Shimono and Matsuoka Return to the Kimetsu-ren
At Awa Odori, Tokushima's traditional summer festival, a ren is a performing troupe, which makes the Kimetsu-ren essentially Demon Slayer's official dance team. It formed last year, and according to Japanese entertainment news site Dengeki Online, it is coming back for 2026 with two familiar names in the lineup. Hiro Shimono (Connie Springer in Attack on Titan), the voice of Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Kirito in Sword Art Online), the voice of Inosuke Hashibira, both danced with the troupe last year and will do it again this summer.
The Kimetsu-ren performs on Friday, August 14, 2026 at the Konya-machi stage in Tokushima City, with the day's program planned for 1:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and reception opening at 1:00 p.m. The two actors will be joined by the series' Mini Taishi mascots, chibi corps-member versions of Tanjiro Kamado, Nezuko Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Inosuke Hashibira, Giyu Tomioka, and Shinobu Kocho.
New Posters and a Stamp Rally Built on ufotable's Festival History
ufotable has drawn a 2026 Awa Odori poster for each work, and both illustrations are now public. The studio has been producing festival art for years, and this year that back catalog becomes an event of its own. During the Awa Odori period, a stamp rally will use ufotable's past festival illustrations, spanning its TYPE-MOON collaborations from the theatrical Garden of Sinners films onward as well as its Demon Slayer art. Anyone who collects every stamp receives a card featuring the 2026 illustration.
Venue merchandise is also planned. Goods using this year's artwork will be on sale alongside drinks that come with novelty items. Details on the stamp rally and the merchandise will be posted on ufotable's official X account at a later date.
Witch on the Holy Night Steps Out Before Its Premiere
The other half of the announcement is Witch on the Holy Night, ufotable's theatrical adaptation of TYPE-MOON's visual novel. The film opens in Japanese theaters on November 20, 2026, so the festival poster is one of its bigger public showings ahead of release. Its inclusion also fits the stamp rally's framing, which draws on the TYPE-MOON and ufotable partnership that began with the Garden of Sinners films.
Looking Ahead
The next date on the calendar is August 14, when the Kimetsu-ren takes the Konya-machi stage. Stamp rally and merchandise specifics will follow on ufotable's official X account, and the Dengeki Online report notes the rally runs through the festival period.
For international fans, the festival itself is an in-person Tokushima event, but there is plenty to watch from home. The franchise's official English site lists the Demon Slayer Infinity Castle film arriving on Crunchyroll and digital platforms on July 28, 2026. Witch on the Holy Night has its Japanese premiere on November 20, 2026, and no international release plans have been announced yet.