The Tokyo International Projection Mapping Award Executive Committee is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of TOKYO LIGHTS 2026, a festival of light illuminating Tokyo’s nights, held over nine days from Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, May 31, 2026, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No.1, Citizens’ Plaza, and across the Nishi-Shinjuku area. During the event period, approximately 80,000 visitors from Japan and abroad attended, showcasing to the world the potential of Tokyo as a new nighttime tourism destination.
On Saturday, May 30, the awards ceremony for the 1minute Projection Mapping Competition, one of the world’s largest international projection mapping competitions, was also held, where the top prize-winning work among entries gathered from around the world was announced.
In addition, at the Grand Finale held on the final day, Sunday, May 31, official ambassador actor, Tao Tsuchiya appeared on stage alongside special supporters Honoka Tsuchiya and Shimba Tsuchiya. Their talk session, reflecting on the appeal of TOKYO LIGHTS 2026 and the excitement generated throughout the event period, further energized the audience.
At the 1minute Projection Mapping Competition, which transformed the vast facade of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building into the world’s ultimate canvas, the awards ceremony was held on Saturday, May 30, and the GRAND PRIZE (Tokyo Governor PRIZE) was selected from a record-breaking 412 entries submitted from 65 countries and regions around the world.
Symbolizing this year’s theme, “Dialogue” the works presented brought together moving image, sound, and the architectural beauty of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building into a powerful artistic experience that captivated audiences.
Appearing at the awards ceremony, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike commented:
“This was the first time the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building itself served as the screen for this international projection mapping competition, and a remarkable lineup of high-caliber works from around the world gathered here in Tokyo. I hope this event will give rise to creators who will go on to spread their wings from Tokyo to the world.”
Governor Koike also noted that:
“Tokyo ranked second in the Global Power City Index, and one of the reasons cited was the richness of its nightlife tourism. The projection mapping presented nightly on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building has also been recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest permanent architectural projection mapping display, and has already welcomed approximately 1.4 million visitors.”
She concluded by expressing her appreciation to the participating creators and visitors alike and offered words of encouragement for their continued success.
Signal Bleed (Brazil), winner of the GRAND PRIZE (Tokyo Governor PRIZE), said in his acceptance speech:
“It is a tremendous honor to be here among such wonderful artists. I would also like to thank my partners in Brazil and all the people who have worked alongside me here. I am overwhelmed in a way that words cannot fully express. Thank you very much.
Award Results
GRAND PRIZE (Tokyo Governor PRIZE): Touch Talk / Signal Bleed (Brazil)
SECOND PRIZE: Aporia / VPM (Spain)
THIRD PRIZE: The Beauty of Collision / Bigcool (Thailand)
Tokyo Tokyo PRIZE: 1Pulse / Anionavision (Romania)
Audience PRIZE: Infinite Dialogue / Taro Narahara (Japan)
At the Grand Finale held on the final day, Sunday, May 31, official ambassador, actor, Tao Tsuchiya was joined on stage by her sister Honoka Tsuchiya and brother Shimba Tsuchiya as special supporters. The three, all long-time admirers of TOKYO LIGHTS, appeared together publicly in a special collaboration unique to this event.
The talk stage featured the Tsuchiya siblings, together with Michiyuki Ishita and Kenji Kohashi, producers of TOKYO LIGHTS 2026. They each spoke from their own perspectives about the appeal of the event and the impact of art created through light and moving image, creating a warm and lively atmosphere at the venue.
Talk Stage Highlights
Tao Tsuchiya reflected:
“It was my brother Shimba who first recommended that I go, telling me that I should make time for it no matter how busy I was. That was how I first came to know TOKYO LIGHTS, when it was held at Meijijingu Gaien. Projection mapping made me feel as though I myself were spinning and leaping inside it, allowing me to experience something beyond myself.”
Speaking about Light Art Park, she added:
“My whole family was deeply moved by how the artworks blended into everyday life—something you could visit on the way home from the office or while out for a walk.”
She also commented on GAIA:
“My ‘small family members’ ran around beneath it, while the adults lay back and looked up at it. It felt like a work that gave us the opportunity to reflect once again on the Earth we live on now.”
Honoka Tsuchiya commented on the projection mapping staged in the urban setting of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building:
“Within the seemingly inorganic cityscape, I felt the warmth of nature and the vitality of life.”
She said she was deeply impressed by the messages embedded in each work. Regarding Light Art Park, she named Embrace as her favorite, recalling:
“It was a special experience where the colors changed as people held hands, allowing us to feel a sense of connection with those around us.”
Shimba Tsuchiya remarked:
“When I first experienced TOKYO LIGHTS, I was so moved that I told my family all about it, so being able to appear here together as a family today feels both surreal and very joyful.”
Speaking about the projection mapping, he said:
“It was so powerful and immersive that it felt as if the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building itself might come crashing down.”
He also shared his thoughts on the Light Art Park work Fractal Forest:
“Seeing my own image projected and becoming part of the artwork, and then watching visitors begin to respond to one another through their own poses, made me feel the potential of light art to communicate beyond words.”
The two producers, Mr. Ishita and Mr. Kohashi, also spoke about the ideas behind this year’s TOKYO LIGHTS concept, “Visible TOKYO” as well as the appeal of art that can be enjoyed in public space—an idea with which Tao, Honoka, and Shimba all strongly resonated.
Speakers
Tao Tsuchiya (Official Ambassador)
Honoka Tsuchiya (Special Supporter)
Shimba Tsuchiya (Special Supporter)
Michiyuki Ishita (Executive Producer, 1minute Projection Mapping Competition)
Kenji Kohashi (Artistic Director, Light Art Park)
Moderator: Nahomi Inoue
Light Art Park: 12 Works Transform a City Park into a Museum of Light at Night
At Shinjuku Chuo Park, Light Art Park unfolded under the artistic direction of Kenji Kohashi, featuring 12 light art installations throughout the park.
Among them, Yoichi Ochiai’s new work, the four-meter pillar of light titled Liquid Universe: Sōbō Chūfu — An Unclassifiable Entomologia of the Luminous Swarm, drew many visitors eager to capture its dreamlike landscape, where the lights of nature and the city intersect, in photographs.
Also drawing significant attention on social media was GAIA by Luke Jerram, making its Japan debut as a monumental Earth installation appearing to float above the lawn area.
In addition, INTER-WORLD/Cocooner: Apparent motion of celestial bodies by Akihito Okunaka, an experiential artwork that visitors could actually step inside, attracted interest from a broad audience ranging from children to adults, leaving many with a memorable and immersive experience.
A Highly Successful Close Through the Final Day
Held for the first time in the Nishi-Shinjuku area, TOKYO LIGHTS 2026 also generated major buzz on social media. Throughout the event period, large numbers of visitors—including families and inbound travelers—visited Shinjuku Chuo Park, home to Light Art Park, where they could sit on the lawn or benches to appreciate the works, as well as see, touch, and experience them in their own ways.
The venue was filled with smiles and lively energy until the very end, becoming a space where people could discover new dimensions of urban appeal through light and art.
Event Overview: TOKYO LIGHTS 2026 – A Festival of Light Illuminating Tokyo's Nights
Event Title: TOKYO LIGHTS 2026
Dates: Saturday, May 23 – Sunday, May 31, 2026
1minute Projection Mapping Competition
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No.1, Tokyo Citizens’ Plaza
Screenings: Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, 2026 / 7:20 p.m.–8:10 p.m. and 8:50 p.m.–9:40 p.m.Screenings / Awards Ceremony: Saturday, May 30, 2026 / 7:15 p.m.–8:50 p.m.Grand Finale (Award-Winning Works Screening & Stage Program): Sunday, May 31, 2026 / 7:20 p.m.–8:10 p.m.
Light Art Park
Venue: Shinjuku Chuo Park
Saturday, May 23 – Sunday, May 31, 2026 / Daily from 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Organizer: Tokyo International Projection Mapping Award Executive Committee
Co-host: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Supported by: Shinjuku City
Official Website: https://tokyolights.jp
Social Media:
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/tokyolights_jp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyolights_jp/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tokyolights.jp
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyolightsjp
Inquiries Regarding Event Details
TOKYO LIGHTS 2026 Secretariat
E-mail: tokyolights_2026@jtbcom.co.jp
(Weekdays only, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., excluding weekends and public holidays)
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