Tokyo Game Show 2026 (TGS2026) has officially started building hype, with organizers dropping a teaser video, launching a ticket giveaway campaign, and announcing the first batch of official influencers all on the same day, Tuesday, May 12. The event is scheduled to run from September 17 to September 21, 2026, at Makuhari Messe in Japan. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Tokyo Game Show, and it will also be the longest in TGS history, spanning five full days.

Public attendance is expected to reach around 300,000 visitors across 3,500 booths. The teaser video is connected to this year’s main visual, which was once again created by illustrator Zashikiwarashi, an artist known for detailed and distinctive artwork. The video is now available on the official TGS social media channels.

Zashikiwarashi shared that this year’s main illustration is “flashy and full of energy,” and that a separate main illustration will be revealed later. The artist, who also worked on last year’s TGS visual, expressed excitement for the event’s opening.

To celebrate the teaser video release, TGS is running a giveaway on their official X account. Three pairs of tickets (six winners total) for a public day at TGS2026 will be given away. The campaign runs from May 12 to May 31, 2026.

To join, participants need to:

1. Follow the official TGS X account
2. Quote repost the campaign post with either a memory from attending TGS or their expectations for TGS2026 using the hashtag #TGS2026
3. Winners will be contacted through X Direct Message

First Wave of TGS BOOSTERZ Revealed

TGS2026 is bringing back its official influencer program called “TGS BOOSTERZ,” which aims to spread awareness and excitement for the show worldwide. This year, 30 influencers are expected to join in total, in line with the 30th anniversary theme. The first wave of four confirmed names includes:

Ella Freya is a Netherlands-based influencer with over 3.4 million followers across social media. She is widely recognized as the face model for Ashley in Resident Evil RE:4, and regularly shares content about Japanese gaming culture, anime, and fashion.

Kayane, whose full name is Marie-Laure Norindr, is a 34-year-old professional fighting game player and TV host. She holds the Guinness World Record for the most podium finishes by a woman in fighting game tournaments, with 67 recorded. This will be her second year as a TGS BOOSTERZ member.

Junpei Zaki and Taizo Zaki are two brothers based in Australia with a combined following of over 25 million. Junpei focuses on gaming and anime content while Taizo is known for cooking and challenge videos. Junpei noted this will be his sixth time attending TGS.

Shao Dow is an international rapper and manga author whose music has appeared in games like Fortnite, God of War, and Borderlands 4, as well as Amazon Prime Video content. He also served as the official representative performer for England at the Osaka Expo in Japan.

For those looking to exhibit at TGS2026, the general application deadline is Friday, May 22. Applications for larger booths of 42 spaces or more already closed on May 8. Various advertising and sponsorship opportunities are also available, with deadlines ranging from May 29 through June 23. More details can be found on the official TGS2026 website.