Use this as the current sumo page
Short answer: Grand Sumo tournaments are scheduled well in advance, but ticket availability, prices, service fees, seat rules, QR-ticket handling, and resale warnings can change. Use this page as the current-info page, then confirm every purchase on the official Nihon Sumo Kyokai and Ticket Oosumo English pages before booking.
Last checked: August 20, 2026. The schedule below is based on the Nihon Sumo Kyokai official Grand Tournament Schedule on that date. Availability, prices, purchase conditions, venue rules, and resale warnings may change without this page updating immediately.
Remaining 2026 Grand Sumo tournaments
| Tournament | Venue | Advance tickets from | Ranking announced | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September Tournament | Kokugikan, Tokyo | August 8, 2026 | August 31, 2026 | September 13-27, 2026 |
| November Tournament | Fukuoka Kokusai Center | September 19, 2026 | October 26, 2026 | November 8-22, 2026 |
These dates are not a ticket guarantee. For each tournament, check the official ticket page for current availability, seat types, fees, receiving method, and any venue-specific notices.
2027 Grand Sumo tournament schedule
| Tournament | Venue | Advance tickets from | Ranking announced | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January Tournament | Kokugikan, Tokyo | December 5, 2026 | December 21, 2026 | January 10-24, 2027 |
| March Tournament | EDION Arena Osaka | February 6, 2027 | March 1, 2027 | March 14-28, 2027 |
| May Tournament | Kokugikan, Tokyo | April 10, 2027 | April 26, 2027 | May 9-23, 2027 |
| July Tournament | IG Arena, Nagoya | May 15, 2027 | June 28, 2027 | July 11-25, 2027 |
| September Tournament | Kokugikan, Tokyo | August 7, 2027 | August 30, 2027 | September 12-26, 2027 |
| November Tournament | Fukuoka Kokusai Center | September 18, 2027 | November 1, 2027 | November 14-28, 2027 |
How official ticket planning works
The Nihon Sumo Kyokai’s official ticket guidance starts with the schedule: confirm when the tournament begins, when it ends, and when tickets go on sale. After that, decide the date and seat type, then use the official sales channel linked from the Kyokai page, including Ticket Oosumo English when available.
Ticket Oosumo English states that sales can be first-come-first-served, that submitting an order does not guarantee allocation, that results may be notified by email, and that purchases cannot be changed or canceled. It also states that tickets may be issued at the venue and that purchasers may need to present the purchase email, credit card, passport, or other ID. Read the current purchase page carefully before paying.
Seat basics for first-time visitors
| Seat type | What it means | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Box seats | Japanese-style floor seating, often sold around a box concept | Check whether everyone in your group can sit on cushions for a long event |
| Chair seats | Stadium-style seats | Often easier for first-time visitors who prefer individual seats |
| Ringside or special seats | Closer to the ring when offered | Rules, age limits, risk notices, and sales channels can be stricter |
| Wheelchair or accessible seating | Designated access seats when offered | Check official tournament-specific instructions before buying |
Resale and QR-ticket warnings
Use official channels. The Nihon Sumo Kyokai warns that screenshots and printouts of QR tickets are invalid and that tickets bought from unofficial sites may be refused entry. Ticket Oosumo English also states that purchases for resale or transfer are not accepted and that tickets resold for profit may be invalid.
If official tickets are sold out, do not assume that an unofficial marketplace is safe. Check whether official sales reopen, whether an official resale or return route exists for that tournament, or whether a different date, city, tour, museum, or Ryogoku-area plan is the better choice.
Best first-time plan
If your trip includes Tokyo, the January, May, and September tournaments at Kokugikan are the easiest to understand as a first choice, but they can also be very popular. Osaka in March, Nagoya in July, and Fukuoka in November can work beautifully when those cities already fit your route. Do not choose a city only because of sumo unless the ticket and travel plan both make sense.
For most first-time visitors, pick one target tournament, check the official sale date, decide chair seats or box seats in advance, and prepare a backup plan before tickets go on sale. Treat the official schedule as the source of truth, and treat this article as the page to recheck and update whenever new official ticket information appears.
Photo credit
Featured image: January 2014 Sumo Tournament Dohyo-iri by Gregg Tavares on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Cropping or resizing may be applied for site display. This editorial use does not imply endorsement by the photographer, wrestlers, spectators, venue, or Japan Sumo Association.
Sources
- Nihon Sumo Kyokai: Grand Tournament Schedule
- Nihon Sumo Kyokai: How to Buy
- Ticket Oosumo English
- Ticket Oosumo English: Ticket Purchase
- Nihon Sumo Kyokai: Be careful of ticket resale sites
Editorial disclosure: This is an independent planning guide. It is not affiliated with the Nihon Sumo Kyokai, Ticket Oosumo, PIA Corporation, venues, wrestlers, teams, travel agencies, or ticket sellers.
