Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 15th Anniversary "Yurubirth by Yuru-Chara Grand Prix Executive Committee" to be Held
The Yuru-Chara Grand Prix Executive Committee has announced the holding of "Yurubirth 2026," a hybrid event commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Yuru-Chara Grand Prix. This festival for local mascot characters will feature online voting and a final decisive vote event in Saitama Shintoshin.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 21:00
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©2010 Kumamoto Prefecture Kumamon, ©DAIICHI PRINTING, ©2011 Sano City Sanomaru, ©Gunma Prefecture Gunma-chan, ©Hamamatsu City, ©Susaki City 2013, ©Narita City 2009, ©Shiki City Cultural and Sports Promotion Public Corporation, Nagano Prefecture PR Character "Arukuma" ©Nagano Prefecture Arukuma, ©AidTAKATA, ©2012 Udon-no ©2015 EXNOA LLC/NITRO PLUS
The Yuru-Chara Grand Prix Executive Committee has decided to hold "Yurubirth by Yuru-Chara Grand Prix Executive Committee (Yurubirth 2026)," Japan's largest festival of Yuru-Chara.
"Yurubirth" is an event for local mascot characters (Yuru-Chara) that started anew in 2023, succeeding the former "Yuru-Chara Grand Prix."
Until now, both the "Yuru-Chara Grand Prix" and "Yurubirth" have seen unique characters crowned Grand Prix winners each year. These events have served as a springboard for characters to gain national popularity and for local governments to see an increase in hometown tax donations, with past Grand Prix winners adding color to the event's history.
Last year, in its 3rd iteration, a record 299 organizations entered. The final rankings were determined by combining "Yurunavi Voting" on the official website (one vote per person per day), "Furusato Oen Voting" which allowed votes through hometown tax donations and shopping via Amazon, and the results of the decisive vote held at Sumida Park in Sumida Ward, Tokyo.
During the period, with enthusiastic support from many fans, "Okki Konnosuke" from Touken Ranbu ONLINE won the Grand Prix with over 1.34 million votes. This marked a historic event as a corporate character won for the first time.
This year, marking the 15th anniversary since the "Yuru-Chara Grand Prix" began, the event will also be held in a hybrid format combining online voting with a final decisive vote event in Saitama Shintoshin. We look forward to entries from many Yuru-Chara and votes from many Yuru-Chara fans.
Today, information regarding entry acceptance has been released for local government officials and business operators with local mascot characters nationwide. Details of the event will be announced sequentially on the official website "Yurunavi."
**Event Overview**
**Event Name**
Thanks 15th Anniversary Yurubirth by Yuru-Chara Grand Prix Executive Committee (Yurubirth 2026)
**Format**
Hybrid event with online voting and offline decisive voting
**Official Website "Yurunavi"**
https://www.yurugp.jp/
**Schedule**
**Entry Acceptance Period**
June 1 (Mon) - July 20 (Mon), 2026
**Online Voting Period**
August 1 (Sat) - October 3 (Sat), 2026
**Decisive Vote & Award Ceremony**
October 3 (Sat), 4 (Sun), 2026
**Decisive Vote Event Overview**
**Location**
Saitama Shintoshin
**Main Venue**
GMO Arena Saitama (formerly Saitama Super Arena) Keyaki Hiroba
**Dates**
October 3 (Sat), 2026, 10:00 - 17:00
October 4 (Sun), 2026, 10:00 - 17:30 *Award ceremony scheduled from 14:30
**Special Cooperation**
Saitama City
**Special Sponsorship Partner**
Saitama Arena Co., Ltd.
*Participation in the decisive vote event is optional and open to all entered characters, regardless of their ranking.
**Past Grand Prix Winners**
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2011 Kumamon (Kumamoto Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2012 Bari-san (Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2013 Sanomaru (Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2014 Gunma-chan (Gunma Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2015 Shusse Daimyo Ieyasu-kun (Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2016 Shinjo-kun (Susaki City, Kochi Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2017 Unari-kun (Narita City, Chiba Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2018 Kaparu (Shiki City, Saitama Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2019 Arukuma (Nagano Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2020 Takata-no-Yume-chan (Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture)
- Yurubirth 2023 Udon-no (Kagawa Prefecture)
- Yurubirth 2024 Chikuwan (Certified by Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture)
- Yurubirth 2025 Okki Konnosuke (Touken Ranbu ONLINE)
**Yurubirth 2025 (Last Year) Event Data**
- Number of participating organizations: 299 organizations
- Total votes received: 1,344,553 PT
- Number of visitors to the decisive vote: Approx. 18,000 people (total for 2 days)
Scene from the Yurubirth 2025 Award Ceremony (Grand Prix winner is "Okki Konnosuke" in the center)
The Yuru-Chara Grand Prix Executive Committee has decided to hold "Yurubirth by Yuru-Chara Grand Prix Executive Committee (Yurubirth 2026)," Japan's largest festival of Yuru-Chara.
"Yurubirth" is an event for local mascot characters (Yuru-Chara) that started anew in 2023, succeeding the former "Yuru-Chara Grand Prix."
Until now, both the "Yuru-Chara Grand Prix" and "Yurubirth" have seen unique characters crowned Grand Prix winners each year. These events have served as a springboard for characters to gain national popularity and for local governments to see an increase in hometown tax donations, with past Grand Prix winners adding color to the event's history.
Last year, in its 3rd iteration, a record 299 organizations entered. The final rankings were determined by combining "Yurunavi Voting" on the official website (one vote per person per day), "Furusato Oen Voting" which allowed votes through hometown tax donations and shopping via Amazon, and the results of the decisive vote held at Sumida Park in Sumida Ward, Tokyo.
During the period, with enthusiastic support from many fans, "Okki Konnosuke" from Touken Ranbu ONLINE won the Grand Prix with over 1.34 million votes. This marked a historic event as a corporate character won for the first time.
This year, marking the 15th anniversary since the "Yuru-Chara Grand Prix" began, the event will also be held in a hybrid format combining online voting with a final decisive vote event in Saitama Shintoshin. We look forward to entries from many Yuru-Chara and votes from many Yuru-Chara fans.
Today, information regarding entry acceptance has been released for local government officials and business operators with local mascot characters nationwide. Details of the event will be announced sequentially on the official website "Yurunavi."
**Event Overview**
**Event Name**
Thanks 15th Anniversary Yurubirth by Yuru-Chara Grand Prix Executive Committee (Yurubirth 2026)
**Format**
Hybrid event with online voting and offline decisive voting
**Official Website "Yurunavi"**
https://www.yurugp.jp/
**Schedule**
**Entry Acceptance Period**
June 1 (Mon) - July 20 (Mon), 2026
**Online Voting Period**
August 1 (Sat) - October 3 (Sat), 2026
**Decisive Vote & Award Ceremony**
October 3 (Sat), 4 (Sun), 2026
**Decisive Vote Event Overview**
**Location**
Saitama Shintoshin
**Main Venue**
GMO Arena Saitama (formerly Saitama Super Arena) Keyaki Hiroba
**Dates**
October 3 (Sat), 2026, 10:00 - 17:00
October 4 (Sun), 2026, 10:00 - 17:30 *Award ceremony scheduled from 14:30
**Special Cooperation**
Saitama City
**Special Sponsorship Partner**
Saitama Arena Co., Ltd.
*Participation in the decisive vote event is optional and open to all entered characters, regardless of their ranking.
**Past Grand Prix Winners**
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2011 Kumamon (Kumamoto Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2012 Bari-san (Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2013 Sanomaru (Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2014 Gunma-chan (Gunma Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2015 Shusse Daimyo Ieyasu-kun (Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2016 Shinjo-kun (Susaki City, Kochi Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2017 Unari-kun (Narita City, Chiba Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2018 Kaparu (Shiki City, Saitama Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2019 Arukuma (Nagano Prefecture)
- Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2020 Takata-no-Yume-chan (Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture)
- Yurubirth 2023 Udon-no (Kagawa Prefecture)
- Yurubirth 2024 Chikuwan (Certified by Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture)
- Yurubirth 2025 Okki Konnosuke (Touken Ranbu ONLINE)
**Yurubirth 2025 (Last Year) Event Data**
- Number of participating organizations: 299 organizations
- Total votes received: 1,344,553 PT
- Number of visitors to the decisive vote: Approx. 18,000 people (total for 2 days)
Scene from the Yurubirth 2025 Award Ceremony (Grand Prix winner is "Okki Konnosuke" in the center)