The 71st Okinawa Zento Eisa Festival 2026

About this event

The 71st Okinawa Zento Eisa Festival will be held over two days on Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Koza Sports Park in Okinawa City. Eisa, a traditional performing art of Okinawa, is a dance performed to honor ancestors during the Kyu-Bon (Lunar Bon) period and is carried on primarily by local youth associations (Seinankai). Featuring dancers performing bravely and brilliantly to distinctive rhythms while beating drums, each region has distinct choreography, costumes, and music, expressing its unique cultural identity. As a major event symbolizing Okinawan culture and vitality, the festival attracts passionate anticipation every year from many tourists and local residents alike. On the first day, Saturday, September 5, Michijune will be held around the Goya Crossroads in Okinawa City, where youth associations and guest groups parade through the town, bringing excitement to the entire area. On the following day, Sunday, September 6, the main festival will take place at the Koza Sports Park Track and Field Stadium, where selected Eisa groups will gather to deliver full-hearted performances. The distinctive and powerful Eisa performances by each youth association are the highlights, incorporating creative, contemporary expressions while preserving traditional dance. In addition, guest groups from sister cities across Japan and partner organizations will gather for the main festival, allowing visitors to experience how Okinawan Eisa culture is recognized and shared on a nationwide scale. The high level of competition among participating groups brings immense realism and excitement. The sense of unity throughout the entire venue is also part of the appeal, as the rhythm of the drums resonates through the body, naturally drawing spectators into the world of the dance.

Venue

Okinawa City Track and Field Stadium

Inside Koza Sports Park, 2-1-1 Moromizato, Okinawa, Okinawa 904-0032