2026 in sumo

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2026.

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Sumida, Tokyo, 11 January – 25 January[1]

2026 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
10 - 5 - 0 Mongolia Hōshōryū Y Japan Ōnosato 10 - 5 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Kotozakura O Ukraine Aonishiki* 12 - 3 - 0
11 - 4 - 0 Mongolia Kirishima S Japan Takayasu 8 - 7 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Ōhō K Japan Wakamotoharu 8 - 7 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Ichiyamamoto M1 Japan Yoshinofuji 8 - 7 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Ura M2 Japan Wakatakakage 9 - 6 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Takanoshō M3 ø Japan Hakunofuji 5 - 8 - 2
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Daieishō M4 Japan Atamifuji 12 - 3 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Mongolia Tamawashi M5 Japan Churanoumi 9 - 6 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Hiradoumi M6 Mongolia Ōnokatsu 7 - 8 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Mongolia Ōshōma M7 Japan Fujinokawa 10 - 5 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Shōdai M8 Kazakhstan Kinbōzan 4 - 11 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Gōnoyama M9 Russia Rōga 7 - 8 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Tokihayate M10 Japan Kotoshōhō 9 - 6 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Mongolia Chiyoshōma M11 ø Japan Nishikifuji 6 - 6 - 3
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Midorifuji M12 Japan Abi 10 - 5 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Tobizaru M13 Japan Tomokaze 4 - 11 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Ukraine Shishi M14 Japan Mitakeumi 7 - 8 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Ryūden M15 Japan Asakōryū 9 - 6 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Asanoyama M16 Japan Ōshōumi 10 - 5 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Mongolia Asahakuryū M17 Japan Hatsuyama 2 - 13 - 0
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yūshō Winner
* Won Playoff

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 8 March – 22 March[1]

Natsu basho

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 10 May – 24 May[1]

Nagoya basho

IG Arena, Nagoya, 12 July – 26 July[1]

Aki basho

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 13 September – 27 September[1]

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Kyushu, 8 November – 22 November[1]

News

January

  • 9: The Japan Sumo Association announces that Emperor Naruhito will attend the sumo tournament in Tokyo on 18 January (Day 8). It will be the first tenran-zumō (天覧相撲)–sumo performed in the presence of the Emperor–in six years.[2]
  • 10: The Sumo Association announces a record number of kenshō-kin (prize money envelope) applications at the upcoming January grand sumo tournament. There are applications for a total of 3,469 prize envelopes, which breaks the record set in September of last year. There are also 258 envelopes set to be distributed on 11 January, which will break the previous single-day record set in January of last year.[3]
  • 14: Top maegashira Yoshinofuji defeats Ōnosato after winning against Hōshōryū the previous day, becoming the first maegashira competitor in six years to defeat two yokozuna on consecutive days.[4] This feat would be repeated later by Atamifuji, who entered the tournament having never earned a kinboshi.[5]
  • 16: The Sumo Association announces the retirement of former maegashira Daiamami.[6]
  • 18: Hakunofuji defeats Ōnosato in front of Emperor Naruhito, becoming the third wrestler since the start of the Shōwa era to collect at least one kinboshi in four consecutive tournaments.[7]
  • 22: Nishikifuji withdraws on Day 12 of the January 2026 tournament. His stablemaster cites returning neck and elbow pain stemming from earlier injuries.[8]
  • 23: Hakunofuji withdraws on Day 13 of the January 2026 tournament due to a ligament injury in his left big toe. Two days earlier, he appeared to collapse from his left knee in losing to Aonishiki. Hakunofuji's scheduled opponent, Ōnokatsu–who was Nishikifuji's scheduled opponent the day before–becomes the fourth sumo wrestler in history to win two consecutive matches by default.[9][10]
    The Japan Sumo Association announces that the election of directors and deputy directors for the new two-year term at the head of the organization will not be subject to a vote for the fourth consecutive term, as the number of candidates matches the number of positions up for election. It has also been announced that the exact occupancy of the positions will be revealed on 8 March.[11]
  • 25: The January 2026 tournament concludes with ōzeki Aonishiki winning the championship playoff against rank-and-file wrestler Atamifuji, securing his second consecutive Emperor's Cup. Aonishiki and Atamifuji were tied in the standings entering Day 15 with eleven wins each. After Atamifuji won his scheduled Day 15 contest, which eliminated opponent Ōshōumi and three others (Abi, Kirishima and Ōnosato) from title contention, Aonishiki defeated ōzeki Kotozakura to force a playoff–just like he did at the previous tournament last November. The two 12–3 leaders faced each other in the playoff, where Atamifuji pushed Aonishiki to the edge of the ring before Aonishiki stayed low and took his opponent down with a headlock throw. Aonishiki's victory marks the first time in almost 20 years, since Hakuhō in the May 2006 tournament, that a newly promoted ōzeki has won the championship. He is also the first wrestler in 89 years (since Futabayama in 1937) to win consecutive titles as a newly promoted sekiwake and a newly promoted ōzeki. Aonishiki will be a candidate for potential yokozuna promotion at the next tournament in March. The Sumo Association awards runner-up Atamifuji with his third Fighting Spirit prize, one of three special prizes handed out. A Fighting Spirit prize is also awarded to Kirishima (11–4) for the fourth time in his career. Yoshinofuji (8–7) collects his first Outstanding Performance prize; he has now collected at least one Special Prize in three of his four career tournaments in the top division.[12][13]
    The jūryō division championship is won by 22-year-old Tochigi native Wakanoshō, who collects his first professional sumo title.[14]
  • 26: Two months after it was announced,[15] Tokiwayama stable is transferred from the retiring Tokiwayama (former komusubi Takamisugi) to Minatogawa (former ōzeki Takakeishō) and becomes Minatogawa stable.
  • 28: Three promotions from makushita to jūryō are announced for the March tournament by the Sumo Association. One of two wrestlers promoted to sekitori for the first time is 25-year-old Mongolian Toshinofuji, a recruit of yokozuna Hakuhō with two years of professional experience and one lower-division championship. He is the first sekitori promotion for former yokozuna Terunofuji since taking over Isegahama stable last year. The other is 19-year-old Fukuzaki, an All Japan Sumo Championship quarterfinalist as a high school student who debuted as a makushita tsukedashi competitor one year ago. In the March 2026 tournament he will take on the new shikona of Fujitensei (藤天晴). Former maegashira competitor Shimazuumi returns to the second-highest sumo division after six tournaments.[16][17]
    Among the retirements formally announced by the Sumo Association is former makushita Kaorufuji (香富士), a 23-year veteran and the last remaining active wrestler from the former Mihogaseki stable.[18]
  • 30: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced she would respect sumo tradition and not enter the dohyō as she is a woman.[19][20]
  • 31: The retirement ceremony is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan for the 73rd yokozuna Terunofuji.[21]

February

  • 1: The retirement ceremony for former maegashira Mitoryū is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.[22]
  • 7: The NHK Charity Sumo Tournament is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan with just over 4,300 in attendance. Among the musical participants performing songs with sumo wrestlers are idol group STU48 and singers Miyuki Kawanaka and Kaori Mizumori.[23]
  • 8: Yokozuna Hōshōryū wins the 50th Japan Grand Sumo Tournament, a one-day tournament held for professional sumo wrestlers at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan, before 9,030 attendees. It is his second career win in the tournament.[24]
  • 13: Former top-division wrestler Daishōhō announces his retirement after a final tournament in the sandanme division where he had recorded a negative score.[25]

Deaths

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Grand Tournament Schedule". Japan Sumo Association. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  2. ^ "初場所8日目に天覧相撲　20年初場所14日目以来6年ぶり" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  3. ^ "松嶋菜々子＆斉藤和義も登場、初場所の懸賞申し込みが史上最多3469本　従来を361本上回る" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 10 January 2026. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  4. ^ "大の里が義ノ富士の左上手投げに屈し初黒星、両大関が初黒星　勝ちっ放しは霧島と欧勝馬、阿炎" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 14 January 2026. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  5. ^ "熱海富士２日連続金星　部屋の関取で最速勝ち越し　前夜は伊勢ケ浜親方に感謝の懸賞46本" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  6. ^ "元幕内大奄美が引退　鹿児島県出身の33歳" (in Japanese). Sankei Sports. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  7. ^ "伯乃富士が４場所連続４個目の金星「陛下にみていただいて、光栄」敗れた大の里は左肩を気にする" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  8. ^ "幕内・錦富士が12日目から休場　古傷の首と肘の痛みが悪化／初場所" (in Japanese). Sankei Sports. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  9. ^ "伯乃富士が13日目から休場…足を引きずる様子も　阿武剋は2日連続不戦勝で史上4例目の珍事" (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  10. ^ "伯乃富士は「左母趾MTP側副靱帯損傷」と診断　約４週間の安静加療…13日目から休場" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  11. ^ "相撲協会理事候補選は４期連続無投票　春場所後に承認後、八角理事長が続投へ" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  12. ^ "安青錦がV　双葉山以来の「新関脇と新大関で連覇」　大相撲初場所" (in Japanese). Mainichi Shimbun. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Sumo: Ukrainian ozeki Aonishiki wins back-to-back championships in playoff". Kyodo News. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  14. ^ "十両は若ノ勝が初V　序ノ口は旭富士が優勝決定戦制す／初場所" (in Japanese). Sankei Sports. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  15. ^ "元大関貴景勝の湊川親方が常盤山部屋を継承し、来年初場所後に湊川部屋へ　相撲協会が承認" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 27 November 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  16. ^ "寿之富士、福崎改め藤天晴が新十両、島津海が再十両に昇進/春場所番付編成会議" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  17. ^ "寿之富士が入門２年で関取昇進、元照ノ富士の伊勢ケ浜親方が部屋継承後最初の新十両" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  18. ^ "元前頭大奄美、三保ケ関部屋知る最後の現役だった香富士ら８人の引退を発表／春場所番付編成会議" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  19. ^ "Takaichi vows to respect tradition and not step on sumo dohyo". The Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 31 January 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  20. ^ "Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Vows to Never Enter Sumo Ring, Per Sport's Tradition of Banning Women". The Japan News (in Japanese). Yomiuri Shimbun. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  21. ^ "大きな体で話題の伊勢ケ浜親方の長男てむじんくん　また成長し３歳児平均の約２倍の29キロに" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  22. ^ "元幕内・水戸龍が断髪式「何回かウルッときた」　結婚公表、娘は3人「第二の人生、踏ん張っていかないと」". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  23. ^ "NHK福祉大相撲で親方、幕内力士が美声披露　若元春ら参加５人全員のデュエット＆ソロ曲目を紹介" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 7 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  24. ^ "豊昇龍が２大会ぶり２度目Ｖ、賞金250万円獲得　準Ｖは阿炎、敢闘賞は平戸海" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  25. ^ "元幕内・大翔鵬が引退 幕内在位9場所 日本相撲協会が発表" (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  26. ^ "元幕内・戦闘竜が死去、56歳、03年に引退し格闘家へ転身、元大関魁皇の浅香山親方は29日にお見舞いも体調急変し会えず" (in Japanese). Chunichi Shimbun. 30 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  27. ^ "【新日本】安田忠夫さんの追悼１０カウントゴングを実施　入場曲の「燃えよ荒鷲」が鳴り響く" (in Japanese). Tokyo Sports. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
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