Event Overview
Tokyo Game Show takes place annually at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan and serves as the premier gaming convention for the Japanese market and broader Asia-Pacific region. The 2026 edition runs from September 17 through September 21, spanning five days of exhibitions, presentations, and playable game demonstrations. Tokyo Game Show functions as both a trade show for industry professionals and a public event for gaming enthusiasts, with the schedule typically dividing between business-focused days and consumer-facing days.
What to Expect
Tokyo Game Show features large-scale exhibition booths from major publishers and platform holders including Sony Interactive Entertainment, which typically maintains a significant presence at the show. The event focuses heavily on games developed in Japan or targeted at Japanese and Asian markets, making it the primary venue for announcements and demonstrations of Japanese-developed titles across all platforms.
Publisher presentations and stage shows occur throughout the event, with companies revealing new games, showing extended gameplay footage of previously announced titles, and discussing upcoming releases scheduled for the Japanese market. These presentations often stream online for global audiences, though the primary focus remains on games and content relevant to the Asian market.
Attendees can play demonstration builds of upcoming games on the show floor, with major releases typically offering hands-on stations where visitors can experience games months before their retail launch. The show floor also includes merchandise vendors, esports tournaments, and appearances by game developers, voice actors, and other industry figures popular in Japan.
PlayStation's Historical Presence
Sony Interactive Entertainment has historically maintained one of the largest booth spaces at Tokyo Game Show, using the event to showcase both first-party PlayStation Studios titles and third-party games with strong PlayStation platform presence. The company often hosts dedicated stage presentations during the show, revealing Japan-focused announcements that may not receive emphasis at Western-oriented events like Summer Game Fest or The Game Awards.
PlayStation typically uses Tokyo Game Show to demonstrate games from Japanese development partners, reveal Japan-exclusive hardware colors or special editions, and provide updates on games that perform particularly well in the Asian market. The event serves as a counterbalance to Western-focused PlayStation showcases, ensuring that Japanese developers and their games receive appropriate spotlight within Sony's promotional calendar.
Attending Tokyo Game Show
Tokyo Game Show sells tickets through the official Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association website. The event typically reserves the first two days for business attendees with industry credentials, while the final three days welcome public ticket holders. Public ticket sales usually open several months before the event, and popular days can sell out as the show approaches.
Makuhari Messe is accessible from central Tokyo via the JR Keiyo Line, with the venue located approximately 30-40 minutes by train from Tokyo Station. The facility offers extensive exhibition space across multiple connected halls, though navigating the full show floor requires significant walking and time investment.
Streaming and Remote Access
For PlayStation fans unable to travel to Tokyo, most major presentations and announcements from Tokyo Game Show stream online through official channels. Publisher YouTube and Twitch accounts broadcast their stage shows live, and gaming media outlets provide English-language coverage of major announcements. While hands-on demos remain exclusive to physical attendees, the core news and reveals reach global audiences through these digital channels.
Schedule and Updates
The Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association publishes the detailed Tokyo Game Show schedule approximately one month before the event. This schedule includes confirmed exhibitors, stage presentation times, and special guest appearances. PlayStation's specific plans for Tokyo Game Show 2026 will be announced through the PlayStation Blog and official PlayStation social media channels as the event approaches.