US visa delays force cancellation of first Umamusume concerts in Los Angeles

Cygames has cancelled the first North American concerts for its "Umamusume: Pretty Derby" franchise after failing to obtain the US visas needed for the performers and crew. The two shows were due to take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on 22 and 23 October 2026, and the company announced the cancellation on 20 October.

Key facts

• The concerts were scheduled for 22 and 23 October 2026 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
• Cygames announced the cancellation on 20 October 2026.
• Seventeen voice actors were due to perform, alongside accompanying crew.
• The company said it could not obtain the necessary visas for entry into the U.S.
• On 21 October, Cygames said it plans to reimburse travel and lodging expenses for affected fans who meet certain requirements.

What happened?

The Los Angeles shows were set to feature 17 voice actors from the multimedia franchise, which reimagines racehorses as anime characters and spans video games, anime, manga and music. Cygames said it had coordinated repeatedly with all parties and explored every possible option before concluding that the concerts could not go ahead.

An official statement on the "Umamusume" website said the organisers were "unable to obtain the necessary visas for entry into the U.S." The company did not say which visa category the performers needed or how long the applications had been pending.

Why did the visas fall through?

Rubab Rizvi, president of booking and promotion company Fake Star USA, said the paperwork for such applications can take months to prepare. She said the process requires contracts, proof of income, show itineraries and letters of recommendation, and applies not only to performers but also to essential crew members, who generally must be tied to specific performers. Applicants must also pay a fee and, in many cases, attend an in-person interview at a U.S. consulate.

All 17 announced performers would have needed visas unless they already held them, as would the crew travelling with them. Rizvi said the case likely faced requests for evidence (RFEs), in which the government asks for further information about an application, and noted what she described as a huge increase in RFEs under the current administration.

The Government Accountability Office has said visa interview wait times have been affected by staffing shortages and increased demand since the start of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term. Some fans on social media wondered whether stricter immigration policies played a role, but the article does not confirm a specific cause.

What this means for travellers

The cancellation shows how long U.S. visa processing can take for performers and their crews, and how additional paperwork requests can delay an application. Anyone planning to travel to the U.S. for work or performance purposes should allow time for document preparation, fees and possible in-person consular interviews.

Cygames said on 21 October that it plans to reimburse travel and lodging expenses for fans who had planned to attend the Los Angeles concerts, provided they meet certain requirements. The company has not said what those requirements are.

No replacement dates have been announced.