London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall is set to host a Grand Sumo Tournament for the first time in 30 years.
The Royal Albert Hall of Kensington is a historical venue that has a history of 154 years.
The last time an international sumo event held was in 1991, at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
This marks just the second occasion ever that the Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo Association) has staged a full Grand Sumo Tournament beyond Japan's borders.
Sumo has a rich history of over 1,500 years, which makes it the world’s oldest sport.
It's a display of both mighty strength and grand ceremony—and having it happen in London is a big deal in itself.
The event will run from October 15-19, 2025.
The goal of sumo is simple and direct: force your opponent outside the ring or make any part of their body (except the soles of their feet) hit the dirt-no strikes like punches or kicks, no yanking hair, eye poking, etc.
Bouts typically clock in at about four minutes each, with roughly 20 matches per day for spectators to enjoy. Sunday caps it off as finale day, complete with trophy handovers and awards.
