Every November, the best sumo wrestlers in Japan move to Fukuoka for fifteen days. The Kyushu Basho — officially the November Grand Sumo Tournament — is the last of the six professional tournaments of the year and the only one held on the island of Kyushu. In 2026 it runs from Sunday 8 to Sunday 22 November at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, a short bus ride from Hakata Station. Fukuoka Sumo Guide explains how to get a seat, which seat to choose, how the day unfolds and how to make the most of Fukuoka around it.
| Dates | Sunday 8 – Sunday 22 November 2026 (15 days) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Fukuoka Kokusai Center, 2-2 Chikkohonmachi, Hakata-ku |
| Doors | 8:45 (days 1–12), 10:30 (days 13–14), 10:00 (final day) |
| Top-division bouts | about 15:45–18:00 |
| Tickets | Official general sale opened 19 Sept 2026; many dates sold out, no same-day box office |
| Official prices | chair ¥2,000–6,000 · boxes ¥19,000–56,000 · ringside ¥20,000 |
Quiz: which sumo experience in Fukuoka is right for you?
Three quick questions — we match you with the ticket or tour that fits your budget, your dates and your group.
🤼 A guided viewing tour with live English commentary
Ticket, official banzuke, English booklet and a guide who explains every bout from your seat — the best first sumo day.
Check availability on GetYourGuide →Read our guide →🤼 A flexible tournament entry ticket
Your seat for one day of your choice, and you come and go as you like. Cheapest way in once the official sale is sold out.
Check availability on GetYourGuide →Read our guide →🤼 A reserved seat with a local guide
Pre-entry briefing on rules and rituals, help at the gate, then a reserved seat — the premium option for sold-out dates.
Check availability on GetYourGuide →Read our guide →🤼 Tournament + sumo spots tour
A guide takes you to the arena and the places where wrestlers live and train during the Kyushu Basho.
Check availability on GetYourGuide →Read our guide →🤼 Morning sumo practice (asa-geiko)
Watch real training at a stable near Hakata Station, then walk the old town — only during the tournament weeks.
Check availability on GetYourGuide →Read our guide →🤼 Sumo show with chanko-nabe lunch
Demonstration, rules explained, a chance to step in against a wrestler and the famous sumo hot pot — available all year.
Check availability on GetYourGuide →Read our guide →Sumo tickets and tours in Fukuoka you can still book
Start here: plan your sumo day
- Kyushu Basho 2026: the complete guide
- How to get Fukuoka sumo tickets
- The best sumo tours in Fukuoka, compared
- Seats and prices at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center
- Daily schedule and the best day to go
Understand what you are watching
Practical guides
- Fukuoka Kokusai Center: access, food and tips
- Things to do in Fukuoka in November
- Sumo tournament calendar 2026–2027
Which option should you choose?
| Your situation | Best option | Indicative budget |
|---|---|---|
| You can book months ahead and read Japanese menus | Official ticket on Ticket Oosumo (general sale mid-September) | ¥2,000–6,000 per chair seat |
| Your date is sold out, first time at sumo | Guided viewing tour with ticket and English commentary | from about $108 per person |
| You want a guaranteed, comfortable seat on a busy day | Reserved seat with a local guide | from about $633 per person |
| You only have a morning | Morning sumo practice near Hakata Station | from about $76 per person |
| You are in Fukuoka outside November | Sumo show with chanko-nabe lunch | from about $114 per person |
Why the Kyushu Basho is special
Tokyo hosts three tournaments a year in the 11,000-seat Ryogoku Kokugikan. Fukuoka gets one, in a smaller hall where even the upper seats feel close to the ring. It closes the sumo year, so promotions to the top ranks are often decided here — in 2026 all eyes are on ozeki Aonishiki, who could become the first European-born yokozuna with a title in Fukuoka, and on yokozuna Onosato, champion in September. Read our beginner’s guide to sumo before you go: knowing three rituals and five ranks changes the whole experience.
Why trust this guide?
We are independent: we are not linked to the Japan Sumo Association, to the venue or to any tour operator, and nobody pays to be ranked. We check dates, prices and ticketing rules on the official channels before each tournament and say clearly what a tour includes — and what it does not. When you book through our links we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you; that is what keeps the guide free.
Frequently asked questions
When is the sumo tournament in Fukuoka in 2026?
The Kyushu Basho runs for 15 days, from Sunday 8 November to Sunday 22 November 2026, at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center. The 2027 edition is scheduled for 14–28 November 2027.
Can I still buy tickets for the Fukuoka sumo tournament?
Official tickets went on sale on 19 September 2026 and many dates are sold out; there is no same-day box office in 2026. Guided tours sold by travel agencies on GetYourGuide include a ticket and often still have seats.
How much does it cost to watch sumo in Fukuoka?
Official prices range from ¥2,000 for a weekday chair seat to ¥56,000 for a four-person box on a weekend. Guided tours including the ticket start at about $108 per person.
Do I need to stay all day?
No. One ticket is valid all day, but most visitors arrive around 14:00–15:00 to see the upper divisions and the ring-entering ceremonies, and leave after the last bout around 18:00.
Affiliate disclosure: this guide contains affiliate links to GetYourGuide. If you book through them we earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices are indicative and were checked at the time of writing — the live price on the booking page always prevails.