Two Umamusume concerts in Los Angeles have been canceled after workers could not get their visas approved in time for the event, leaving American fans distraught.
On October 18, the official Umamusume: Pretty Derby Twitter/X account announced that staffers working the shows — scheduled for October 22 and 23 — were having difficulties securing their travel visas. At the time, it did not cancel the events, but warned concertgoers that this may impact the festivities.
The possibility that these concerts would be canceled sparked concern among the game’s fanbase, with many joking (or perhaps being fully serious) that this event might politically “radicalize” them, given the extremely long wait times for visas in the United States right now.
The next day, Cygames confirmed that the Los Angeles concerts had been officially canceled, offering refunds to fans who’d purchased both on-site viewing tickets and streaming tickets to watch the show remotely. Responses to fans who made travel plans are also in progress, though Cygames admitted that this may take “some time.”
“Although we have coordinated repeatedly with all parties concerned and explored every possible option in our efforts to make this event happen, we were unable to obtain the necessary visas for entry into the US, so we have come to the painful conclusion that holding the concerts is no longer possible,” the post reads.
“Once again, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this causes to all the Trainers who were eagerly looking forward to the concerts, as well as to the Umamusume cast, partner company staff, and everyone involved who put tremendous effort into making this event happen.”
It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the cancellation of the Umamusume: Pretty Derby – 7th EVENT: THE STAGE in LOS ANGELES concerts planned for Oct 22–23, 2026.
Although we have coordinated repeatedly with all parties concerned and explored every possible option in our efforts to make this event happen, we were unable to obtain the necessary visas for entry into the US, so we have come to the painful conclusion that holding the concerts is no longer possible.
To all the Trainers who were eagerly looking forward to the show, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and concern this causes, and for announcing this so close to the event date.
Due to this cancellation, we will process refunds for the following:
・On-site viewing tickets
・Streaming tickets
In addition, we are looking into possible responses to Trainers who were planning to attend the concert in person. This will take some time, so we ask for your patience. Details will be announced on the 7th EVENT WORLD TOUR official website.
Once again, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this causes to all the Trainers who were eagerly looking forward to the concerts, as well as to the Umamusume cast, partner company staff, and everyone involved who put tremendous effort into making this event happen.
Please see the link below for the official notice:
https://t.co/lrZyCDHwhh
— Umamusume: Pretty Derby (@umamusume_eng) October 20, 2026
It’s safe to say that Umamusume fans in the States are completely beside themselves over this news, with many who’d made travel arrangements feeling especially burnt by the situation — not at Cygames, but with the political issues that are making visa acquisitions especially arduous.
“I’m so sorry that this happened. I was excited to have a mini-concert at home and had many friends and acquaintances who were excited to go. I wish things could have worked out,” one fan replied.
“Thank you so very much for trying, it’s heart-breaking but we know you tried until the very end,” another wrote.
“This is not the America I wanted to live in,” another said, while yet another joked that the country is currently experiencing an “anti-Uma administration.”
Knowing the power of the Umamusume fanbase, some netizens are genuinely convinced that this incident could result in real political activism; after all, these fans have made several real-world impacts over the years, with the community previously banding together to save a sick racehorse from a slaughterhouse, raising over $600,000 to rebuild stables for the horse Meisho Doto, and even inspiring a disabled fan to perform onstage for the very first time.
Umamusume concerts aren’t the only events getting impacted by long visa wait times; several other shows have also fallen victim to this issue, with the likes of Shinee’s Taemin being forced to cancel his entire North American tour due to being unable to secure visas for its staff and key personnel.
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.
