The Complete Guide to the 2026 Nagasaki Lantern Festival

One of the signature winter events in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture is the Nagasaki Lantern Festival. In 2026, it will be held from Friday, February 6 to Monday, February 23 (national holiday), and the city center will be illuminated in vivid colors by around 15,000 lanterns.
On the opening day, Friday, February 6, the lanterns are lit from 18:00 following the lighting ceremony. From Saturday, February 7 onward, standard lighting hours are 17:00 to 22:00 (with lights extinguished at 21:00 on the final day).
In addition, from Saturday, February 7 onward, the Shinchi Chinatown and Hamanomachi venues will be lit from 12:00 (subject to change due to weather and other conditions).

What Is the History of the Nagasaki Lantern Festival?

Photo: Nagasaki Lantern Festival

The history of the Nagasaki Lantern Festival traces back to the “Shunsetsusai (Spring Festival)” celebrations held by the community in Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown. What began as a beloved event to celebrate Shunsetsu (the Lunar New Year) grew in popularity, and in 1994, it expanded in scale and became the “Nagasaki Lantern Festival.” Today, it is firmly established as a cherished winter tradition in Nagasaki.

The idea of lighting the city with lanterns is said to originate from the Chinese custom of decorating with lanterns for Yuanxiao Festival. As a result, the festival naturally weaves in Chinese cultural elements, not only through illuminated decorations but also through events such as the Emperor’s Parade and Nagasaki's unique Jaodori dragon dance.

What Are the Highlights of the Nagasaki Lantern Festival? (Four Key Points)

There are four main highlights: a spectacle of colors, the energy of the parades, the main centerpiece returning for the first time in two years, and hands-on experiences and street food.

Start by enjoying the shifting colors of the lanterns, as each venue offers a distinct atmosphere. Next, let the movement of the parades and performances lift your spirits. After taking in the highlight of the trip, this year’s one-of-a-kind main centerpiece, round things off with hands-on experiences and street food to end well and truly satisfied.
Even for first-time visitors, following this order helps ensure you don’t miss much and naturally leads to a more satisfying experience.

Highlight 1: A Spectacle of Colors

What makes this festival so fun is that the venues are spread out, so “the scenery changes the more you walk.” As the dominant hues shift from red to pink to yellow, simply wandering becomes sightseeing in itself. For detailed lighting hours, please check the event information above. (This may change due to weather and other conditions.)

Where Are the Most Striking Red Lantern Displays? (Hamanomachi, Chuo Park, Around Shinchi Chinatown)

Photo: Nagasaki Lantern Festival

The red zone is essentially the festival's main artery. In Hamanomachi (around the Kanko-dori shopping arcade), both the crowds and the density of lanterns stand out, and simply walking through instantly gives you the feeling of having truly arrived at the Nagasaki Lantern Festival.
Chuo Park also hosts the opening lighting ceremony, making it an easy and convenient starting point for your evening.
From Shinchi Chinatown toward Minato Park, large-scale displays and events tend to cluster, so for first-timers, this is the area you can confidently say is “not to be missed.”

Where Are the Prettiest Pink Lantern Displays? (Shinchi Chinatown, Doza River)

Photo: Nagasaki Lantern Festival at Doza River

A well-known spot for pink lanterns stretches from around Shinchi Chinatown to the Doza River. Even in official venue introductions, this area is described as a place where the riverside brightens with a rosy glow.
Because it sits slightly away from the busiest core, your walking pace naturally slows, making it easier to enjoy photos and conversation. Reflections on the water also make it easy to capture social-media-friendly photos, even without special equipment.

Where Does Yellow Feel Most Dreamlike? (Nakajima River, Meganebashi Bridge)

Photo: Nagasaki Lantern Festival at Meganebashi Bridge

The world of yellow centers on Nakajima River Park and the area around Meganebashi (Spectacles Bridge). Venue introductions describe it as a quintessential Nagasaki waterside scene, where yellow lanterns reflected on the river create a dreamlike view alongside Meganebashi.
Meganebashi (Spectacles Bridge) is a stone bridge said to have been built in 1634 and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Part of it collapsed in the 1982 Nagasaki flood and was later restored, giving you a “story behind the view” to share as you visit.

Along the Nakajima River embankment near the bridge, you can also find several heart-shaped stones (Heart Stones) embedded in the riverbank. Searching for them as you stroll has become a classic, treasure-hunt-style pastime.
These Heart Stones were placed during improvements to the Nakajima River area following the Nagasaki flood disaster, and they are now also known as a spot associated with wishes for romance. Finding one gives you a small burst of joy, and it is an easy photo spot to introduce to overseas visitors, too, such as saying, “There are hidden hearts in the stones along the riverbank.”

Highlight 2: The Energy of the Parades

If the lanterns are the festival’s “still” charm, the events bring its “motion” to life. There are both street parades that weave through the city and performances held at venues. Picking events that fit your itinerary will significantly boost your overall experience.

What Is the Emperor’s Parade? (Dates, Route, Scale)

Photo: Nagasaki Lantern Festival Emperor’s Parade

The Emperor’s Parade is a lavish procession inspired by how an emperor and empress might celebrate the New Year with the public during the Qing dynasty. Centered on the ceremonial palanquins carrying the emperor and empress, around 150 participants, including banner units, march in Chinese costumes.
In 2026, the parade will be held on Saturday, February 14 and Saturday, February 21, following the officially designated route from Chuo Park to Minato Park, making it easy for travelers to plan ahead.
It has also been announced that Mizuki Maehara will play the emperor on Saturday, February 21, which is likely to make that day especially popular.

The Mazu Procession: Echoes of Nagasaki’s Port City Heritage
The Mazu (Maso) Procession recreates the ritual of enshrining Mazu, a deity revered for safe voyages, at the Mazu Hall of a To-dera (Chinese temple). Its appeal lies in experiencing, through the festival itself, how Nagasaki grew and prospered as a city shaped by the sea.

When Can You See the Jaodori Dragon Dance?

Photo: Jaodori dragon dance at the Nagasaki Lantern Festival

Jaodori is a powerful performance said to have originated from Shinto rituals for rainmaking, with performers controlling a dragon body about 20 meters long. Venue information introduces it as being held every day during the festival, which is great for travelers because it reduces the risk of missing it due to scheduling.
Times and locations may change, so checking the official schedule on the day is the most reliable approach.

Where Can You Watch the Chinese Face-Changing Show?
The face-changing show is most commonly watched at the Nagasaki Confucius Shrine (Koshi-byo). According to the shrine’s guidance, no reservation is required, you can watch with admission only, and in rainy weather, the show is performed in a covered corridor.
The fees are also clearly stated: individual admission to the Confucius Shrine (including museum entry) is 660 yen for adults, 440 yen for high school students, and 330 yen for elementary and junior high school students. It is a helpful point for travelers who want to keep their trip budget organized.

Highlight 3: The Long-Awaited Main Centerpiece

What makes 2026 uniquely “this year only” is the new main centerpiece returning for the first time in two years. In 2025, a new centerpiece was shelved due to factors such as rising costs, but in 2026 it will be produced using a furusato nozei (hometown tax) fund.
The new work in Minato Park is introduced as an 11-meter-tall piece called “Ryoma Seishin (ロンマー・ジンシェン)”, combining the zodiac horse with an ascending dragon.
Minato Park is also a “hub” where large-scale displays and events tend to gather in addition to the main centerpiece. Even if you have limited free time on a guided tour, simply covering this venue can make it easier to feel satisfied with your visit.

Highlight 4: Hands-On Experiences and Street Food

If you want more than just viewing, focus on experiences and food. The strength here is not just the vibe, but that how to join, prices, and content are all clearly laid out.

What Is the Candle Prayer Four-Hall Pilgrimage? (Locations, Content, Fee)
The Candle Prayer Four-Hall Pilgrimage is an interactive program held at the Tojin Yashiki (Chinese Residents’ Compound) venue. You visit four halls that remain in an area where Chinese merchants once stayed, Doshindo, Tenho-do, Kannon-do, and Fukken Kaikan, and make a wish by lighting a red candle. The participation fee is 500 yen, and it is stated that all participants receive a commemorative gift.
Walk-around events can easily become nonstop walking, but adding an “experience with a purpose” like this helps set a comfortable pace and makes it easier to stay energized into the evening.

What Street Foods Are Popular? (Easy to Choose with Concrete Examples)

Photo: Food stalls

Event information notes that there are many stalls, and gives examples such as kakuni manju (steamed bun with braised pork belly), butaman (pork bun), chocolate yori-yori, hatoshi, ma lai gao (steamed sponge cake), and grilled soup dumplings.
Booking a proper dinner reservation is great, but lantern-lit nights pair perfectly with food-hopping. Even during a tour’s free time, you can enjoy “a little bit of what you like” while adjusting your travel budget. On crowded days, it is smart to buy earlier, such as right after the lights turn on or between moves, when lines tend to be shorter.

How Should You Get Around? (A Classic 2 to 3-Hour Route)

If it’s your first time, the following order is easy to follow and hard to miss:
Red (Hamanomachi, Chuo Park) → Pink (Doza River) → Yellow (Meganebashi Bridge) → Minato Park (main centerpiece)
The lights turn on from 17:00. During the magic hour just after sunset, the deep blue sky and the lantern colors overlap beautifully, making the scenery look even more striking.

How Do You Access the Venues? (Streetcars Are Convenient)

Because the venues are scattered across the city center, the basic approach for travelers is streetcar plus walking. For key routes between venues and how to think about the nearest stops, it is safest to follow the official venue and access information.

Summary

The Nagasaki Lantern Festival in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture developed from Shunsetsusai and has now become a signature winter, walk-around event in Nagasaki. In 2026, it will run from February 6 to February 23, and with some days featuring 12:00 lighting, it is also easy to fit into your itinerary.
Walk through the “spectacle of colors” in red, pink, and yellow, feel the cultural energy through the Emperor’s Parade, Jaodori, and the face-changing show, and mark “this year’s Nagasaki” with the main centerpiece returning after two years. Finally, round out your trip with the four-hall pilgrimage and street food-hopping to lock in a truly satisfying travel experience.

Nagasaki City Official Tourism Site: Travel Nagasaki