JO☆STARS to Perform at World Cosplay Summit 2026! General Ticket Sales Begin June 6

It has been announced that World Cosplay Summit 2026 (WCS), one of the world's largest cosplay festivals, will be held over three days from Friday, July 31 to Sunday, August 2, 2026, at various venues across Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture.

In this second round of announcements, the vocal unit JO☆STARS ~TOMMY, Coda, JIN~ has been confirmed to perform at the special live concert that will light up the main stage. Along with this news, general sales for various tickets will launch on Saturday, June 6.

As the festival's timing will shift to November starting from 2027, 2026 marks the final time it will be held during the height of midsummer. Embraced as a staple of Nagoya’s summer traditions, this year’s theme is "Let’s Enjoy the Last Summer to the Fullest!" offering the last opportunity to experience the intense heat and excitement of the "Summer WCS."

Main Event: World Cosplay Championship

The premier event of World Cosplay Summit 2026 to crown the world’s top cosplay performers, the World Cosplay Championship, will take place on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the Aichi Arts Center (Main Hall).

The first wave of guest judges has been revealed, featuring voice actor Toshio Furukawa, producer Taro Maki, music producer Tomokazu Tashiro, and the US representatives who claimed the grand championship at the World Cosplay Championship 2025 (Heidi and McKayla). Additional judges will be announced at a later date.

[Guest Judges]
Voice Actor: Toshio Furukawa
Producer: Taro Maki
Music Producer: Tomokazu Tashiro
2025 Champions: Heidi, McKayla

Special Live: JO☆STARS ~TOMMY, Coda, JIN~

A powerful vocal unit consisting of Hiroaki "TOMMY" Tominaga, Coda, and Jin Hashimoto, who have sung the successive opening themes for the TV anime series "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure." On February 25, 2015, they released "JoJo Sono Chi no Kioku ~end of THE WORLD~," the second-cour opening theme for "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders - Battle in Egypt." They won the Theme Song Award at the 20th Animation Kobe Awards in 2015. Today, they continue to actively perform not only in Japan but also in countries all around the globe.

[Event Information]
Date & Time: Sunday, August 2 | Doors Open: 14:30 / Start: 15:30 / Scheduled End: 20:00
Venue: Aichi Arts Center (Main Hall)
Participants: Representative cosplayers selected from 41 countries and regions worldwide (pairs of two)
Official Merchandise with Viewing Ticket: From 4,000 yen

Live Viewing & Special Talk Show

A special stage project will take place at the Oasis 21 venue, featuring a live viewing of the World Cosplay Championship. A star-studded lineup of guests will provide live commentary, analysis, and talk sessions.

[Event Information]
Date & Time: Sunday, August 2 | Doors Open (Scheduled): 14:45 / Start: 15:30 / Scheduled End: 20:00
Venue: Oasis 21 Galaxy Platform (Special Stage)
Guests: Tomokazu Sugita / JOY Max / Jacky Dousai (Commentary)
Tickets: Advance Tickets 3,800 yen (All seats reserved)

Ticket Information

General sales for cosplay participation tickets and World Cosplay Championship viewing tickets will open on Saturday, June 6 at 10:00 on Ticket Pia, an official sponsor. Ahead of the general release, early sales for the official accommodation plan—which bundles hotel stays with participation tickets—will also be available.

[Sales Information]
General Sales: From Saturday, June 6 at 10:00 (Ticket Pia)
Early Sales (Accommodation Bundle Plan): From Monday, June 1 at 12:00 (Meitetsu World Travel Service Website)

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