Two Umamusume live shows in Los Angeles have been canceled after employees couldn’t get their visas accepted in time for the occasion, leaving American followers distraught.
On October 18, the official Umamusume: Fairly Derby Twitter/X account introduced that staffers working the reveals — scheduled for October 22 and 23 — had been having difficulties securing their journey visas. On the time, it didn’t cancel the occasions, however warned concertgoers that this may occasionally influence the festivities.
The chance that these live shows can be canceled sparked concern among the many recreation’s fanbase, with many joking (or maybe being totally severe) that this occasion may politically “radicalize” them, given the extremely long wait times for visas in the US proper now.
The subsequent day, Cygames confirmed that the Los Angeles live shows had been formally canceled, providing refunds to followers who’d bought each on-site viewing tickets and streaming tickets to watch the present remotely. Responses to followers who made journey plans are additionally in progress, although Cygames admitted that this may occasionally take “a while.”
“Though we now have coordinated repeatedly with all events involved and explored each potential choice in our efforts to make this occasion occur, we had been unable to get hold of the mandatory visas for entry into the US, so we now have come to the painful conclusion that holding the live shows is not potential,” the post reads.
“As soon as once more, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this causes to all of the Trainers who had been eagerly wanting ahead to the live shows, in addition to to the Umamusume solid, companion firm employees, and everybody concerned who put great effort into making this occasion occur.”
It’s with heavy hearts that we should announce the cancellation of the Umamusume: Fairly Derby – seventh EVENT: THE STAGE in LOS ANGELES live shows deliberate for Oct 22–23, 2026.
Though we now have coordinated repeatedly with all events involved and explored each potential choice in our efforts to make this occasion occur, we had been unable to get hold of the mandatory visas for entry into the US, so we now have come to the painful conclusion that holding the live shows is not potential.
To all of the Trainers who had been eagerly wanting ahead to the present, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and concern this causes, and for saying this so shut to the occasion date.
Due to this cancellation, we are going to course of refunds for the next:
・On-site viewing tickets
・Streaming tickets
As well as, we’re wanting into potential responses to Trainers who had been planning to attend the live performance in particular person. This can take a while, so we ask on your persistence. Particulars will likely be introduced on the seventh EVENT WORLD TOUR official web site.
As soon as once more, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this causes to all of the Trainers who had been eagerly wanting ahead to the live shows, in addition to to the Umamusume solid, companion firm employees, and everybody concerned who put great effort into making this occasion occur.
Please see the hyperlink beneath for the official discover:
https://t.co/lrZyCDHwhh
— Umamusume: Fairly Derby (@umamusume_eng) October 20, 2026
It’s secure to say that Umamusume followers within the States are utterly beside themselves over this information, with many who’d made journey preparations feeling particularly burnt by the state of affairs — not at Cygames, however with the political points which might be making visa acquisitions particularly arduous.
“I am so sorry that this occurred. I used to be excited to have a mini-concert at dwelling and had many mates and acquaintances who had been excited to go. I want issues may have labored out,” one fan replied.
“Thanks so very a lot for attempting, it is heart-breaking however we all know you tried till the very finish,” one other wrote.
“This isn’t the America I wished to dwell in,” one other said, whereas one more joked that the nation is at present experiencing an “anti-Uma administration.”
Realizing the facility of the Umamusume fanbase, some netizens are genuinely satisfied that this incident may end in actual political activism; in spite of everything, these followers have made a number of real-world impacts through the years, with the neighborhood beforehand banding collectively to save a sick racehorse from a slaughterhouse, elevating over $600,000 to rebuild stables for the horse Meisho Doto, and even inspiring a disabled fan to carry out onstage for the very first time.
Umamusume live shows aren’t the one occasions getting impacted by lengthy visa wait occasions; a number of different reveals have additionally fallen sufferer to this challenge, with the likes of Shinee’s Taemin being compelled to cancel his entire North American tour due to being unable to safe visas for its employees and key personnel.
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s Information Editor. With ten years of expertise reporting on video games and leisure, she’s bought a storied background within the preventing recreation neighborhood, influencer information, and viral on-line developments. Discover her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.