SideM is expanding across film, console games, and live events while staging a cast transition in Mofumofuen. A film opens November 20 and a Switch/Switch 2 game is in development, alongside a joint live with Shiny Colors in June 2027 and a radio public recording in December.
The Idolmaster SideM branch has been without a running game since Growing Stars ended service on July 31, 2023. Two announcements in September 2026 changed that: Bandai Namco Entertainment said a console game project has begun for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, and a film titled Gekijōban Idolm@ster SideM F@ntastic Battle Fes ~Who goes first~ opens on November 20. The game is an idol producing and scheduling adventure where the player works with 49 idols across 16 units, picking one unit as the leader for a concert called MMM. The film is directed by Takanori Urui at hotarubi / SIKAKU, planned and presented by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
Live events are also stacking up. A joint live with Shiny Colors, SPARKLE SHOWDOWN, is set for Yokohama Arena on June 5 and 6, 2027, with a split cast list. The SideM official web radio will hold a public recording, 315 Production Night! Travel Edition, on December 12, 2026 at animate hall BLACK in Ikebukuro, tied to the M Fes 2026 in Winter Wonderland theme song Season's Greetings Party! due December 2. A third collaboration with Tokyo Joypolis runs from September 12 to December 6, 2026, with High×Joker and Shinsoku Ikkon as 30th anniversary ambassadors.
On the voice side, Koki Ino succeeded Ayumu Murase as the voice of Kanon Himeno. Murase's graduation was announced August 18, and Ino was introduced on a September 1 livestream. Existing audio in 315 Production episodes will not be replaced for now, though some parts may be replaced in future operations. Murase continues to voice Kanon in the MONTHLY THEME SONG 10 Mofumofuen release and in some performances within THE IDOLM@STER SideM 11th STAGE ~EVER EVER@FTER~.
Retail and tourism collaborations continue: a costume exhibition at Shibuya BEAM Gallery from July 10 to July 27, 2026 with about 250 costumes from 2015 to 2025; a summer pop-up shop at Tower Records Shinjuku from July 17 to July 26, 2026; and the Deramasu tourism collaboration in Nagoya from August 3 to October 31, 2026, with DRAMATIC STARS as ambassadors and 13 local businesses paired with idols.
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The Idolmaster SideM official web radio will hold a public recording event, 315 Production Night! Travel Edition, on December 12, 2026 at animate hall BLACK in Ikebukuro. It marks the release of the M Fes 2026 in Winter Wonderland theme song Season's Greetings Party!, due December 2 at 2,750 yen. Yusei Kikuchi, Yoshiki Yamaya, Takeaki Masuyama, Yuriku Ise, and Masaya Miyazaki appear.
The Idolm@ster SideM franchise announced a film, Gekijō-ban Idolm@ster SideM F@ntastic Battle Fes ~Who goes first~, opening in Japan on November 20. Bandai Namco Entertainment is planning and presenting it, with Takanori Urui directing at hotarubi / SIKAKU. D3 Publisher and Bandai Namco also announced a console game for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, an adventure game where the player schedules 16 units and 49 idols.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on September 13 that a console game project has begun for The Idolmaster SideM, the branch of The Idolmaster franchise whose producible idols are all male. The game is in development for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, with the official title and release timing to be announced later. Players take the role of a Producer at 315 Production and work with 49 idols across 16 units in what the announcement calls an idol producing and scheduling adventure. The story shares the worldview of the SideM brand page on The Idolmaster portal site but is a new story written for the game, following the idols toward a large-scale live concert one year away. At the start, the player picks one of the 16 units as the leader unit for that concert, and the story and conversations change depending on the choice. The concert concept is MMM.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on September 12 that THE IDOLM@STER SideM and Shiny Colors will hold a joint live, SPARKLE SHOWDOWN, at Yokohama Arena on June 5 and 6, 2027. Day 1 features SideM units W, FRAME, High×Joker, Shinsoku Ikkon, and C.FIRST with Shiny Colors units Houkago Climax Girls, Alstroemeria, Straylight, and Cometik; Day 2 pairs Altessimo, Café Parade, S.E.M, F-LAGS, and Legenders with illumination STARS, antim, Straylight, and noctchill.
The Idolmaster SideM special livestream aired September 1 and introduced Ino Yukiteru as the new voice of Himeno Kanon, the former child actor idol in the kids unit Mofumofuen. Cast members Nakamura Shugo, Kano Sho, Yano Shogo, and Furuhata Keisuke posted welcomes on X after the stream. Kano gave Ino the nickname "Yukiteru," which Ino accepted in his own post. Fans praised the new voice and said they look forward to Mofumofuen's next moves.
THE IDOLM@STER SideM and Tokyo Joypolis are holding their third collaboration event, THE IDOLM@STER SideM in JOYPOLIS 3, from September 12 to December 6, 2026. High×Joker and Shinsoku Ikkon serve as the Tokyo Joypolis 30th anniversary ambassadors. The event includes a renewed 3D live show, an updated rhythm game coaster with new voices, a mini rally, and event-exclusive goods and menus.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on August 28, 2026 that voice actor Koki Ino will succeed Ayumu Murase as the voice of Kanon Himeno in The Idolmaster SideM. Murase's graduation from the role was announced on August 18, following amicable discussions between both parties about the character's future. Ino expressed his intention to cherish what has been built so far while giving his best in the role. A special live stream to welcome Ino is scheduled for September 1 at 19:00 JST on YouTube and Niconico Live. The stream will feature Shugo Nakamura as Teru Tendo, Sho Kano as Yukihiro Kamiya, Shogo Yano as Nao Okamura, Keisuke Furuhata as Shiro Tachibana, and Ino as Kanon Himeno. During the program, staff will announce Kanon Himeno's future voice schedule and share details about the event 315 Production presents FANTASIC BATTLE FES ~Wanna step in~. The announcement notes that existing audio in 315 Production episodes will not be replaced for now, though some audio may be replaced in future operations. Ino will appear in the upcoming FES performances and related content announced after August 28.
Voice actor Ayumu Murase is leaving the role of Kanon Himeno in THE IDOLM@STER SideM, Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on August 18. Murase's agency, Aster Nine, said the decision came from discussions between both parties with the future of the character and the work in mind, and that the parting is amicable. Murase has voiced the character for over 10 years. Kanon Himeno is a former child model idol and a member of the kids idol unit Mofumofuen, alongside Shiro Tachibana (voiced by Keisuke Furuhata) and Nao Okamura (voiced by Shogo Yano). A new cast member will be added to support Mofumofuen, with details to be announced later. Audio already released in 315 Production episodes and other content will not be replaced for now, though some parts may be replaced in future operations. Murase will continue to provide the voice for Kanon Himeno in the MONTHLY THEME SONG 10 Mofumofuen release and in some performances within THE IDOLM@STER SideM 11th STAGE ~EVER EVER@FTER~. The replacement schedule and the new cast member will be announced at a later date.
The Idolmaster SideM will hold a "SUMMER SPLASH! POP UP SHOP" at Tower Records Shinjuku from July 17 to July 26, 2026. The event features newly drawn summer costume illustrations of High×Joker, plus mini character goods for W·Beit. A range of merchandise including acrylic stands, badges, and clear files will be available, with purchase bonuses.
HIKE announced the first costume exhibition for The Idolmaster SideM, titled THE IDOLM@STER SideM STAGE COSTUME MUSEUM, at Shibuya BEAM Gallery from July 10 to July 27, 2026. The event displays about 250 live performance costumes from 2015 to 2025, life-sized panels of 49 idols with new artwork, and a retrospective video. Tickets are on sale now.
Meitetsu Kanko Service and The Idolmaster SideM are launching the Deramasu tourism collaboration in Nagoya from August 3 to October 31, 2026. DRAMATIC STARS serve as official ambassadors. Thirteen local businesses each partner with a SideM idol, with accommodation and sightseeing plans offering exclusive goods.