A first-timer's guide to the Nagoya sumo tournament
The Nagoya Basho runs every July, now at IG Arena beside Meijo Park, a one-minute walk from Meijo Koen Station (Exit 2) on the Nagoya Municipal Subway Meijo Line. The 2026 tournament runs 12-26 July. IG Arena opened in 2025, replacing the long-running Dolphins Arena a short distance away; the bouts and the shape of the day are unchanged.
The 2026 Nagoya Basho runs 12-26 July at IG Arena. Confirm the exact dates, on-sale time, and ticket conditions with the Japan Sumo Association before you plan. Japan Sumo Association ↗
What you are seeing
- A newer, larger hall than the old Dolphins Arena, seating around 7,800 for sumo, right next to Meijo Park's moat and greenery.
- The same daily build as every tournament: lower divisions from the morning to a near-empty hall, then the top division and ring-entering ceremonies in the late afternoon.
- From Nagoya Station, the route runs via the Higashiyama Line to Sakae, then the Meijo Line to Meijo Koen, about twenty minutes.
What to watch next
- Treat everything you already know about a Tokyo tournament day as still true here; only the address and the train change.
- If you attended Nagoya sumo before 2025, note that the venue changed; do not head to the old Dolphins Arena out of habit.
- Aim to be in your seat by mid to late afternoon for the top division and a full house, same as Ryogoku.
A common first-timer mistake
Heading to the old Dolphins Arena out of habit. The Nagoya tournament moved to IG Arena in 2025, a short distance north.
Words you may hear
- Nagoya Basho
- the July Grand Sumo Tournament, held in Nagoya
- IG Arena
- the venue for the Nagoya Basho since 2025, beside Meijo Park
- Honbasho
- an official Grand Sumo Tournament; there are six a year
Sources and review
Created and photographed in Ryogoku by a Tokyo-based spectator. Facts reviewed against Japan Sumo Association materials on 25 August 2026.