Japan House London Announces 2026 Exhibitions and Highlights
Discover celebrated Japanese photography, fashion, film screenings and more at Japan House London throughout 2026
Japan House London announces a captivating exhibition and events programme for 2026, offering new perspectives on Japan’s diverse cultures. Three exhibitions explore Japan’s celebrated craft, photography and fashion.
Current Exhibition
Hyakkō: 100+ Makers from Japan
December 2025 – May 2026
From 3 December, visitors can explore the beauty of everyday things in Hyakkō, a collection of almost 2,000 exquisitely hand-crafted items. Bringing together more than 120 artists, craftspeople and self-taught makers from across Japan, Hyakkō is a celebration of contemporary Japanese craft aesthetics.
The exhibition presents works in clay, glass, wood, leather, metal and bamboo – from ceramic matcha bowls to metal teapots and urushi lacquerware trays. Each item bears traces of its maker’s surroundings, with roots in tradition while at the same time reflecting innovation and individuality. Discover the people and processes behind the craft of Japan’s every day, where form and function exist in harmony.
Summer Exhibition
Kyotographie (title TBC)
June – October 2026
Kyotographie is an international photography festival based in Kyoto – a city that garners global attention as a centre of culture and the arts in Japan.
Exhibiting in the UK for the first time, the team behind Kyotographie will present an impactful selection of late twentieth-century Japanese photographers at Japan House London next summer.
Winter Exhibition
Kitakyushu – Coming-of-age fashion (title TBC)
November 2026 – April 2027
The industrial city of Kitakyushu, on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, has become well-known for the extravagant garments worn by many of the participants of the coming-of-age ceremony, which takes place in the city every January. The Kitakyushu version of this event sets the city apart from all other areas in Japan embracing history and tradition while combining it with counterculture to celebrate the vitality and creativity of youth.
Curated by Fashion Stylist Yamaguchi Souta in collaboration with Japan House London and with input from the people of Kitakyushu themselves, this exhibition explores the rebellious style of the local area – a flamboyant aesthetic, not usually associated with Japan, but equally important.
Events
The year begins with a series of family workshops held across the winter holidays, with drop-in festive activities for all ages.
The Spotlight on Local Japan series continues from January, with a virtual workshop visit and conversation around Aizome – indigo dyeing from Ōme in Tokyo Prefecture Prefecture – with dyer Murata Hiroshi.
There will be several events related to the Hyakkō exhibition, some featuring potter Lisa Hammond MBE and Yōji Yamada, a ceramicist featured in the exhibition and a former student of Hammond.
Grand Sumo highlights screenings continue to take guests ringside to the six Tournaments held across Japan during the year, starting in January. Broadcast in English by NHK World-Japan, each tournament lasts 15 days and features the top rikishi (wrestlers) competing for the prized Emperor’s Cup.
The perennially popular Chadō (‘The Way of Tea’) demonstrations and workshops return in February, held in collaboration with Tankokai UK, an association connected to Urasenke, one of the largest Tea schools in Japan. There will also be a talk and demonstration event with Hayami Tea ceremony school.
Information on upcoming events is always available from the Japan House London website’s What’s On page, with tickets usually released two weeks before the event takes place.
Film Screenings
In 2026 (date TBC), Japan House London will introduce film masterpieces of jidaigeki (period dramas) that portray the spirit of the samurai. These screenings serve as an opportunity to introduce works by well-renowned directors and actors known across Japan.
As always, all the film screenings at Japan House London are free to attend, but early booking is essential.
The Shop at Japan House London
Throughout 2026, the Shop at Japan House London continues to offer visitors the opportunity to learn about the artists, designers, craftspeople and regions of Japan through its fresh rotation of products. Visit the Kensington High Street store and the Shop online for new product ranges and capsule collections curated to reflect the ever-changing seasons. Many items are available exclusively at Japan House London in the UK.
Library displays
Launching in November 2025 and running until May 2026, The Cat in Japan celebrates feline presence in Japanese literature and beyond.
Since ancient times in Japan, cats have been portrayed as sacred and precious beings. At the same time, they are said to be mysterious presences that slip beyond human understanding. In literature and painting, and in daily life and belief, they appear quietly and reflect human feelings and the spirit of the time.
This Library display introduces the cat in Japanese culture through five perspectives: shadows, story, picture, house and future.
Artist residencies
The Japan House London Trust continues to support Japanese artists, musicians and designers through residencies at several key arts organizations around London and the UK. Next year’s support includes a production residency with artist Aki Sasamoto at Studio Voltaire, ahead of her solo show there, her first institutional exhibition in the UK. This follows on from Sasamoto’s mid-career retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo.
Sam Thorne, Director General and CEO of Japan House, said:
“Following the extraordinary response to the Grand Sumo Tournament in London, it is wonderful to see so many people continuing to connect with all aspects of Japanese culture here in the UK. 2026 marks another significant year for Japan House London, with a programme of exhibitions and experiences that we hope will welcome both long-time enthusiasts and those exploring Japan for the first time. We look forward to welcoming visitors eager to engage more deeply with this endlessly fascinating country.”
Notes to Editors
About Japan House London
Japan House London is a cultural destination offering guests the opportunity to experience the best and latest from Japan. Located on London’s Kensington High Street, the experience is an authentic encounter with Japan, engaging and surprising even the most knowledgeable guests. Presenting the very best of Japanese art, design, gastronomy, innovation, and technology, it deepens the visitor’s appreciation of all that Japan has to offer. This year, Japan House London marked six years of bringing the best of Japan to the UK and beyond. Part of a global initiative, there are two other Japan Houses, one in Los Angeles and the other in São Paulo.