Umamusume: Pretty Derby has grown from a Japanese franchise into an international success, combining horse racing, character training and idol-style performances. That global expansion now faces a serious obstacle: the voice actors scheduled to appear at the first US concert may not receive their visas in time.
Cygames launched Umamusume in Japan in 2021, before taking the game to international audiences in 2023. Its central characters are horse girls based on real racehorses. Players train them to compete, while victories in the game’s fictional world lead to short musical performances featuring original songs.
Live shows have become an important part of the franchise, with concerts selling out arenas across Japan. Cygames announced the first ever World Tour earlier this year, planning to bring the performers behind the characters to venues around the world.
The first international stop was scheduled for the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on 22 and 23 October 2026. It was intended to be a major showcase for the franchise’s progress beyond Japan—a notable development covered alongside other arcade and gaming news.
That Los Angeles event is now uncertain. Cygames released a statement confirming that the required US visas for the voice actors had not yet been approved, despite preparations beginning more than six months earlier with American lawyers and promoters.
“In preparation for the 7th EVENT: THE STAGE in LOS ANGELES concerts planned for Oct 22–23, 2026, we had been working with lawyers and promoters in the US to secure the visas necessary to enter the US since over six months ago, but as of now the visas have yet to be approved. As such, we are coordinating with all parties concerned to explore every possible option to get the visas approved in time to make the concerts happen.”
The franchise’s English-language account also described the visa delay in a post dated October 19, 2026. Cygames said it was continuing to work with all relevant parties to find a way for the concerts to proceed.
The uncertainty comes amid tighter immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which returned to office in 2024. International musicians have cited visa issues when cancelling US performances, while others have noted visa complications and avoided performing in the country altogether.
Cygames is still pursuing the necessary approvals. The Los Angeles concerts were also expected to precede later World Tour performances in London and Seoul, making the US dates an important early test of the franchise’s international live strategy.
Fans have travelled from across the United States, and from Japan, with some reportedly spending thousands of dollars to attend. For now, they must wait for confirmation on whether the performers can enter the country—or whether the concerts will be cancelled.
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