Hello Kitty is in active cross-promotion across fashion, tech, events, and a live-action film, with a party game announced for late 2026 and a film set for 2028.
Hello Kitty's presence in 2026 is defined by a dense calendar of collaborations and events. In fashion, the character partnered with denim brand SOMETHING for a first-time denim line, with Converse for a 20-item apparel collection sold at PLAZA stores, and with BLACKPINK member Jisoo for a second wave of accessories and bags. A collaboration with Japanese general merchandise chain 3COINS will release over 40 products across three design concepts starting July 18. In tech, Insta360 announced a limited edition Go Ultra camera bundle with Hello Kitty-themed hardware and app features, and Gugenka will bring mixed-reality experiences featuring Hello Kitty and Pompompurin to Sanrio Fest 2026 in Yokohama.
Entertainment offerings are expanding. Bandai Namco announced Hello Kitty Party Land, a party game for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 featuring over 160 Sanrio characters and 40 mini-games, launching October 29. The Awaji Hello Kitty Apple Land facility on Awaji Island is introducing summer-themed merchandise and a new lunch show, Hello Kitty Jazz Caliente!!, running July 2 to September 29. A large touring shopping event, HELLO KITTY'S SWEETS MARKET -Chocolate lovers-, began June 17 at Ginza Mitsukoshi and will visit department stores nationwide through January 2027, offering chocolate-themed limited goods.
On the film front, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema's live-action/animation hybrid Hello Kitty film has David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima as co-directors, with Ramsey Naito producing. The film is scheduled for a worldwide release on July 21, 2028, and will include other Sanrio characters. Pompompurin led the interim results of the 2026 Sanrio Character Ranking at the time of the Sweets Market announcement.
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The HELLO KITTY'S SWEETS MARKET ~Chocolate lovers~ event runs July 8-20 at JR Kyoto Isetan, featuring over 1,000 Sanrio character goods. Event-exclusive chocolate-themed items include plushies, mascots, and collaboration products with Pompompurin, who recently won the 2026 Sanrio Character Ranking with a record 70,647,379 votes.
Japanese general merchandise brand 3COINS will release a line of Hello Kitty collaboration items on July 18, 2026. The collection spans three design concepts and includes over 40 products such as handkerchiefs, bags, pouches, and stationery, with prices starting at 330 yen. Items will be sold at 3COINS locations nationwide and online.
Gugenka will produce two MR experiences at Sanrio Fest 2026 in Yokohama on June 27-28. Visitors can play a shooting game feeding ice cream to Pompompurin and friends, and meet Hello Kitty via VR headsets. The experiences are free for ages 13 and up, with an exclusive keychain available for purchase.
Awaji Hello Kitty Apple Land on Awaji Island, Hyogo, will release summer-themed Hello Kitty goods from June 24, including towel handkerchiefs and die-cut memo pads featuring Otohime and mermaid designs. New cups, bowls, and cutlery arrive July 4, and suntanned T-shirts and blankets from the Awaji Tan Hello Kitty series drop August 1. A new lunch show, Hello Kitty Jazz Caliente!!, runs July 2 to September 29.
Sanrio announced a large shopping event titled "HELLO KITTY'S SWEETS MARKET -Chocolate lovers-" where Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kuromi, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, and Chococat appear in chocolate-themed costumes. The event starts at Ginza Mitsukoshi on June 17, 2026, and tours department stores nationwide through January 2027, offering limited-edition merchandise including plushies, keychains, apparel, and collaboration food items.
Sanrio's Hello Kitty has teamed up with ladies' jeans brand SOMETHING for their first collaboration, releasing a line of denim apparel and accessories. The collection includes boot-cut jeans, bustiers, knitwear, bags, and plush toys, all featuring Hello Kitty designs from the Kao Hana Design Series. Items went on sale June 10, 2026, on SOMETHING's official website.
Bandai Namco announced Hello Kitty Party Land, a new party game featuring over 160 Sanrio characters, during the Nintendo Direct livestream on Tuesday. The game launches for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on October 29. It includes over 40 mini-games, 16 partner characters, and board games for up to four players.
A 20-item apparel collection collaborating Converse with Sanrio's Hello Kitty will launch sequentially from June 11, 2026, at PLAZA stores nationwide. The line includes T-shirts, denim skirts, hats, socks, bags, and pouches featuring designs where Kitty and her twin sister Mimmy peek out from sneakers and shoe cartons.
Insta360 has announced a limited edition Go Ultra camera collaboration with Sanrio's Hello Kitty. The bundle includes a pink camera body with ribbon accents, co-branded accessories like a selfie stick and neck strap, and app features such as a custom connection animation and four exclusive watermarks. It retains the standard Go Ultra's 5nm AI chip and 4K video capabilities, and adds Portrait Mode 2.0 with skin tone optimization and 11 film-style filters. The set goes on sale at Insta360's store and select retailers.
Sanrio announced the large shopping event 'HELLO KITTY'S SWEETS MARKET -Chocolate lovers-' touring department stores nationwide from June 17, 2026, at Ginza Mitsukoshi through January 2027. The event features chocolate-themed limited goods including plush toys, keychains, and apparel centered on Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters. Pompompurin currently leads the 2026 Sanrio Character Ranking interim results.
A second collaboration between BLACKPINK member Jisoo and Hello Kitty will launch June 12, 2026, at Kiddy Land, Tsutaya Bookstore, and other Japanese stores. The lineup includes 14 items such as key charms, tumblers, ballpoint pens, hair accessories, lunch bags, and foldable bags. Key charms come in 11 types including two secret variants.
Deadline reports David Derrick Jr. (Moana 2) and John Aoshima (Ultraman: Rising) are co-directing Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema's live-action/animation hybrid Hello Kitty film. Ramsey Naito joins as producer. The film opens worldwide July 21, 2028, and will include other Sanrio characters.