2026 in sumo


The following are the events in professional sumo during 2026.

Tournaments

Hatsu ''basho">honbasho">basho''

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Sumida, Tokyo, 11 January – 25 January

Haru ''basho''

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 8 March – 22 March

Natsu ''basho''

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 10 May – 24 May

Nagoya ''basho''

IG Arena, Nagoya, 12 July – 26 July

Aki ''basho''

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 13 September – 27 September

Kyushu ''basho''

Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Kyushu, 8 November – 22 November

News

January

  • 9: The Japan Sumo Association announces that Emperor Naruhito will attend the sumo tournament in Tokyo on 18 January. It will be the first –sumo performed in the presence of the Emperor–in six years.
  • 10: The Sumo Association announces a record number of applications at the upcoming January grand sumo tournament. There are applications for a total of 3,469 prize envelopes, which breaks the record set in September of last year. There are also 258 envelopes set to be distributed on 11 January, which will break the previous single-day record set in January of last year.
  • 14: Top Yoshinofuji defeats Ōnosato after winning against Hōshōryū the previous day, becoming the first competitor in six years to defeat two on consecutive days. This feat would be repeated later by Atamifuji, who entered the tournament having never earned a .
  • 16: The Sumo Association announces the retirement of former Daiamami.
  • 18: Hakunofuji defeats Ōnosato in front of Emperor Naruhito, becoming the third wrestler since the start of the Shōwa era to collect at least one in four consecutive tournaments.
  • 22: Nishikifuji withdraws on Day 12 of the January 2026 tournament. His stablemaster cites returning neck and elbow pain stemming from earlier injuries.
  • 23: Hakunofuji withdraws on Day 13 of the January 2026 tournament due to a ligament injury in his left big toe. Two days earlier, he appeared to collapse from his left knee in losing to Aonishiki. Hakunofuji's scheduled opponent, Ōnokatsu–who was Nishikifuji's scheduled opponent the day before–becomes the fourth sumo wrestler in history to win two consecutive matches by default.
The Japan Sumo Association announces that the election of directors and deputy directors for the new two-year term at the head of the organization will not be subject to a vote for the fourth consecutive term, as the number of candidates matches the number of positions up for election. It has also been announced that the exact occupancy of the positions will be revealed on 8 March.
  • 25: The January 2026 tournament concludes with Aonishiki winning the championship playoff against rank-and-file wrestler Atamifuji, securing his second consecutive Emperor's Cup. Aonishiki and Atamifuji were tied in the standings entering Day 15 with eleven wins each. After Atamifuji won his scheduled Day 15 contest, which eliminated opponent Ōshōumi and three others from title contention, Aonishiki defeated Kotozakura to force a playoff–just like he did at the previous tournament last November. The two 12–3 leaders faced each other in the playoff, where Atamifuji pushed Aonishiki to the edge of the ring before Aonishiki stayed low and took his opponent down with a headlock throw. Aonishiki's victory marks the first time in almost 20 years, since Hakuhō in the May 2006 tournament, that a newly promoted has won the championship. He is also the first wrestler in 89 years to win consecutive titles as a newly promoted and a newly promoted. Aonishiki will be a candidate for potential promotion at the next tournament in March. The Sumo Association awards runner-up Atamifuji with his third Fighting Spirit prize, one of three special prizes handed out. A Fighting Spirit prize is also awarded to Kirishima for the fourth time in his career. Yoshinofuji collects his first Outstanding Performance prize; he has now collected at least one Special Prize in three of his four career tournaments in the top division.
    The division championship is won by 22-year-old Tochigi native, who collects his first professional sumo title.
  • 26: Two months after it was announced, Tokiwayama stable is transferred from the retiring Tokiwayama to Minatogawa and becomes Minatogawa stable.
  • 28: Three promotions from to are announced for the March tournament by the Sumo Association. One of two wrestlers promoted to for the first time is 25-year-old Mongolian, a recruit of Hakuhō with two years of professional experience and one lower-division championship. He is the first promotion for former Terunofuji since taking over Isegahama stable last year. The other is 19-year-old, an All Japan Sumo Championship quarterfinalist as a high school student who debuted as a competitor one year ago. In the March 2026 tournament he will take on the new of Fujitensei. Former competitor Shimazuumi returns to the second-highest sumo division after six tournaments.
    Among the retirements formally announced by the Sumo Association is former Kaorufuji, a 23-year veteran and the last remaining active wrestler from the former Mihogaseki stable.
  • 31: The retirement ceremony is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan for the 73rd Terunofuji.

February

Deaths

  • 29 January: Former Sentoryū, aged 56, of lung disease.