“Evangelion Kabuki” Announced for February 2026 : First-Ever Collaboration with Shochiku to Debut at Major Anniversary Festival

The Evangelion series will collaborate with kabuki for the very first time. Produced jointly with Shochiku, the special performance titled Evangelion Kabuki (working title) will premiere on the third day (February 23, 2026) of the large-scale festival “EVANGELION:30+; 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION” at Yokohama Arena, running from February 21 to 23.

This project commemorates the 30th anniversary of Neon Genesis Evangelion, which first aired in 1995 and became a social phenomenon. The anniversary festival serves as the culmination of a year of events, presented as a large-scale real-world celebration.

The venue design is led by creators from Studio Khara, featuring a central tower constructed from six massive LED screens at the heart of the “EVA EXTRA 30” exhibition zone. Surrounding areas include a virtual camera studio, an anniversary park, and a lounge hosting talk sessions with people involved in the Evangelion series, creating multiple experiential spaces.

At the “MATERIAL of EVA” zone, rare production materials will be on display, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the history of the series. The overall venue is designed as a circular route centered around the tower.

The “STAGE AREA” will offer full-day programs for fans to enjoy Evangelion in festival style. A giant LED screen measuring 18 meters wide by 15 meters tall will support dynamic visual performances alongside live music concerts, fashion shows, and talk events.

The highlight of the festival arrives on Day 3 with the unveiling of Evangelion Kabuki (working title), co-produced with Shochiku. This marks the very first collaboration between the world-renowned anime and the centuries-old Japanese performing art of kabuki. Each festival day will also feature a world premiere screening of a “Special Footage (working title)” presentation.

Ticket pre-lottery applications open on October 4 at 10:00 a.m. Daily passes are available for the “EVA EXTRA 30” and “STAGE AREA” zones, as well as combined set tickets granting access to both.

Originally airing from 1995 to 1996, Neon Genesis Evangelion depicted humanity’s battle against mysterious beings known as Angels through the use of giant humanoid weapons called Evangelions, piloted by young boys and girls. The franchise later relaunched in 2007 with the Rebuild of Evangelion film series (Evangelion: 1.0 You Are [Not] Alone, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can [Not] Advance, Evangelion: 3.0 You Can [Not] Redo). The final installment, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021), became the first in the series to surpass 10 billion yen at the box office.

Source : ORICON NEWS