Nisei Week Japanese Festival 2026 in Little Tokyo

View the official Nisei Week site →

Nisei Week Japanese Festival returns August 15–23, 2026 in Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles. The Nisei Week Foundation schedules a multi-day program across the historic district, with anchor events including the Grand Parade, Plaza Festival at JACCC, Coronation + Awards Celebration at Aratani Theatre, and Ondo street dancing to close the festival.

Event highlights

Per the official site:

• Grand Parade: Japanese dancers, musicians, and floats through Little Tokyo streets (event page)
• Plaza Festival: Family programming and cultural exhibits inside JACCC (event page)
• Ondo closing ceremony: Traditional street dancing with live entertainment (event page)

Individual day schedules, parade routes, and ticketed programs publish in the festival booklet as the week approaches.

Practical planning

Little Tokyo sits adjacent to DTLA transit hubs; rideshare drop-off on 1st Street and Central Ave is often easier than garage hunting on parade day. Many plaza events are free; Aratani Theatre programs may require separate tickets.

Nisei Week overlaps 626 Night Market Arcadia (Aug 14–16) and precedes K-PLAY! FEST OC (Aug 22–23) for readers building an August stack.

When: August 15–23, 2026
Where: Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles, CA

Check niseiweek.org for the daily event calendar and booklet updates.