On the back of its first Japanese venue, IG Arena, having attracted one million visitors and hosted 166 events in its first year, AEG is planning for huge growth in the coming year .

The venue in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, opened on 13 July 2025 and has since had a significant impact not only on artists’ touring plans but also the local economy, according to AEG. The goal now is to achieve a 40% uplift in event count and 50% increase in annual visitors during its second year of operation.

The first anniversary of the opening of Nagoya’s 17,000-capacity venue will be marked by the return of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, also known as the Nagoya Basho, which was the IG Arena’s opening event last year.

Among the events to be staged at the Japanese venue in the past 12 month have been concerts by international artists such as Hans Zimmer, Sting and Janet Jackson along with K-pop acts Aespa, XG and TXT. It has also hosted sports events, including the home games of basketball team the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins.

Located in Meijō Park near the historic Nagoya Castle, AEG said IG Arena’s regional economic impact has proven to be considerable, with cashless spending in the surrounding areas, including Kin-Shachi Yokocho and Yanagibara-dori shopping street, having increased by 124% year-on-year.

The venue forms part of AEG’s push to expand its reach in the Asia-Pacific region, where its existing venues include the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, UOB Live Arena in Bangkok. It is working on new venue developments in Osaka and Bangkok.

AEG International president APAC John Langford, who is responsible for driving AEG’s expansion plans in the region, said, “In its first year, IG Arena has introduced a new standard for live entertainment in the region, combining scale with flexibility to attract a broader mix of international artists. Built with the future of live in mind, it is already playing a key role in establishing Nagoya as a major entertainment hub, and we’re excited about what comes next.”

“We’re incredibly proud of the success that IG Arena has achieved during its first year,” said IG Arena chief operating officer Daejong Kim. “The calibre of artists and live events that we’ve welcomed reflects both the strength of the venue, our team, and the growing positioning of Nagoya as a cultural destination and must-play city in Japan.

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