MICE News

Japan Events

One Year Until the Opening of the International Horticultural Expo 2027: Latest Updates and Key Topics from GREEN×EXPO 2027, Including the One-Year-to-Go Press Conference, Official Uniforms, and Sponsorship Project Announcements

Yuzu Appointed as Official Ambassadors; Mana Ashida Appears at the One-Year-to-Go Press Conference With just one year remaining until the opening of the International Horticultural Expo 2027 (GREEN×EXPO 2027), scheduled to begin in March 2027 at the former Kamiseya Communication Site in Yokohama, a series of new announcements have been unveiled. In this article, MICE...

Hotels & Venues News

Sphere Abu Dhabi to Open on Yas Island in 2029 — First Sphere Development Project Outside the United States Expected to Support MICE Events with Capacity of Up to 20,000

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has announced Sphere Abu Dhabi, the first Sphere development project to be built outside the United States. Approximately USD 1.7 billion will be invested during the construction phase of the project ahead of its planned opening in 2029. Equipped with cutting-edge immersive technology, the venue is...

Hotels & Venues News

South Gate Hotel Okinawa Opens in Naha on May 23 — A New Hub Offering Facilities and Accessibility for Growing MICE Demand

Plan・Do・See Co., Ltd. will open South Gate Hotel Okinawa, an urban resort hotel directly connected to the Tomari Port Passenger Terminal Building in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 23, 2026. Located approximately 11 minutes by car from Naha Airport, the hotel offers excellent accessibility along with banquet facilities accommodating up to 570 guests and...

2026-6-picks
Japan Events

June 2026 Trade Shows & Events in Japan: 38 Featured Exhibitions and Conferences Including FOOMA JAPAN, GAME FUTURE SUMMIT, and the Automotive Engineering Exposition

Trade Shows & Events in Hokkaido DXPO Sapporo ’26 (Back Office / Sales & Marketing / IT & Information Systems / E-Commerce) June 30 – July 3 Access SapporoA business exhibition focused on operational efficiency and digital transformation (DX) for corporate management and administrative departments. The event covers areas such as back-office operations, sales and marketing,...

Japan Events

May 2026 Trade Shows & Events in Japan: 41 Featured Exhibitions and Conferences Including Japan Hobby Show, SusHi Tech Tokyo, Automotive Engineering Exposition, and BitSummit

With the busy start of the new fiscal year beginning to settle down, this is also a time when many professionals may have a little more room to focus on new ideas and opportunities. This month as well, we have compiled a selection of trade shows and events that may provide useful business insights and...

cuew2026-1
Art & Culture

CUEW Showcase & Conference to Be Held in Shibuya, April 9–12, 2026, Supporting Global Expansion of Artists

CUEW Showcase & Conference, an international event where music, culture, and business intersect, will take place over four days from April 9 to 12, 2026, in Shibuya, Tokyo. The event aims to create new connections between Japan, Asia, and the global market, providing a platform to support artists’ international expansion and to generate new business...

Hotels & Venues News

Tradimo Kyoto Gojo, Hilton Grand Vacations Club to Open on March 18, 2026A timeshare resort in Kyoto offering all-suite accommodations of 50 square meters or more, designed for extended stays

A new style of stay will be introduced in Kyoto, a historic city that continues to attract travelers from around the world. Hilton Grand Vacations will open Tradimo Kyoto Gojo, Hilton Grand Vacations Club—its first timeshare resort in Kyoto—on March 18, 2026. Following properties in Odawara and Sesoko Island, this will be the company’s third...

MICE Basics

IZAN Inc. Launches “MICE ZINE,” the Industry’s First Career-Focused ZINE for the MICE SectorAimed at students, the publication seeks to create opportunities to spark interest in the MICE industry

“My First MICE”: Introducing the MICE industry to students for the first time Delivering directly to students before they become familiar with MICE “MICE TIMES ONLINE,” a media platform that provides information on the MICE industry (operated by IZAN Inc.), has published a free paper titled “MICE ZINE” as a new initiative to connect young...

Games & Pop Culture

【Report】Board Game Business Expo Japan 2026 (BGBE): Western Japan’s Largest Board Game Festival — A Report on the Event That Doubled Attendance to 20,000

In recent years, board games have increasingly been used in business settings, including workshops and team-building programs. Alongside this trend, a growing number of events related to board games have emerged. Among them, Board Game Business Expo Japan 2026, commonly known as BGBE, stands out as a particularly noteworthy event. Now in its third edition,...

Columns

[Column] Where Does Innovation Emerge—If Not on the Stage? Designing Spaces That Blend Diverse Perspectives [TechGALA Japan 2026]

In January 2026, “TechGALA Japan 2026” was held in Nagoya.One particular session raised a central question: how should environments that foster innovation be designed? Do the events or communities you organize tend to bring together similar participants? Do they risk becoming spaces where attendees only listen to speakers? The structure of a setting can influence...

Japan Events

【IVS 2026】July 1–3 at Miyakomesse in Kyoto; Theme “Japan is Back,” Invitation-Only Area at Hotel Okura Kyoto

Japan’s largest startup conference, IVS 2026, will take place in Kyoto over three days from July 1 to July 3, 2026. This year’s theme is “Japan is Back.” In addition to the main venue, Kyoto International Exhibition Hall Miyakomesse, the event will introduce a new area called IVS CORE. This invitation-only space for decision-makers will...

Japan Events

【April 2026】38 Must-Attend Trade Shows and Events: SEA JAPAN, SusHi Tech Tokyo, TEAMZ WEB3/AI SUMMIT and More

With the start of a new fiscal year, many professionals find themselves meeting new colleagues, joining new teams, and engaging with new business partners. This is also a season when opportunities to exchange business cards increase. At trade shows and events, conversations often begin with a simple introduction, and in some cases lead to unexpected...

Exhibitions & Events

SIMTOS 2026, One of Korea’s Largest Manufacturing Technology Trade Shows, to Be Held April 13–17 at KINTEX: Key Highlights and Updated Access Information

SIMTOS, one of Asia’s largest manufacturing technology trade shows, will return in April 2026 at the KINTEX exhibition center in Goyang, South Korea. The event will bring together more than 1,300 companies from 35 countries, showcasing the latest machine tools and advanced manufacturing technologies incorporating AI. As a major international gathering for the manufacturing industry,...

Art & Culture

Creators Caravan Utsunomiya, One of the Largest Entertainment Networking Festivals in Northern Kanto, to Be Held July 31–August 1, 2026 / Banpō Tsūshō Named Title Sponsor

Creators Caravan Utsunomiya, one of the largest entertainment networking events in the Northern Kanto region, will be held over two days on July 31 and August 1, 2026, in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. The event is organized by Trident Works Co., Ltd., with Banpō Tsūshō Co., Ltd. serving as the title sponsor. The initiative aims...

Exhibitions & Events

KINTEX, Korea’s Largest Exhibition Venue—Within 30 Minutes of Seoul by High-Speed Rail: KINTEX and Goyang City’s MICE Strategy, with Reports from Exhibitions Held on Site [Korea 2025 Autumn Feature 2]

KINTEX (Korea International Exhibition Center), the largest exhibition and convention center in South Korea, is positioned as one of Asia’s leading MICE innovation platforms. Established on April 29, 2005, as a joint investment project between the national government and local authorities, KINTEX was developed with the dual objective of internationalizing Korea’s exhibition industry and addressing...

Japan Events

Advance Ticket Sales for GREEN×EXPO 2027 to Begin on March 19

The Japan Association for the 2027 International Horticultural Expo (official name: Public Interest Incorporated Association for the 2027 International Horticultural Expo) has announced that advance sales of admission tickets for GREEN×EXPO 2027 will begin on March 19, 2026, one year prior to the opening of the Expo. Advance Sales Begin March 19: Early-Bird One-Day Ticket...

sxsw
Global Events

SXSW 2026 Approaches: The 40th Anniversary of the “World’s Largest Convergence Festival” and Why It Matters for Japan — March 12–18 in Austin, Texas

In March 2026, South by Southwest (SXSW) will take place in Austin, Texas, entering what may be one of the most transformative moments in its 40-year history. With the closure of the Austin Convention Center, venues will be further decentralized across the city, and for the first time, the music, film, and interactive tracks will...

Global Events

HANNOVER MESSE 2026: Event Overview and Highlights — One of the World’s Largest Industrial Trade Fairs for Manufacturing, Held April 20–24 in Germany

HANNOVER MESSE is one of the world’s largest trade fairs dedicated to industrial technology. It is held at the Hannover Exhibition Grounds in Germany and typically brings together around 4,000 exhibiting companies and approximately 123,000 visitors over five days. The 2025 edition concluded under the theme “Tailwind for Industry,” emphasizing momentum and resilience within the...

MICE TIMES ONLINE is a Kyoto-based web media platform dedicated to MICE, conventions, and events. We deliver news and insights from Japan and across Asia, with the concept of “Capturing the Now of MICE” — staying on top of the latest trends and developments in the industry. We welcome contributions of information as well as inquiries regarding potential business partnerships.

Categories