be purchased in advance through official channels - the organiser states explicitly that tickets will not be sold at the venue on any day, for residents of Japan or overseas visitors alike. Availability has also moved on materially since the ticket window opened in July, so treat current status as part of planning your visit, not just the original price list:
| Ticket | Price | Status (as of 25 Aug 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Day Admission | ¥3,000/day (~$20) | On sale | Junior high school age and older; the practical option if you're buying now |
| Special Discount Ticket | ¥1,500/day (~$10) | On sale | Requires a disability/medical certificate or Mirairo ID |
| Fast Ticket | ¥6,000/day (~$40) | Sold out standalone | Priority entry plus merchandise; sold via Lawson Ticket only; may still appear in travel-agency packages |
| Premium Ticket | ¥30,000 (~$200) | Sold out standalone | 3-day fast-pass entry plus exclusive lounge access; sold via Lawson Ticket only |
| 30th Anniversary Ticket | ¥3,300,000 (~$22,000) | On sale, Japan residents only | Pre-order to 8 September or until allocation is reached; framed pure-gold commemorative medal set plus 3-day admission |
Standalone Fast and Premium Tickets have sold out. Both ran a lottery window in mid-July before general sales opened on 20 July, and are no longer available on their own - for most visitors buying admission now, standard 1-Day Admission is the practical option. Some travel-agency packages may still bundle Fast Ticket access as part of an accommodation plan; check the official ticket page for current package availability.
Four other things worth knowing:
Elementary school children and younger enter free and don't need a ticket; everyone from junior high age up needs a paid 1-Day Admission or above.
Purchase channels differ by residency, not just by ticket type. Japan residents can buy standard 1-Day Admission through multiple official retailers (Lawson Ticket, Ticket PIA, JRE Mall, CN Playguide, 7ticket, eplus and Animate, among others - some Animate stores in the Kanto area also sell over the counter); overseas visitors buy 1-Day Admission specifically through Trip.com. The now-sold-out standalone Fast and Premium tiers, and the Special Discount Ticket, were all sold exclusively via Lawson Ticket for either audience.
The 30th Anniversary Ticket is restricted to sales within Japan and isn't offered through any overseas ticket channel.
Fast and Premium Tickets are named, photo-ID-verified passes, and Special Discount Ticket holders must present qualifying documentation at entry - these ticket types can't simply be transferred to someone else after purchase. Standard 1-Day Admission is checked via your ticket or QR code at the gate.
Business Days are open only to people who work in the games industry and pass a screening process - this section is for exhibitors, publishers, developers, investors, retailers and press planning to attend 17-18 September, not for fans.
| Pass | Price with pre-registration code | Price without code | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Pass | Free | ¥16,500 (~$110) incl. tax | Business Day admission, keynote/forum access |
| Gold Pass | ¥27,500 (~$185) incl. tax | ¥44,000 (~$295) incl. tax | + business lounge access, business matching system, free International Party attendance, pass pickup at a dedicated counter |
| Black Pass | ¥93,500 (~$625) incl. tax | ¥110,000 (~$735) incl. tax | + special entrance, exclusive Black Suite Lounge with charging |
Eligibility is strict: applicants must be 18 or older, not enrolled as students, and must submit company information for review - the secretariat runs a preliminary screening and admission is not guaranteed simply by registering.
Registration deadlines matter more than the ticket price: register by 8 September if you don't have a pre-registration code, by 16 September if you do, and by 4 September for group registrations. Miss the window and there's no fallback - unlike public tickets, there's no walk-up or last-minute option.
The process runs through EventRegist: submit company details, receive a PDF ticket by email, then present the QR code alongside photo ID and business cards at the venue. If a pre-registration code was issued to you by an exhibitor or partner organisation, use it - it either waives the Standard Pass fee entirely or meaningfully discounts the Gold and Black tiers.
TGS's indie programme is one of the show's most distinctive fixtures, and it's worth planning around even if you're not a developer yourself.
Selected Indie 80 brings 80 indie titles selected from more than 1,500 submissions worldwide to TGS, with the selected teams invited to exhibit free of charge. It's a genuine access point for solo and small-team developers who couldn't otherwise afford a Makuhari Messe presence.
Every Selected Indie 80 exhibitor is automatically entered as a candidate for Sense of Wonder Night (SOWN) 2026, TGS's signature pitch event held at the International Conference Hall on Thursday 17 September - the first Business Day. SOWN exists to surface games that produce a genuine "sense of wonder" - the feeling that something about how games work just shifted - and past finalists have gone on to critical and commercial success well beyond the show. If you're at TGS on day one and want to see where the next few years of indie game ideas are coming from, this is the session to prioritise.
As of the exhibitor announcement on 8 July 2026, TGS 2026 had confirmed 759 exhibitors - 484 domestic (Japanese) companies and 275 international participants - spread across 3,946 booths, representing 51 countries and regions, already ahead of the 47 represented at the close of 2025.
General Exhibition Area publishers and platform holders confirmed include Sony Interactive Entertainment, Square Enix, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Capcom, Konami Digital Entertainment and Sega.
Business Meeting Area - a separate, quieter B2B zone built for private meetings rather than public demo booths - includes Nintendo, Discord, Amazon Web Services Japan, Atari and Microids. Worth flagging if you're comparing TGS to Gamescom or planning around a specific title: Nintendo is on the 2026 exhibitor list, but in the Business Meeting Area, not with a conventional public-facing stand - don't expect a Nintendo show-floor booth to cover any specific announcement.
The show floor is organised into specialised zones rather than one undifferentiated hall: General Exhibition, Smartphone Games, Gaming Hardware, Gaming Lifestyle, AR/VR, eSports, Indie Games, Game Academy, Merchandise Sales, a Business Solution Area, an AI Technology Pavilion, the separate Business Meeting Area, an All Accessibility Area, and Family Game Park for younger visitors, plus an online-exhibition component for companies not attending physically.
For the full, current roster, use the official exhibitor list rather than any secondhand aggregator - the list has continued to firm up since the July announcement.
The main 2026 exhibitor roster is already in place, with 759 exhibitors and 3,946 booths announced as of 8 July, although CESA notes those figures may still change before the show opens. This section is a reference for planning ahead to 2027 rather than a live call to action, with one exception: the Selected Indie 80 programme (see above) remains the accessible entry point worth watching for its next open call if you're a small studio without an existing exhibitor relationship.
For established companies planning ahead, exhibitor enquiries and space-planning documentation run through the official exhibitor portal, managed jointly by Nikkei BP and CESA.
The venue - 2-1 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture 261-8550 - has strong rail access from central Tokyo, and the organiser's own guidance is to allow extra time given the facility's size.
Fastest route. Kaihin-Makuhari Station on the JR Keiyo Line is about a 5-minute walk from the venue, and roughly 30 minutes from central Tokyo on a rapid train - this is the route almost everyone should use.
Alternative rail. Makuhari-Toyosuna Station, also on the JR Keiyo Line, is about a 20-minute walk from the venue - workable if Kaihin-Makuhari services are running slow, but not the first choice.
By bus. From Makuhari Hongo Station (JR Sobu/Keisei Lines), three bus routes serve the venue: to Kaihin-Makuhari Station (~15 minutes, then a 5-minute walk), toward ZOZO Marine Stadium (~17 minutes, then a 3-minute walk), or direct to Makuhari Messe Central (~17 minutes).
Given the venue spans Exhibition Halls 1-11, the International Conference Hall and the separate TKP Tokyo Bay Makuhari Hall, build in extra transit time between sessions if your day involves both the main halls and conference programming - it's a genuinely large site to cross on foot.
When and where is Tokyo Game Show 2026? Tokyo Game Show 2026 runs 17-21 September 2026 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. It's the show's 30th anniversary and, for the first time, a five-day event.
What's the difference between Business Days and Public Days at TGS 2026? Business Days (17-18 September, 10:00-17:00) are restricted to screened game-industry professionals aged 18+ who are not students. Public Days (19-21 September) are open to anyone with an advance ticket - 9:30-17:00 on the Saturday and Sunday, and 9:30-16:00 on the Monday holiday.
How much do Tokyo Game Show 2026 public tickets cost? 1-Day Admission is ¥3,000 (about $20) and remains on sale. The Fast Ticket (¥6,000/day, priority entry) and Premium Ticket (¥30,000, 3-day fast-pass entry plus lounge access) have both sold out as standalone tickets as of late August 2026, though some travel-agency packages may still bundle Fast Ticket access. Elementary school children and younger are free. There are no ticket sales at the venue on any day - buy in advance through official channels only.
How much do Business Day passes cost? There are three tiers: Standard (free with a pre-registration code, ¥16,500 without), Gold (¥27,500 with code, ¥44,000 without), and Black (¥93,500 with code, ¥110,000 without), each adding more lounge and networking access. All require passing an eligibility screening limited to game-industry professionals.
How big is Tokyo Game Show? The 2025 edition drew 263,101 visitors and exhibitors from 47 countries and regions. As of the 8 July 2026 exhibitor announcement, CESA had confirmed 759 exhibitors (484 domestic, 275 international) across 3,946 booths from 51 countries and regions, and is projecting roughly 300,000 attendees for 2026.
What's new at Tokyo Game Show 2026? It's the first-ever five-day edition (previously four days), themed "The Longest Five Days of Nonstop Play," and marks the show's 30th anniversary with a dedicated commemorative programme, including a new TGS NEWS STUDIO broadcast and a collector's-item ¥3.3 million anniversary ticket.
What is Sense of Wonder Night? Sense of Wonder Night (SOWN) is TGS's signature indie game pitch event, held at the International Conference Hall on the first Business Day, 17 September 2026. It showcases bold new game concepts, drawing candidates automatically from the Selected Indie 80 programme, which selects 80 indie titles from around the world for free exhibition at TGS.
Is Nintendo exhibiting at Tokyo Game Show 2026? Yes, but not with a conventional show-floor booth. Nintendo appears on the TGS 2026 exhibitor list in the Business Meeting Area - a private B2B zone for meetings, not public demos - rather than the General Exhibition Area, so fans shouldn't expect a public Nintendo stand.
How do I get to Makuhari Messe for Tokyo Game Show? Kaihin-Makuhari Station on the JR Keiyo Line is about a 5-minute walk from the venue and roughly 30 minutes from central Tokyo by rapid train. Makuhari-Toyosuna Station is a 20-minute walk, and three bus routes connect from Makuhari Hongo Station.
