London’s Iconic Royal Albert Hall Hosting Sumo Event After 34 Years

In a historic moment for both Japan and the United Kingdom, the mighty warriors of Grand Sumo are set to return to the Royal Albert Hall in 2025. For the first time in 34 years, London will witness the thunderous clash of rikishi as tradition, power, and ceremony come together under one legendary roof.

The Grand Sumo Tournament, organized by the Japan Sumo Association, will take place from October 15 to 19, 2025, transforming the Royal Albert Hall into a sacred sumo arena. It marks only the second time in nearly 1,500 years that a full-scale Grand Sumo event will be held outside Japan, and the first since 1991 when the same venue hosted a groundbreaking international basho.

A Historic Return to London

The Royal Albert Hall, known for hosting world-class concerts, ballets, and boxing events, will once again embrace the elegance and raw strength of Japan’s oldest sport. The hall will be specially reconfigured with a traditional dohyo, the clay wrestling ring used in official sumo tournaments, built to authentic Japanese specifications. Above it will hang the symbolic roof representing the ancient Shinto shrines where sumo first originated, creating an atmosphere that blends spirituality with sport.

The five-day tournament will feature over 40 elite rikishi from Japan, including reigning champions and emerging stars. Audiences will see the full grandeur of sumo’s rituals, from the solemn ring-entering ceremony known as dohyo-iri to the ceremonial salt purification before each bout.

Full Event Schedule

Dates: October 15–19, 2025
Venue: Royal Albert Hall, London
Session Times:
Wednesday to Saturday – 7:30 PM
Sunday (Final Day) – 2:00 PM

Each day will feature around 20 bouts, culminating in a grand final on Sunday where top-ranked wrestlers battle for victory in front of an international crowd.

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What to Expect

For many Londoners, this will be their first live encounter with Japan’s national sport. Sumo is not merely about size or strength, it’s about balance, strategy, and centuries-old discipline. Every movement, from the foot stomp to the dramatic stare-down, carries meaning and history.

Fans can expect to see world-famous yokozuna, or grand champions, and ozeki, champion-level wrestlers, competing with full ceremony and pageantry. The Japan Sumo Association has confirmed that the event will showcase the sport’s traditions exactly as they are practiced in Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan, from the referees’ kimono to the beating of the taiko drums that open and close the day.

Global Broadcast

The Grand Sumo Tournament in London will also be broadcast worldwide on DAZN, allowing fans around the globe to experience this rare international showcase. Viewers outside Japan will be able to stream the event for free, bringing the discipline and drama of sumo to new audiences across continents.