Askonas Holt and the Royal Albert Hall are honoured to announce the return of Sumo for the first time in over three decades.

The Grand Sumo Tournament will take place at the Royal Albert Hall from 15–19 October 2025, 34 years after the 1991 basho, which saw the first official Sumo tournament to be staged outside of Japan in the 1,500-year history of the sport. Organised by Martin Campbell-White, the event was part of the Japan Festival which was co-managed by Harold Holt Ltd - which would later become Askonas Holt. The tournament was broadcast live to millions across the UK and was witnessed in person by sold-out crowds.

The 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament promises to be an unforgettable showcase of Sumo’s athleticism and tradition, with the top-ranked rikishi from Makuuchi, Japan’s top level Sumo division, competing in front of a live audience across five days to win the coveted title of Grand Champion.

With origins dating back more than 1,500 years, the tournament will not only portray the skill of Japan’s most elite rikishi, but also the sacred traditions of the deeply ritualistic sport. With each match beginning with a series of historic symbolic acts representing the sport’s core values – respect, honour and perseverance – the tournament promises to give audience members an insight into the culture and historic customs of Japan and Sumo.

I feel great joy and a strong sense of responsibility to be able to take part in the London Grand Sumo Tournament once again as chairman of the Japan Sumo Association, which I participated in as an active Yokozuna 34 years ago. I will be making every effort to convey to the people of London the appeal of Sumo, an ancient traditional Japanese culture, and to ensure that everyone enjoys the event to their heart's content. I look forward to meeting many of you there.

Hakkaku Rijicho, Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association & winner of the 1991 basho

Tickets for this historic event go on sale in early 2025. Visit www.royalalberthall.com to sign up to be notified when ticket sales are announced.