A must-line-up for Shinjuku curry lovers! Tokyo Curry Expo 2026 brings together 48 stores nationwide, offering 27 days to experience new ways to enjoy curry

2026.08.27

A must-line-up for Shinjuku curry lovers! Tokyo Curry Expo 2026 brings together 48 stores nationwide, offering 27 days to experience new ways to enjoy curry

If you like Japanese curry, spiced dishes, or are always looking for a bit of a different culinary event whenever you go to Tokyo, autumn 2026 in Shinjuku is well worth saving a meal for.Tokyo Curry Expo 2026To be held atSeptember 11, 2026 (Fri) – October 7, 2026 (Wed)在Shinjuku Ward Okubo Park Special Venueheld, with a duration of as long as 27 days, bringing together 48 stores nationwide and 9 curry ambassadors, it is the opening event of the consecutive food festival "Shinjuku Gourmet Park Operation".

The main point of this event is not simply buying a serving of curry to eat, but rather overlapping and comparing curries from different vendors to create your own unique combination. For Taiwanese travelers, Okubo Park is located right between Shinjuku, Kabukicho, and Shin-Okubo, making transportation extremely convenient. It is very easy to incorporate into your itinerary, whether you want to go shopping during the day and eat curry at night, or stop by for an extra meal after exploring Koreatown.

Table of Contents

1 Expanded from 13 days to 27 days, 48 stores turn curry into an experiment
2 Not only curry rice, but spice culture will also appear on the plate.
3 Meal ticket system in 200-yen increments, perfect for trying small portions of various dishes.
4 Event Basic Information and Transportation
5 How do you recommend planning for this Shinjuku food festival?

Expanded from 13 days to 27 days, 48 stores turn curry into an experiment

When it was first held in 2025, one of the most interesting features of the event was serving curry from different restaurants over the same rice to create dual-or multi-topping curry (aigake). In 2026, the event duration is expanded from 13 to 27 days, and the number of participating shops has reached 48, featuring types such as European curry, Japanese curry, spice curry, South Indian cuisine, and West Indian cuisine, along with crossover participants like ramen shops and Italian restaurants.

If you usually only know Japanese curry rice, this place will easily open up a new world. You can start by choosing a familiar flavor and then pair it with a curry that has a strong spice profile to compare the differences; you can also buy separately with friends and trade tastes. It is recommended not to get too full in the first round and save room to try a few more places, which is the most cost-effective way to enjoy this kind of food festival.

Not only curry rice, but spice culture will also appear on the plate.

In addition to the usual curry, dishes such as the Indian spiced rice "Biryani" and South Indian crepe "Dosa" are also expected to appear at the venue, allowing visitors to experience how curry culture has spread from Japan to all over the world in a single location. For those who love taking photos and documenting flavors, every plate is likely to look different, and the combinations are hard to replicate completely.

Another highlight is the ramen broth curry rice, "Raa Curry" (ラーカレ). This isn't curry ramen; rather, it combines the broth honed at a ramen shop with spices, making the distinct personality of the soup stock part of the curry rice. Japanese ramen lovers should pay special attention to this crossover, as it has the experimental feel of a Tokyo food event.

Meal ticket system in 200-yen increments, perfect for trying small portions of various dishes.

Meals use a 200-yen meal ticket system, making it easy to divide up your budget. Instead of committing to a large plate right from the start, it is better to check the on-site queue and the vendors' dishes before deciding whether to go with heavy spices, meat as the star, seafood broth, or exotic cuisine. If you are with a large group, you can share dishes to try more varieties at once.

The announced list of participating vendors includes Oiwa Shokudo, Curry Anderson, Curry The Hardcore, Kyou Yabai Yatsu ni Atta, Johnny’s Biryani, Spice Post, SONA HALAL HOME MADE FOOD, Patta Nakameguro, INDIA GATE, and Japanese Spice Curry wacca, among others. The restaurant types are quite diverse, ranging from halal-oriented and Indian cuisine to ramen-style and creative curries.

Event Basic Information and Transportation

Event Name:Tokyo Curry Expo 2026

Period:September 11, 2026 (Fri) – October 7, 2026 (Wed), 27 days in total

Time:11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Venue:Shinjuku Ward Okubo Park Special Venue, 2-43 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Admission:Free, food and drinks are extra.

Dietary habit:meal ticket system in units of 200 yen

Traffic:1 minute walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station on the Seibu-Shinjuku Line, 7 minutes walk from JR Shin-Okubo Station, 8 minutes walk from JR Shinjuku Station, and 8 minutes walk from Higashi-Shinjuku Station on the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines

Official X:@tokyocurryexpo

Official Instagram:@tokyocurryexpo

How do you recommend planning for this Shinjuku food festival?

The most suitable arrangement is to fit it between shopping in Shinjuku, a night out in Kabukicho, or a stroll through Shin-Okubo. The midday slot is great for travelers who want to take serious photos and compare shops, while the evening is better suited for gathering with friends and the after-work atmosphere. Tokyo can still be muggy in September, so it is recommended to bring water, wear comfortable shoes, and avoid entering when you are extremely hungry, so your mood isn't affected by the wait times.

Tokyo Curry Expo 2026 is perfect for those who have already tried standard ramen, sushi, and yakiniku, and are looking for a more thematic Tokyo food experience. It brings together creative dishes from shops across the country right into the center of Shinjuku, allowing you to taste the diverse faces of modern Japanese curry in just a single evening or half a day.