Japan Balloon Festival 2026

JBFES Balloon Contest – General Rules

1. Participation and Entry

Entries for all categories will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Participation will be confirmed once the entry fee payment has been completed.
Categories will be closed once the maximum number of participants has been reached.
Entry fees once paid will not be refunded under any circumstances.
Award recipients must attend the award ceremony (evening of June 12). For team competitions,
the team representative may attend on behalf of the team. If attendance is not possible due to unavoidable circumstances, a proxy must be registered in advance. Failure to attend without prior notice may result in disqualification of the award.
Participants must wear the contest pass issued by the organizer at all times during the production period.
Substitution of team members during production is not permitted.
Only authorized personnel are allowed in the production area.

For all works, participants must submit in advance the design, title, and description of the work requested by the organizer.
Failure to submit the required materials or incomplete submissions may result in point deductions.
Any items or materials that require prior approval or application must be submitted within the specified deadline.
Submissions made after the deadline may not be accepted and may result in disqualification.
If you wish to send your materials in advance, please ship them to the designated location by the specified date and time.
The format for submitting your design and list of required materials will be provided later.

All latex balloons must be Sempertex balloons.
There is no restriction on foil balloon manufacturers, however, participants must use brands c xonsidered appropriate for professional use.
The use of auxiliary materials other than balloons (such as sticks, foil materials, containers, etc.) is permitted; however, participants must follow the specific rules of each contest category.
The use of organic solvent sprays, color sprays, hair sprays, or gas-propelled sprays is prohibited.
When using Hi-Float, Shine, or similar gloss agents or liquid materials, participants must take sufficient precautions to prevent contamination of the venue.
Fresh flowers and helium gas are not permitted.
Material support may be provided depending on the category.
Designs that infringe upon copyrights, portrait rights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights (including character designs) are not permitted.

Pre-production processing is prohibited. (e.g., cutting, tying, layering balloons, assembling materials, etc.)
→ Only simple sorting of materials is permitted.
Works that exceed the specified size limits may be subject to point deductions or disqualification.
Extensions of the production time are not permitted. If an extension becomes unavoidable, it may result in point deductions or disqualification.
Modifications or additional processing after the production time has ended are prohibited.
→ Only minor adjustments caused by movement or installation are permitted (and only if approved).
Maintenance during the exhibition period is not allowed. If modification becomes unavoidable, it may result in point deductions or disqualification.
Works must be constructed in a way that ensures they remain safe and in good condition throughout the exhibition period.
Playing music in the production area is not permitted.
Rules regarding electricity usage vary by category, so please check the rules for each category.
→ If electricity is used, advance application for the equipment to be used is mandatory, and the use of unapproved equipment is prohibited.
Inflating balloons by mouth is not permitted.
Works must be installed in a way that protects the floor surface, such as using protective coverings.
Please use the venue, shared spaces, and shared materials with consideration for other participants.

Professional judging will be conducted by Sempertex employees or individuals approved by Sempertex.
→ Judging will take place from Day 1 (June 10) to Day 3 (June 12) of JBFES.
The winners will be announced at the award ceremony on the evening of Day 3.
In the Public Voting Award, the winner will be determined based on the number of votes cast by visitors during the voting period.
→ Voting will take place on Day 4 (June 13) and Day 5 (June 14) of JBFES.
The winners will be announced later through press releases, the website, and social media.
The organizers will not respond to individual inquiries regarding judging criteria or scoring details.
If violations of the rules are confirmed, participants may receive point deductions or disqualification.
Exhibition locations will be determined by the organizer.
In the event of unforeseen circumstances not covered by these rules, the organizer will make the final decision.

If damage, contamination, or loss of venue property or equipment occurs, participants may be required to compensate for the actual costs.
Eating, drinking, and smoking are permitted only in designated areas.
Please use only the designated restrooms.
Please separate waste generated during production and after eating or drinking.
Any waste materials generated during the production of the work must be disposed of by the participants themselves.
→ Please do not dispose of them in the mall’s trash bins.
Exhibited works may be moved during the exhibition period, so they must be constructed in a way that allows them to be moved.
After the exhibition period ends, please remove your work promptly.
The creator must remove the work themselves. If the creator cannot remove it due to unavoidable circumstances, a proxy must be assigned in advance and reported to the organizer beforehand.
The organizer will not return any works or materials. The creator or their proxy must collect them. If the work is not removed within the specified time, the organizer may dispose of it.

Copyright of the works belongs to the creator.
Copyright of photographs, videos, and audio recordings taken during the event belongs to the organizer.
Photographic materials and the names of the creators (including company names or business names) may be used in official media such as websites, social media, press releases, catalogs, and brochures.
Participants are deemed to have agreed to this upon participation.
Personal information collected will be used only for event management or related official media. Any use beyond this scope will require separate permission.

The organizer assumes no responsibility for damage or loss of works or materials.
Any accidents or injuries occurring during production or installation are the responsibility of the participants themselves. As many visitors will be present, participants must take full precautions to ensure safety.