October at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai: event highlights at a glance — When are the fireworks? Wakayama Day, Poland National Day, Kids’ Expo, technology showcases for the future society, and the Final Event

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai is entering its final stretch, with festivities running through October 13. How many times have you visited the venue so far? Attendance continues to rise, and with the summer heat behind us, October should offer relatively mild weather to enjoy the Expo. This article rounds up the month’s standout events and programs.

EXPO Thanks Fireworks Festival — October schedule

As a special program leading up to the closing of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, the “EXPO Thanks Fireworks Festival” will be held on four days in October: Saturday the 4th, Wednesday the 8th, Sunday the 12th (the day before closing), and Monday the 13th (national holiday, Closing Day). Launch operations are planned from the south side outside the Grand Roof Ring.

October 1: “Kyoen EXPO 2025” — a one-night, free live show connecting the future through diverse music

Fukashigi Co., Ltd. will host the free-admission music event “Kyoen EXPO 2025 – Mixed Culture Music Night in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai” on Wednesday, October 1 at Pop-up Stage East inside the Expo venue. In response to the Expo theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” six acts spanning genres from acoustic to idol pop to neo-mood kayō will share the stage for one night only.

The lineup features the idol group Kupipo, singer-songwriter Yui Kohinata, Lukatama (Gt. Koichiro Nakashima), MaNaMaNa, Tokyo Kakehiki Club, and LILY&YU. Artists with different backgrounds will weave future “connections,” using music as a common language. The title “Hibikien” reflects the hope that music will resonate in people’s hearts and spark new encounters. As part of the official Expo program, the event will offer visitors a special night symbolizing multicultural coexistence and creativity.

October 3 — Wakayama Day: a special program showcasing music and culture

Wakayama Day on October 3 will be held as a special initiative to present the prefecture’s history and culture to audiences in Japan and abroad. Cultural assets such as the World Heritage–listed Kumano Kodo and Mount Koya will be highlighted, offering a broad experience of the prefecture’s appeal. On the special stage, local performing arts and music will showcase uniquely Wakayama culture, conveying the region’s character to visitors.

As a special event, a live concert by HYDE, a native of Wakayama, titled HYDE [INSIDE] LIVE – WAKAYAMA DAY will take place at the EXPO Arena “Matsuri.” Doors open at 17:00, show starts at 18:00, with a planned running time of about one hour. Earlier the same day, the historical and cultural stage Kokoro no Tabiji Hajimaru will be held at the EXPO Hall “Shine Hat,” presenting the spiritual culture of Wakayama nurtured by nature and faith.

October 10–11: Kids’ Expo — a two-day hands-on program where children learn at the Expo venue

On Friday–Saturday, October 10–11, 2025, “Kids’ Expo: Opening the Door to the Future” will be held at EXPO Messe “WASSE.” The target age is preschoolers through elementary school students, and total attendance over the two days is expected to be around 5,000. Participation is free (some programs are paid), but an Expo admission ticket is required to enter the venue.

The purpose of Kids’ Expo is to provide opportunities for children to develop three key strengths—self-affirmation, self-efficacy, and a sense of self-importance—and to discover future dreams and possibilities. Twenty-five companies and organizations will offer job-experience programs across a wide range of fields including manufacturing, IT, healthcare, and retail. Examples include a cleaning experience by AEON Delight, accessory-making by agete, a rebar work experience by the Kansai Reinforcement Industry Cooperative, and a money-literacy workshop by MoneRite DAO. Executive Committee Chair Mari Tezuka said, “We want to create encounters that move children’s hearts by letting them engage with a variety of adults and occupations.”

October 1–7 — Poland National Day: a key celebration at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai

Poland National Day will be held from October 1 to 7. As one of the most important celebrations in Poland’s participation program, the event highlights the achievements, values, and diversity of contemporary Poland. Polish government representatives will attend the ceremony, which is designed to deepen symbolism and a sense of international solidarity.

The program includes joint performances of the national anthems of Poland and Japan by the Gdynia Maritime University Choir. In the ceremonial parade, Polish rescue units will appear, demonstrating their professionalism and dedication. Additional events span culture, entertainment, and the arts, including a presentation marking the publication of “ABC of Famous Poles,” a stage performance from the Subcarpathian (Podkarpackie) region, and a game festival. A press conference is also planned to commemorate the Japanese Blu-ray release of the film “Kanal.”

3–7 October — “Future Voyage” lets visitors experience how SMEs tackle a sustainable society

From Friday, October 3 to Tuesday, October 7, 2025, “Future Voyage” will be held at EXPO Messe “WASSE” as part of “SDGs+Beyond: Designing Future Society for Our Lives Week.” Organized by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency and the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Japan, the program supports new business development and overseas expansion by Japanese SMEs. Exhibits present SMEs taking on social challenges as “challengers setting sail onto unknown seas,” allowing visitors to experience the challenges and value that drive a future society through SME technologies and ideas. The exhibition themes are “post-SDGs” and “future society.”

The exhibition consists of three zones. The first, “Voyage of Challenges,” is a forward-looking corporate exhibition area offering hands-on introductions to products, technologies, and services. Examples include developing food and cosmetic ingredients from unused salmon resources (Nippon Barrier Free Co., Ltd.), technology that keeps food fresh below 0°C without freezing (Hyokan Surprise Co., Ltd.), and initiatives addressing marine environmental issues using biomass marine-biodegradable composite plastics (Ai-Compology Co., Ltd.).

The second zone, “Voyage to the Future,” features a 270-degree theater that immersively depicts the “future in the year 20XX” realized by next-generation products and technologies. The third zone, “Future Port,” is a wrap-up area introducing “messages for the future” submitted by SMEs nationwide, visualizing the futures they envision.

Opening hours are in principle 10:00–20:00 (last admission 19:30). On the first day, Friday, October 3, admission begins at 11:00. In addition to “Future Voyage,” concurrent programs will include dialogues on solar energy utilization and SDG 14 (Life Below Water), an international forum on intellectual property use, and the World Cancer Eradication Summit, offering a wide range of sessions that explore the achievement of the SDGs and what lies beyond.

Official website https://expo2025.smrj.go.jp/en/

October 13 — Expo Closing Day: JR West Group presents “Thank-You and New Departure Festival — THANK YOU for ALL”

On October 13, the final event “Thank-You and New Departure Festival — THANK YOU for ALL” will be held. Organized by the JR West Group, the program will take place at EXPO Arena “Matsuri” from 13:00 to 19:00, themed around gratitude to visitors and stakeholders and a fresh departure after the Expo.

“Sekai no Myaku-Myaku Exhibition” also to be held
Part 1 will feature Japanese sake from across the country and festival performances from Japan and abroad, welcoming visitors with traditional culture. A flag ceremony by staff from participating countries is also planned. Part 2, titled “EXPO Thanks LIVE,” will present performances by artists involved with the Expo, delivering songs of appreciation. Part 3 will look back on the Expo period through video and music, culminating in a finale that expresses a journey into the future. Admission is free, but a same-day Expo entry ticket is required. In addition, a lottery campaign will offer WESTER members priority viewing tickets for Parts 2 and 3.

In conjunction, the “Sekai no Myaku-Myaku Exhibition” will be held at Osaka Station and within the venue, showcasing works inspired by the official character and running a social media posting campaign. It promises to be a special day to close the Expo.