Gion Matsuri, one of the three great festivals of Japan, fills Kyoto for the whole of July. The spectacular Yamaboko Junko float parade takes place on Friday, July 17, 2026. Track the days on our live Gion Matsuri countdown.
When is Gion Matsuri 2026?
Gion Matsuri runs from July 1 to July 31, 2026, with events building through the month. The two grand float processions are the Saki Matsuri parade on July 17 (23 floats) and the smaller Ato Matsuri parade on July 24 (11 floats).
The festival's history
The festival is held by Kyoto's Yasaka Shrine and dates back to the year 869, when it began as a purification ritual to drive away a plague that was sweeping the capital. It has been staged almost every year since, making it one of Japan's oldest and most revered festivals.
What to see
- Yamaboko floats — towering wooden floats, some over 25 metres tall and weighing several tonnes, hung with fine tapestries.
- Yoiyama evenings — on July 14–16 and 21–23, downtown streets close to traffic for lanterns, food stalls and festival-goers in yukata.
- The grand parades — the Yamaboko Junko on July 17 and 24, when the floats are hauled through the city on giant wheels.
Count down to Gion Matsuri
Open the live Gion Matsuri 2026 countdown for the days, hours and minutes to the grand parade. Counting down to a trip to Japan? You might also like our Tanabata Star Festival countdown, or make your own countdown to your travel date.