The 16th annual Japan Expo Sud is in full swing at the Parc Chanot in Marseille, France, running until Sunday, March 1, 2026, and this year’s event is celebrating the iconic animated series “Goldorak.” Our team is providing live coverage and replays on social media.
The Japan Expo Sud has become a cultural mainstay in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), and the 16th edition, held at the Parc Chanot, continues to draw crowds through Sunday, March 1, 2026. The expo is dedicated to Japanese culture, encompassing everything from manga and video games to cosplay – the practice of fans dressing up as fictional characters.
This year’s event features over 200 exhibitors and around 30 artists. Music fans are also catered to, with Japanese group U&Pia, known for blending K-Pop and J-Pop, returning to the stage on Friday, February 27.
► Follow our TikTok live stream from Japan Expo 2026 at the Parc Chanot in Marseille:
But the true star of the 2026 expo is the robot Goldorak, from the beloved Japanese animated series of the 1970s. The show, which premiered in France on Antenne 2 in 1978, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and remains a pop-culture icon, even inspiring new adaptations today.
Goldorak is considered a pioneer in bringing Japanese culture to France and the world, predating the wave of anime that became popular in the 1990s. “We are celebrating this mythical hero without whom probably none of what is here would have happened,” explains Thomas Sirdey, the co-founder of Japan Expo Sud. “It was through its arrival on television that everything began.”
The 16th edition of Japan Expo Sud continues through the weekend, with organizers expecting a total of 40,000 attendees over the three days.
