Accessibility in Major Events: Positioning culture at the heart of Tokyo’s 2025 Games

In 2025, Tokyo will host the World Athletics Championships and the Deaflympics, two global sporting events that will draw international attention. Recognising that culture enhances community bonds as much as sport, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is using this moment to showcase art and culture on a global stage. By integrating cultural programming into the city’s hosting strategy, Tokyo seeks not only to celebrate athletic achievement but also to strengthen ties among people, promote inclusion, and enhance the city’s international presence.

The city’s cultural ecosystem is broad: 62 wards and municipalities, more than 2,000 cultural organisations, 1,300 halls and theatres, 200 museums and galleries, and 10 art colleges and universities. Together, they represent the foundation of Tokyo’s cultural life. Through shared vision and collaboration, these actors are uniting to create a truly inclusive cultural environment that reflects Tokyo’s role as a leading global city of culture.

Creating an inclusive cultural environment

One of the central challenges in preparing for Tokyo 2025 is ensuring that everyone, regardless of background or ability, can access and enjoy arts and culture. While Japan’s hosting of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games left a strong cultural legacy, it also highlighted areas for improvement. Additional fan support – initiatives that enable audiences with different needs to engage with performances, exhibitions, and events – has been underdeveloped in the private sector. Two key barriers were identified: a lack of financial resources and limited technical know-how to introduce accessibility measures in cultural programming. Without addressing these issues, the vision of a truly inclusive cultural environment cannot be realised.

Expanding cultural programmes and accessibility initiatives

To meet these challenges, Tokyo has committed to building on the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games’ cultural programmes by expanding initiatives across the city. New art projects will emphasise accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring that audiences of all abilities can participate in cultural life. In 2024, the city began subsidising private-sector initiatives to support all types of fans to show their support. These subsidies tripled in scale in 2025 to encourage broader adoption across cultural institutions.

Environmental improvements at metropolitan cultural facilities – such as theatres, museums, and galleries – were also be prioritised to guarantee that accessibility becomes a standard feature rather than an exception. By autumn 2025, these initiatives converged in a city-wide rollout, integrating accessibility improvements across Tokyo’s cultural landscape. This coordinated effort reflects a comprehensive cultural strategy that aligns infrastructure investment with inclusivity.

Shaping a legacy of inclusivity through global events

The impact of Tokyo 2025 will extend beyond the Games themselves. By positioning arts and culture as integral to the hosting of international events, Tokyo is creating momentum for long-term social change. The World Athletics Championships and the Deaflympics will serve as opportunities to showcase the appeal of Tokyo’s arts and culture, while also advancing the realisation of a symbiotic society – one in which cultural participation is available to all.