Grilled skirt steak, aged beef tongue, whale steak and an award-winning hot dog are all on the menu at Niku Matsuri 2026 in Hibiya Park (肉祭2026in日比谷公園). The festival brings 29 food stalls to central Tokyo for three days, from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 September 2026. Entry is free. You only pay for what you eat and drink.
This guide covers the food, the drinks, the stage program and the bingo draw. It also lists a few details you should check before you head out.
Dates, Hours and Venue at a Glance
| Event | Niku Matsuri 2026 in Hibiya Park |
|---|---|
| Dates | 18–20 September 2026 (Fri–Sun, 3 days) |
| Hours | 10:00–18:00 |
| Venue | Nire-no-ki Hiroba (にれのき広場), Hibiya Park, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
| Admission | Free (food and drinks are paid for separately) |
| Scale | 29 stalls; about 100,000 visitors expected |
| Weather | Held rain or shine; cancelled in severe weather |
| Organizer | Niku Matsuri Executive Committee (肉祭実行委員会) |
| Supported by | Tokyo Metropolitan Government |
| Contact | [email protected] 03-6811-1135 (weekdays 10:00–18:00) |
| Official site | Event page Niku Matsuri website |
For directions to the square inside the park, see the official page.
What to Eat: Far More Than Beef
The lineup goes well beyond beef and pork. You’ll find steak, beef tongue, skirt steak, hot dogs and karaage (Japanese fried chicken), and there’s also horse meat and whale. These are the stalls and dishes the organizer has featured so far.
| Stall (as listed) | Dish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ココロ焦がれ | Skirt steak with Kujo green onions and dark-roasted shichimi (九条ネギと黒煎り七味の ハラミステーキ) | Flavorful skirt steak with a house-made sauce |
| 牛タン花楽 | Aged thick-cut beef tongue (熟成厚切り牛タン) | Aged for several days, then seared over high heat |
| 北海道旭川 炭火焼肉カルビ1ばん | Hokkaido beef geta kalbi skewer (北海道産牛げたカルビ串) | A rare cut of Hokkaido beef |
| D’sチーズステーキ | Honey salt cheese hot dog (はちみつ塩チーズの ホットドッグ) | A hot dog topped with cheese, honey and salt |
| もつ焼き煮込み 三六 | Steamed tongue (蒸したん) | So tender it melts in your mouth |
| くじら屋らじっく | Whale steak (くじらステーキ) | Made with whale meat sourced in Japan |
| 馬肉特急 | Bariki hamburger steak (馬力ハンバーグ) | A horse meat patty that shows off the flavor of the meat |
| ジョニーのからあげ | Johnny’s bone-in karaage (ジョニーの骨付きからあげ) | Bone-in fried chicken, a specialty of Oita |
| HOTDOG&FRIES -TACHIBANAYA- | Special Chimi (スペシャルチミー) | Voted No. 1 at the Hot Dog Grand Prix 2026 (see below) |
| 東京しゃも生産組合 ×五ノ神精肉店 | Charcoal-grilled Tokyo Shamo platter (炭焼き東京しゃも ごちゃ盛り) | Tokyo’s own specialty chicken, cooked over charcoal |
The organizer also mentions a cheesesteak sandwich stuffed with juicy beef and rich cheese, but it doesn’t say which stall sells it. The announcement lists no prices, so check the menu board at each stall on the day.
The hot dog that won its place at Hibiya
In June 2026, the Niku Matsuri Hot Dog Grand Prix 2026 (肉祭presentsホットドッググランプリ2026) in Odaiba drew around 80,000 visitors. Thirteen stalls brought roughly 45 kinds of hot dog, and visitors voted for their favorite. The winner was the Special Chimi from HOTDOG&FRIES -TACHIBANAYA-. The prize was a special invitation to run a stall at the Hibiya festival, so this stall earned its spot at Hibiya by winning.
The Special Chimi starts with linguiça, a fresh Brazilian-style sausage, in a crusty baguette. It’s topped with rich natural cheese, jalapeños, garlic and grilled onions. Pickles and a tangy, herb-scented house-made chimichurri finish it off.
Meat raised in Tokyo
Tokyo ingredients get attention too. Tokyo Shamo is a specialty chicken bred in Tokyo, and it is set to be grilled over charcoal at the venue. The organizer is also highlighting other Tokyo-grown ingredients, including Tokyo X pork.
Drinks: Craft Beer, Wine and Lemon Sours
Craft beer is the main draw, but you can also get wine, umeshu and lemon sours. There’s plenty to pair with whatever you’re eating.
| Maker / booth | What’s on offer |
|---|---|
| FUJI PREMIUM BREWING | Craft beers, including the Gold Award Lager (金賞ラガー), brewed entirely with spring water from Mt. Fuji |
| Niiza Craft (新座クラフト) | IPA, pale ale and more, including beers that won silver at the Japan Great Beer Awards (JGBA) 2026 |
| Hokkaido Wine (北海道ワイン) | Wine made from Hokkaido-grown grapes |
| Umenoyado Sake Brewery (梅乃宿酒造) | The Aragoshi series (あらごしシリーズ) |
| Also on the menu | Lemon sours made with shochu |
| Official drink bar | Draft beer and soft drinks |
The official drink bar sells soft drinks as well, so there’s something for anyone who isn’t drinking alcohol.
On Stage: Dance Battles, Live Music and DJs
If you like dance, go on Saturday 19 September. That day the stage hosts two competitions: the Niku Matsuri Solo Dance Battle 2026 in Hibiya Park (肉祭ソロダンスバトル2026in日比谷公園) and the Niku Matsuri Dance Contest 2026 in Hibiya Park (肉祭ダンスコンテスト2026in日比谷公園).
| Judge | Background |
|---|---|
| ATSUSHI | Backup dancer for King & Prince, with several dance contest wins |
| ARU SAKURADA | Works internationally; has appeared on Netflix’s Offline Love |
| YO-SEI | Member of List::X, a team in the D.LEAGUE pro dance league |
| Koshihikari Mochida (餅田コシヒカリ) | Official Niku Matsuri ambassador |
List::X will also put on a special guest show, with skilled, high-energy performances from dancers who compete in D.LEAGUE.
The stage also has live music, idol acts and DJ sets on all three days. The organizer lists the performers below. The announcement doesn’t say who appears on which day, so check the official page for timings.
| Performers (names as listed by the organizer) | |
|---|---|
| 餅田コシヒカリ | 山口めろん |
| MARUKADO | GET BILL MONKEYS |
| ジュリアナの祟り | 昭和歌謡DJブラッシュ |
| YOU-10 | sis |
| LuNaria | Uuna |
| 野島樺乃 | 大和きり |
| 福島清香 | 天野なつ |
| NANAKO | みぃこん |
There’s also a photo spot if you want a picture to remember the day.
Bingo: A Card for Every ¥1,000 You Spend
Your food and drink purchases earn the cards, so you don’t need to buy anything extra to take part. Keep every card you get, and ask at the venue when the draws will be held.
An Aomori Food Fair at the Same Venue
Nmee Aomori Fes 2026 in Hibiya Park (んめぇ青森フェス2026in日比谷公園) takes place at the park on the same three days. It showcases the food, tourism and local communities of Aomori Prefecture.
Aomori is surrounded by sea on three sides. It’s known for Mutsu Bay scallops, Oma tuna, apples and cherries, and it also produces its own premium rice and meat. The announcement doesn’t list which dishes will be sold, so if you’re hoping for something specific, check the official page first.
Tips Before You Go
- Payment: the announcement doesn’t list payment methods for the Hibiya festival. Check the official page before you go, and bring a backup in case a stall doesn’t accept your usual payment method.
- Weather: the festival goes ahead in the rain but is cancelled in severe weather. If the forecast looks bad, check the official page or the organizer’s Instagram that morning.
- Choosing a day: the dance competitions are on Saturday. If you’re mainly going for the food, pick whichever day fits your schedule.
- Prices: the announcement lists no prices, so budget loosely and check the menu board at each stall.
Making a weekend of it
If you’re traveling from outside Tokyo, the Aki no Norihodai Pass for three days of JR local trains might suit your trip. For a faster ride, the Tokudane Special 28 half-price Shinkansen fares are also an option. Make sure your travel dates are covered before you book. After a day of grilled meat and beer, a half-price coupon for Tokyo’s public bathhouses makes it cheap to relax in a sento.
FAQ
- Is Niku Matsuri in Hibiya Park free to enter?
- Yes. Admission is free, and you only pay for the food and drinks you buy.
- What are the dates and opening hours?
- The festival runs from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 September 2026, from 10:00 to 18:00, at Nire-no-ki Hiroba in Hibiya Park.
- Will it go ahead if it rains?
- The official page says it goes ahead in the rain but is cancelled in severe weather. If the forecast looks bad, check the official page or Instagram on the day.
- What payment methods do the stalls accept?
- The announcement for the Hibiya festival does not list payment methods. Check the official page before you go.
- When are the dance battle and dance contest?
- Both take place on the festival stage on Saturday 19 September.
- How do I get a bingo card?
- You get one bingo card for every ¥1,000 you spend at a stall. The prizes should include ¥5,000 worth of tickets you can spend at the venue, plus special menu items from the stalls.
- Is anything else happening at the same venue?
- Yes. Nmee Aomori Fes 2026 in Hibiya Park runs at the same time and showcases the food, tourism and local communities of Aomori Prefecture.