The Solo Leveling series has taken over the world ever since its brilliant debut all the way back in 2024. Originally from South Korea, this hit manhwa has become an icon everywhere, thanks to its anime adaptation by Japanese studios A-1 Pictures and Aniplex. Solo Leveling’s fame is undeniable, and even in Japan, the series has taken off, with new exclusive events on the way.
First announced on November 11, 2026, we now have confirmation of the Solo Leveling exhibition returning to Japan on December 18, 2026. This is big for Solo Leveling and shows its consistent popularity growth in the country of anime. Hopefully, this exhibition makes it global and reaches a wider audience of Solo Leveling fans.
Solo Leveling New Exhibition Confirmed For Japan
Originally, Solo Leveling was created by one man, Chugong, in South Korea, where it ran as a novel from 2016 to 2018. The novel gained traction in its home country, and it then went on to blow up in terms of popularity thanks to its manhwa by Redice Studio. Since then, the series has reached new heights, especially since 2024, with its anime adaptation produced by Aniplex and A-1 Pictures. Its second season has also been widely acclaimed, and its growth is undeniable.
With that being said, 2026 has been a rather quiet year for Solo Leveling. We did get to see the comeback of the Manhwa for its sequel, titled Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, back on November 5, 2026, but in terms of new content, that is about it. Furthermore, the new delay of Solo Leveling: Karma to 2027 makes things worse. While the remainder of 2026 isn’t going to be special, we do have a new confirmed event kickstarting this very month for the franchise, and this new event is the Solo Leveling Exhibition.
For context, Solo Leveling received its first exhibition in Tokyo on July 17, 2026, but it has since closed on November 1, 2026. Luckily, after a small break, the exhibition is making a big comeback. For those unaware, in this exhibition, visitors step into the world of Solo Leveling. In the Tokyo exhibition, we saw life-sized sculptures with incredible lighting, sound, and a large screen where key scenes from the Solo Leveling anime were shown. At the same time, we can witness Jinwoo’s growth from a weak E-rank Hunter to his incredible power level at the end of Season 2 in this exhibition. For any fan of Solo Leveling able to attend, this is a must-see exhibition.
Where to Attend And What To Expect From The Solo Leveling Exhibition
Solo Leveling’s new exhibition, having just been announced, has fans stoked and looking forward to its reintroduction in Japan this year. While the first Solo Leveling exhibition ended on November 1 in Tokyo, it will be returning to a new city starting December 18, 2026. This exhibition is set to run for a few months and end on April 18, 2027, giving fans 4 extra months to attend the event if they previously missed it.
For this new December event, the exhibition will be moved from Tokyo to a new city, Osaka, Japan. It will specifically be held in Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport EXPOCITY in Suita City. Tickets for the exhibition are already on sale and have been since November 10. Fans can already snatch their tickets to attend this highly anticipated Solo Leveling exhibition. It’s unclear if the December exhibition will have new elements added to it, or if it will be the exact same exhibition, previously hosted in Tokyo.
This exhibition was organized after massive demand from Kansai fans of the Solo Leveling series. For adults visiting on a weekday, the price to enter is 2,800 yen, while on weekends and public holidays, they can expect to pay 3,100 yen instead. Group packs and children’s tickets are also available for purchase and subject to their own prices.
Unfortunately, at the moment, the Solo Leveling exhibition is a Japan-only event. In other words, we have no information on whether this event will eventually be taken global and make an appearance in the U.S. This is definitely not impossible, especially with the growing popularity of Solo Leveling, so in the future, fans all around the world could experience the exciting journey of Sung Jinwoo through a new global exhibition. For now, however, in the near future, anyone interested will have to head to Japan to explore Jinwoo’s new event. This event could also be taken to other Japanese cities in the future after the Osaka exhibition ends in April 2027.
Solo Leveling’s Popularity Grows Around The World And In Japan
As previously mentioned, the Solo Leveling exhibition was transported from Tokyo to Osaka because of the immense fan demand for a cross-city exhibition to widen the reach to fans and give attendees more time to check out Sung Jinwoo’s journey. In other words, it’s quite clear that in Japan, Solo Leveling has become quite a phenomenon, and it is clearly growing in popularity. While many fans previously thought Solo Leveling wasn’t too well received in Japan, that has clearly been debunked since then, and this is just one piece of proof of that.
Furthermore, we saw the success of Solo Leveling’s anime through various Japanese awards, such as placing 4th during Japan’s Newtype Anime Awards. We can even tell how big Solo Leveling has become through its tremendous manhwa sales, making it, in 2025, the most popular foreign work in the country, with over 969k sales. We’re sure, however, that over the next few years, Solo Leveling is only going to grow, both in Japan and abroad.
“In Japan, the anime is not at the level of Dragon Ball, One Piece, or Naruto. If season three happens, that’s when I want to truly break that boundary.” — Atsushi Kaneko
In 2027, Solo Leveling’s biggest project ever is planned for a global release. This new project was first announced on July 4, 2026, during Anime Expo, and it is titled “Solo Leveling: Beyond the System.” This new movie is the series’ first major theatrical release, and it’s anticipated to be a major hit. Inspired by the grand success of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and with Solo Leveling’s strong popularity in Japan and globally, this movie can be a big hit, and it will only work towards expanding Sung Jinwoo’s popularity. After Solo Leveling: Beyond the System, we can expect even bigger projects, beyond just the upcoming Osaka Solo Leveling exhibition.
Eventually, Solo Leveling could start competing with the big hits of Japan, which include series like One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Naruto, just as producer Atsushi Kaneko had aspired.
Source: Japan PR Times