Cosplayers from Around the World Gather on the Red Carpet! "World Cosplay Summit 2026" Eve Festival Report

The "World Cosplay Summit 2026," where cosplayers from across the globe gather in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture for various interactions and events, was held over three days from Friday, July 31 to Sunday, August 2. July 31 served as the Eve Festival, featuring a red carpet cosplay photo session and ceremony.

First held in 2003 at the Rose Court Hotel in Osu, the "World Cosplay Summit" is a pop culture festival where cosplayers from around the world who love works such as anime and games gather under one roof. Set across various locations in Nagoya City, including the Oasis 21 complex, the event is hosted with the support of local municipalities, administrative bodies, and diplomatic missions overseas.

Participants from a total of 40 countries and regions, including Japan, gathered for "World Cosplay Summit 2026." On August 2, stage performances were held at the "World Cosplay Championship 2026" with the title of the world's No. 1 cosplayer on the line.

The Eve Festival kicked off with a cosplay photo session on the red carpet set up on the Grand Staircase at Oasis 21's Ginga no Hiroba. Official representative cosplayers participating in "World Cosplay Summit 2026" and WCS Alumni (a collective term for past champions and representatives from each country and region) arrived at the venue one after another alongside invited guests, showing off their meticulously detailed cosplays to the audience.

Additionally, as a special project, eight exclusive groups of cosplayers selected through an advance application lottery enjoyed taking photos on the red carpet.

During the Red Carpet Ceremony, singer-songwriter Hiroki Takahashi—known for "Makafushigi Adventure!", the original opening theme song of the TV anime Dragon Ball—appeared for an opening live performance and sang a passionate rendition of the song.

Pumping up the venue's unique enthusiasm with music was DJ MUKAI, an anisong DJ with deep ties to Nagoya.

Along with the representative cosplayers from all 40 countries and regions, corporate sponsors also made appearances on the red carpet, adding vibrant excitement to the venue.

World Cosplay Summit 2026
Dates: Friday, July 31 – Sunday, August 2, 2026
Venues: Oasis 21 / Aichi Arts Center (Main Hall) / Hisaya-odori Park / Osu Shopping Street / Hisaya Odori Gardens Flarie / Central Park / Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER / SLOW ART CENTER NAGOYA

(C) 2026 World Cosplay Summit. All rights reserved.

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