The Gakuen iDOLM@STER Hatsuboshi Cultural Festival Fair was held at Naka-Ikebukuro Park in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, on Friday, February 27 and Saturday, February 28, 2026!
Just like the name suggests, the event was themed around a classic school cultural festival and was packed with fun things to see and do. There were exhibition corners such as a "theater stage" and even a "haunted house," along with a "shooting gallery" attraction where visitors could win adorable "animal stickers" featuring the idols reimagined as animals.
An AR stamp rally was also held throughout Naka-Ikebukuro Park and inside the nearby animate Ikebukuro Flagship Store, giving fans even more ways to explore the area while enjoying the event.
Another highlight was a special collaboration with the Hatsuboshi Academy Broadcasting Club: the "Exhibition Contest," where artworks, photographs, and poems submitted by fans of the series were proudly displayed!
Despite the winter chill, the venue was filled with excitement and energy! In this article, we bring you a photo report from the lively cultural festival.
Plus, shop for merch, music and more from Gakuen iDOLM@STER here!
Gakuen iDOLM@STER Hatsuboshi Cultural Festival Fair in Ikebukuro Photo Report
Despite the chilly weather, the Hatsuboshi Cultural Festival Fair in Ikebukuro space was buzzing with the same kind of excitement you’d find at a real school cultural festival.
Upon entering the gate, the first thing visitors saw was the Exhibition Contest, a special exhibit created in collaboration between the Hatsuboshi Cultural Festival and the Hatsuboshi Academy Broadcasting Club. The display featured artworks, photographs, and poems submitted in advance, all centered around the theme of "enjoying youth at Hatsuboshi Academy."
The many pieces on display were each filled with love and creativity, making the exhibit truly breathtaking. It quickly became known among attendees as one of the must-see highlights of the event.
Furthermore, an AR stamp rally was held throughout the park and at the nearby Animate Ikebukuro Flagship Store. In total, there were three locations where visitors could collect stamps. After enjoying the cultural festival atmosphere in the park, many fans also headed over to the Animate Ikebukuro Flagship Store, where a special fair was being held.
As you continued through the venue, you would come across exhibition corners themed around a "theater stage" and a "haunted house." Fully embracing the event's cultural festival concept, visitors were greeted by standees of the idols, building excitement for what lay ahead.
Facing Animate Street was a shooting gallery attraction. Visitors had just one chance to hit the school emblem, making it a true one-shot challenge. Much like the idols performing on stage, there were no second takes, creating a unique sense of tension and excitement.
From a creative contest to a stage, a haunted house, and even a shooting gallery, the Gakuen iDOLM@STER Hatsuboshi Cultural Festival Fair in Ikebukuro delivered a full-fledged Hatsuboshi Academy cultural festival experience.
Whether producers who work with the idols every day or fans who support them, everyone came together to enjoy the festivities at Naka-Ikebukuro Park and the animate Ikebukuro Flagship Store.
