Japan Week Palermo

Palermo, capital of Japanese culture

In November 2026, Palermo joins the prestigious global circuit of Japan Week, the largest international event dedicated to promoting Japanese art and culture. Organized by the International Friendship Foundation (IFF) of Tokyo, an institution founded in 1964, Japan Week has already visited cities such as London, Paris, Madrid, Buenos Aires, New York, Sydney, and Manchester: the Sicilian capital is the first Italian city to join this global itinerary of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Seven days of Japan in the heart of Palermo

From November 19th to 26th, 2026, the center of Palermo becomes a bridge between the East and the Mediterranean. The main hubs of the event will be some of the city's most iconic venues: the Teatro Politeama, the Teatro Santa Cecilia, and the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa. For a full week, these spaces will host performances, concerts, exhibitions, and demonstrations showcasing both traditional and contemporary Japanese culture.

An immersive program

Japan Week offers a sensory journey into Japanese culture that weaves together ritual, art, and performance. Expected experiences include:

• Tea ceremony (chanoyu), the ancient ritual of Japanese hospitality;
• Koto concerts, featuring the traditional thirteen-string instrument, and live music;
• Ikebana, the art of flower arranging, and origami;
• Martial arts performances and samurai technique demonstrations;
• Kimono fashion shows and displays;
• Art exhibitions, craft showcases, and workshops open to the public.

A boost for Sicilian tourism

The agreement bringing Japan Week to Palermo was signed between the municipal administration and the International Friendship Foundation of Tokyo, with the announcement formalized in Manchester during the 2025 edition. For the city, this is an event of major international significance: over a thousand Japanese professionals and up to 20,000 visitors from around the world are expected, during a strategic time of year for extending the tourist season. The Province of Palermo and all of Sicily are thus positioning themselves to become, for one week, a privileged meeting point between the culture of the Land of the Rising Sun and Mediterranean hospitality.

Information being updated

The detailed calendar of events, schedules, and access procedures for individual initiatives will be announced by the organizers and the Municipality of Palermo in the months leading up to the event.