Kyoto University of Foreign Studies 外大祭

Before you go

The 68th Gaidaisai / Gogekisai is the school festival of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, held on campus on 3 November (national holiday) and 4 November 2026. The 2026 theme is 'NEW ERA'. The organising committee describes it as a participatory festival that visitors and the local community help create, with extra hands-on programmes and events with local children. As a foreign-language university, its signature is language and culture: plays performed in Spanish, German and French, a Model UN, a mock flight experience, and multilingual picture-book readings.

• About 40 food stalls from language circles: currywurst, Lao sandwiches, momo-style dumplings, tacos, chai and more

Crowds

Two full days. The Nomura Kota talk show (4 November, 14:00–15:00, Morita Memorial Hall) is the only ticketed programme and will draw the biggest crowd — arrive early if you want a seat. The campus asks visitors to come by public transport.

Good for

Language lovers, families (children's programmes are a stated focus this year), and anyone who wants a festival where not speaking Japanese is not a disadvantage — much of the fun is visual, musical or edible.

How it differs

Unlike a generic university festival, Gaidaisai's programme is built around language. The Gogekisai (foreign-language play festival) stages full plays in three languages on 3 November in the Morita Memorial Hall — that is the centrepiece you will not find at other schools' festivals. Combined with about 40 internationally-themed food stalls, the campus feels like a small world tour rather than a typical student fair.

Gaidaisai is the biggest festival of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, held together with the Gogekisai (foreign-language play festival) — the main event is a full play performed by students in the language of their major. The 2026 edition is the 68th, themed 'NEW ERA', with the committee deliberately shifting the audience from spectators to participants. It coincides with two anniversaries: the French Department's 60th anniversary and 160 years of Japan–Belgium friendship, marked by a student-designed costume for the campus Manneken Pis statue, exhibited during the festival.