On May 16th and 17th, 2026, “Fes Nijisanji 2026” (hereinafter referred to as NijiFes) was held at Messe Makuhari. This was the fifth NijiFes since its start in 2021, but for me, it was my first time participating in a large-scale VTuber event.
I used to only occasionally see clips of Nijisanji’s videos, but in 2026, I became more deeply involved with them through my work producing news articles, which led me to start watching their videos and streams regularly.
How does the two-way interaction between streamers and fans that takes place through a screen translate into a different kind of energy at a “real” event? What is the “unique charm” and “essence of the culture” that fans pour so much passion into?
Although I’m a novice journalist, I went to the venue to see for myself what was causing such excitement. Here’s my report.
Fans who “wear” their favorite idols
The moment I stepped into the venue, the first thing that caught my eye was the overwhelming wave of people. Thanks to the designated pathways and the guidance of the staff, it was not possible to become completely immobile, but the sheer energy of the fans filling the venue was almost overwhelming.
However, as I actually walked around, I found that everywhere was filled with the joyful enthusiasm of the fans, and thanks to that pleasant atmosphere, I didn’t feel any discomfort in touring the exhibits even amidst the crowds.
(Scenes from inside the venue)
The gender ratio of participants was roughly 7:3, with most being in their early twenties. Many came in pairs with friends, and even the large groups that had met beforehand seemed to split up once inside the venue. There was a diverse range of fans, but what was common among them was that they were all wearing their favorite idol merchandise, including “ita-bags” (bags decorated with badges, etc.). Some also coordinated their clothing and hairstyles to match the colors of their merchandise. I could feel the fans’ dedication to expressing their love for their idols in ways beyond just merchandise.
Among the many items available, fans who particularly favored the official merchandise, the “class jersey” and “nui” (short for stuffed animal), were especially noticeable.
NijiFes is “Nijisanji’s school festival,” and this time the focus is on the “sports festival.”
Since 2022, NijiFes has created exhibits and merchandise based on the theme of a “school festival.” Until now, the focus has been on class T-shirts that emphasize the “cultural festival” aspect, but this time, while maintaining the school festival concept, the focus has shifted to a new element: the “sports festival.” Class jerseys that emphasize the sports festival aspect have been released as official merchandise.
(A display corner for merchandise. The colorful items lined up from the back right are the class jerseys.)
Like the previous class T-shirts, this item evokes a sense of unity and solidarity. The design is excellent, and the wide range of colors made the venue even more vibrant with fans wearing them. Seeing so many people actually wearing them made me want one too!
The story behind the creation of the class jerseys is told in ANYCOLOR MAGAZINE. It details the dedication and attention to detail of the ANYCOLOR staff.
Director Chief A: “NijiFes” started in 2021, and this year marks its fifth edition. The now-familiar school festival theme was first unveiled at “NijiFes 2022.” Since then, we’ve made changes to the main visual for each festival, but basically, we’ve used the livers wearing class T-shirts as a motif, emphasizing the school festival element to express “Niji’s school festival.” While I think it’s great that the school festival theme using class T-shirts has become familiar, we’ve started to hear some comments from fans and within the company saying that “it’s losing its novelty.”
However, the staff felt that it would be wrong to change the fundamental concept of “Nijisanji’s Festival School,” so we decided to explore new ways of presenting it while preserving that core concept. After discussions with various departments, including the in-house design team, we came up with something that “any of the more than 150 Live streamers could wear” and “wouldn’t look out of place in a school setting,” and we settled on gym clothes, especially tracksuits. Then, we decided that if we were going to create visuals in tracksuit style, we should focus on the sports festival, rather than the cultural festival, which is another school event.
The “plushie photography” culture is gaining momentum in the VTuber industry, and the significance of owning official merchandise.
“Nui-dori,” the act of taking photos of your favorite plush toys alongside scenery or food while out and about, has become popular as a form of “fandom activity” with the rise of social media. While “nui-dori” is trending in various industries, it has recently become a hot topic in the VTuber industry as well.
(Runrun plushie)
At NijiFes 2026, as was often the case, fans taking photos with their plushies were seen all over the venue. It was almost as if every fan had one. Purchasing an official plushie is a direct way of showing support for a VTuber. For fans, wearing or carrying it around seems to be a way of showing “I support this VTuber” and a way to initiate communication.
Unlike other merchandise such as badges, “nui” plushies have a partner-like aspect, allowing you to “experience events together.” You can enjoy live performances and exhibitions from the same perspective, capture those memories in photos, and upload them to social media. This feeling of “virtually experiencing the same things as your favorite character” is likely the reason why they continue to attract fans.
Furthermore, it was clear that the organizers were putting a lot of effort into the plushies, in response to the fans’ requests. Last year, there was a photo spot specifically for plushies, but this year there were more plushie displays, such as “World of Nijisanji,” the “NIJI x BUDDY booth,” and “Plushie Nijisanji Pop Store-up at NijiFes 2026.”
(“World of Nijisanji” where you can see various worldviews and puppets)
(Approximately 180 Nijipapets wearing class jerseys were on display at the “Nijipapet” exhibition.)
Some fans were so dedicated that they wore not just one or two, but a massive number of plush toys. Their appearance, clad in plush toys like armor, made them seem like heavy plush toy soldiers, just like heavy spenders.
“Nui” plushies possess a unique cuteness that sets them apart from acrylic stands and figurines. Witnessing their popularity firsthand, I was able to truly understand why they are so popular. I might even be attending the next event with a plushie by my side.
I felt an incredible amount of energy from the “standee panel”.
The “standee panels” (life-sized panels) of the live streamers, placed throughout the venue, also became popular photo spots, rivaling the plushie photo shoots.
What I witnessed in the area where the panels were located was the incredible enthusiasm of the fans. There were surprisingly long lines in front of each panel, and at times the crowds were so dense that staff had to direct the flow. Even with the long wait, the strong passion of each fan waiting in line, wanting to create lasting memories that could only be made in this place, was palpable.
(Fans lined up in front of Touya Kenmochi’s panel. There are so many people that they can’t all fit in the photo.)
(A queue may form even while the items are being transported on carts.)
(The author also took a commemorative photo of Claire Sister’s panel.)
An exhibition that makes you feel closer to your favorite idol.
Beyond the exhibits themselves, there were thoughtful touches throughout the venue that allowed you to feel the presence of your favorite idol.
Graffiti inside the venue
The live streamers’ doodles were scattered all over the venue. There were messages for fans, interactions through the doodles, and even a picture word game exhibit where they were playing it on the wall… and on the second day, there were more doodles that weren’t there on the first day, making it feel even more real that “your favorite streamer was here.”
(Graffiti by the live streamers was found all over the venue.)
Personal belongings on display
One of the things that attracted the attention of many fans was the “personal belongings display,” which showcased the individuality of the live streamers.
What I felt when I actually saw the exhibit was the sense that “they really are there.” These are beings whose voices and appearances I usually follow through a screen, but the objects they have actually held and used are right there. That fact speaks more strongly than anything else about the “real presence” of VTubers. I think it would be especially moving to find items that appeared in the episodes you heard in their streams.
Furthermore, the personalities of the live streamers were strongly reflected in the exhibits. Some displays featured personal belongings, souvenirs, and handmade items, while others were designed as comedic challenges, showcasing each streamer’s unique style.
(Amamiya Kokoro’s personal belongings that she always uses: “a guitar and a figurine.”)
(On the second day, Riri Yuhi’s personal item, “Future Air,” was subject to censorship.)
The personal belongings displayed behind the glass cases went beyond mere object displays, making the presence of their “favorite” idols, usually only seen on screen, feel closer and more vivid. This exhibition, which allows fans to share “stories” and “a sense of everyday life,” is a luxurious experience unique to NijiFes that significantly reduces the distance between fans and their idols.
AR Photo Spot
This exhibit uses the STYLY mobile app, allowing visitors to take photos with their favorite live streamers by scanning a QR code with their smartphone. The live streamers will talk to you and perform for you. Some fans were so moved by seeing their favorite streamers appear right before their eyes that they couldn’t help but let out cries of joy.
You can not only see them from the front, but also from the side and behind. Being able to see your favorite idol from various angles, and right in front of you, is certainly an experience that might make you want to scream.
(A photo of Higuchi Kaede performing the “Haka” taken with STYLY. The lyrics were also on display, and we were able to dance along.)
A fluffy stroll
In the concourse outside the main venue, the one that drew the most cries of “Cute!” was “Fluffy Osanpo.” This project involved Shiba Kuroi, Devil Debidebi, and Runrun being strolled around the venue in a stroller. The sight of them being rocked in the stroller was so adorable it left people speechless.
(They were seen enjoying camping when they weren’t out for their walks.)
However, the true appeal of this event goes beyond simply displaying fluffy stuffed animals. It lies in the ultimate communication experience: the opportunity to talk directly with the characters via smartphone. The lucky fans who were there enjoyed interacting with the characters, chatting and showing them their merchandise.
(The author encountered a black Inu Shiba. It was very fluffy.)
An attraction where you can have the same experience as the familiar Nijisanji events.
Among the attractions, the one that occupied the center of the venue and had a large space was the “Academy Nijisanji Break Lunch Area Experience.” This area allows visitors to experience lunchtime at Academy Nijisanji, which was introduced in “Academy Nijisanji 24 Hours: Ultimate The Deciding Class Match,” released on December 31, 2025.
There were a total of five attractions, and all of them were so popular that there were waiting times of several tens of minutes. In addition, videos of the VTubers participating in each event have been released in conjunction with the NijiFes 2026 event.
I participated in two games: “A game where you just throw paper airplanes as far as you can” and “You’re the fastest smasher!”.
A game where you simply try to fly a paper airplane as far as possible.
This project involves turning career path charts into paper airplanes and flying them. The video features Kizuku Yashiro, Furen E. Lustario, Hibari Watari, and Nozomi Ishigami.
（https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAA9gHn_74I）
It had been about ten years since I last folded a paper airplane. I made a lot of mistakes folding it, but I somehow managed to make it into shape and achieved a record of 1 meter. It didn’t fly as far as I had hoped, but it was better than Flen’s record.
(Career preference survey form distributed)
(The author’s paper airplane barely surpasses Flen’s record)
You’re the fastest smasher!
This project involves using various objects as rackets to compete in a table tennis smash speed challenge. The participants are Higuchi Kaede, Banderas Belmondo, Kuramochi Meruto, and Kitami Yusei.
（https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iahUYUQzYRI）
(Tools that can be used as substitutes for rackets)
I chose the blackboard eraser. I thought I could hit it easily, but to my surprise, I only hit it once out of five balls. Higuchi, who was also using the blackboard eraser in the video, hit it with ease, making me realize the difference in our athletic abilities.
(The speed of the one ball the author was able to hit a smash on)
Although the results themselves were disastrous, I thoroughly enjoyed both the paper airplane and smash games. For a fan, the experience of competing in the same competition as the streamers and challenging their records is an unparalleled joy.
The area also offered a variety of other attractions, such as boot camp, pitching, and physical fitness tests, making it an exceptionally well-equipped event for a VTuber-related event. Every attraction was of very high quality, and the participating fans were beaming with smiles. Many of the activities required physical exertion, but every corner was constantly filled with energy. If time had permitted, I would have loved to try them all.
Designs to keep you entertained while you wait in line
There were lines of several tens of minutes waiting for every attraction and exhibition booth, but various efforts were made to keep fans entertained.
For example, the walls along the queue were adorned with doodles and illustrations by the streamers, which fans could enjoy looking at. In addition, announcements by the streamers were played throughout the venue, and many fans held up their smartphones to record them, making the waiting time itself part of the experience.
Furthermore, the “mystery-solving” game distributed upon entry was another element that kept fans entertained. In addition, the large number of staff members and smooth operation meant that the queue sometimes moved faster than the displayed waiting time, which also enhanced the overall experience.
(Illustrations and doodles by Higuchi Kaede)
After the event
As a first-time participant in the large-scale VTuber event “Fes Nijisanji 2026,” I was able to experience firsthand the passionate “fan culture” and the thrill of “having your favorite VTuber there,” and I thoroughly enjoyed the event.
The organizers (ANYCOLOR) had clearly put a lot of thought and attention to detail into their concept, resulting in exhibits and attractions that truly showcased the individuality of each character (or, in the case of NijiFes, the VTubers).
Furthermore, compared to other events I’m familiar with, there were a great many things that participants could “experience.” For example, at Comic Market, the main purpose for many participants is to “buy” doujinshi, and at Tokyo Game Show, it’s to “learn” about the latest games. Of course, “buying” and “learning” are also ways to enjoy events, but NijiFes, with its abundance of “experiences”—such as dancing with your favorite character or playing the same activities—is an event that truly deepens the memories of being there.
Furthermore, you can create lasting memories by taking commemorative photos with life-sized panels and plush toys. These kinds of enjoyable activities are surely one of the reasons why fans are so enthusiastic and can keep smiling even when there are long lines. This was a very worthwhile interview, as I learned things that I wouldn’t have known without actually going to the venue.
Following the event, announcements were made regarding the Koshien Nijisanji tournament and large-scale live performances, so it seems that there will be more exciting developments to look forward to in the future.
This article is an English translation of an original Japanese article, translated by the Mogura VR editorial team.
Reference
https://fes.nijisanji.jp/2026/
https://magazine.anycolor.co.jp/articles/1330426303
https://magazine.anycolor.co.jp/articles/20828537
