Images are for illustrative purposes only.
– Ring in the New Year under the night sky, for a countdown experience you can only find here –
Redcliff Inc., a leader in drone show planning and operation, will host the New Year’s Eve event “REDCLIFF COUNTDOWN DRONE SHOW 2026” at Funabashi Racecourse in Chiba Prefecture, running from Wednesday, December 31, 2025, to Thursday, January 1, 2026 (New Year’s Day).
A special New Year’s countdown where drones, space, time, and music merge into one.
This event is an immersive New Year’s Eve experience centered around a drone show, featuring live performances, free hands-on flight sessions with “Hula”—a programming drone for education—and a variety of food and drinks from kitchen cars. We are planning a lineup of content that ensures guests can enjoy their stay for several hours, including activities before, after, and in between the main shows.
The drone show will be presented in two parts.
▪️Part 1 | Art Drone Show (500 drones)
In the first part starting at 22:00, we will perform a selection of three pieces from the “REDCLIFF ART LABEL Showcase ‘MANI MANI'” previously held in Kobe last year.
Under the theme “IF (Imaginary F = Fruits & Flower),” three artist groups—404.zero, MIRAI + RYU, and MeyaMeya—will use 500 drones to express “captivating night sky art” that pursues the beauty of light, movement, and composition.It is an art experience designed to be enjoyed quietly and thoughtfully, offering a moment of sensory enrichment before the countdown begins.
▪️Part 2 | Countdown Drone Show (2,026 drones)
The second part, taking place from 23:50 to 24:10, is the main highlight of the event. The general production is led by Kenji Kohashi, who served as the Event Planning Producer for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.
Under the theme “Run to the New World — Racing into the Future,” 2,026 drones will fill the night sky as we approach the stroke of midnight to celebrate the dawn of 2026.
The sense of anticipation builds alongside the countdown displayed in the night sky, featuring an overwhelming scale that utilizes the entire heavens, leading into a grand finale that heralds the New Year. It is a unique countdown experience where everyone at the venue shares the exact moment the New Year arrives—a celebration you won’t find anywhere else.
▪️HIPPY will appear for an indoor live performance at the venue.
Singer-songwriter HIPPY will perform as part of the indoor live program to be enjoyed alongside the drone show. His performance will bring the entire venue together, providing a musical backdrop that perfectly complements the special moment of welcoming the New Year.
【Artist Profile】
HIPPY
A singer-songwriter from Hiroshima Prefecture.
Through down-to-earth lyrics and a powerful yet warm singing voice, he has created many songs that offer encouragement to listeners. His signature song, “Kimi ni Sasageru Oenka” (A Cheering Song for You), has gained support across generations and is widely loved as a track that stays by one’s side during life’s major milestones. His performances are highly acclaimed for the sense of unity he builds with the audience, and at this event, he will powerfully color the transition into the New Year with his music.
Official Site：http://hippy-web.com/hippipedia.shtml
*Please note that venue content is subject to change depending on the situation on the day of the event.
The venue is Funabashi Racecourse, chosen in connection with the “Hinoe-uma” (Fire Horse) zodiac year.
The venue, Funabashi Racecourse, is a location chosen to honor the 2026 zodiac year of “Hinoe-uma” (the Fire Horse)—though please note that no actual racehorses will be present.
For this event, the drone launch and landing site will be set up directly on the racetrack. We offer a special viewing experience where you can witness the drones from takeoff to landing at close range—a perspective that is normally not possible to see.
This is a New Year’s Eve event where you don’t just “look up at the night sky,” but experience the entire process with all your senses—from the moment the show begins to the drones returning after their flight.
The culmination of Redcliff’s work, which has colored night skies across Japan throughout 2025.
In 2025, Redcliff deployed drone shows ranging from hundreds to thousands of aircraft across Japan. At Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, we participated as a Platinum Partner for the association-planned events, operating drone shows every night throughout the approximately six-month exhibition period.
Bringing together our wealth of experience, technology, and creative prowess, we present this event as the climactic finale to 2025 and a spectacular opening for 2026.
Comment from Kenji Kohashi, General Producer
“MESSAGE : Run to the New World
The moment a new year begins.
The world shifts its atmosphere just a little and begins to move forward to the next chapter.
At 2026.
Passing the milestone of Showa 100,
a new era for Japan begins to move forward.
Furthermore, it is the year of Hinoe-uma (the Fire Horse), returning for the first time in 60 years.
In the night sky, beams of light will race forward toward the future.
The theme of this countdown drone show is:
Run to the New World.
Where are we headed?
At what speed shall we advance?
The answer is not to be found in the sky, but rather…
…it may lie within each and every one of us.
At the very moment we welcome the New Year,
2,026 lights will race across the night sky,
painting the beginning of a brand-new era.
But in this very moment,
as we look up at the same sky together,
we stand alongside one another at the gateway to a new time.
I would be happy if that shared feeling
remains as a lasting memory of this special night.”
Countdown Drone Show
Creative Director : Kenji Kohashi
【Kenji Kohashi Profile】
Born in Tokyo in 1979. He made his debut as an actor in 1988 and appeared in numerous popular dramas. In 2007, he took a hiatus from his entertainment career to travel the world. After returning to Japan, he served as the Creative Director for “ULTRA JAPAN” and the General Producer for “STAR ISLAND,” achieving great success both domestically and internationally.
“CONTACT,” a night sky spectacle show utilizing drones, won the Grand Prix and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the Japan Event Awards (JACE Event Awards).
In 2021, he served as the Show Director for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony. For Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, he served as the Event Planning Producer, responsible for the planning and overall management of all Expo events, including the opening and closing ceremonies and official events. He contributed significantly to the success of the Expo, which recorded a total of 29.02 million visitors.
Currently, he is also involved in regional revitalization and urban development, continuing to create new value for the era.
Comment from Komei Sasaki, CEO of Redcliff Inc.
“Drone shows are a form of entertainment that connects people by sharing the same night sky.
Welcoming the New Year alongside 2,026 drones is sure to be an unprecedented countdown experience. Please join us at the racecourse to ring in the Year of the Horse together.”
Event Overview
Title: REDCLIFF COUNTDOWN DRONE SHOW 2026 Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2025
・21:00 Doors Open
・22:00–22:20 Part 1: Art Drone Show (500 drones)
・23:50–24:10 Part 2: Countdown Drone Show (2,026 drones)
・24:30 Venue Closes
*In the event of cancellation due to weather conditions, strong winds, or other factors, an announcement will be made by 17:00 on the day of the event via the Redcliff official website (https://redcliff-inc.co.jp/), official X (https://x.com/redcliff_drone), and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/redcliff_drone/).
Venue: Funabashi Racecourse (1-2-1 Wakamatsu, Funabashi City, Chiba)
Price:
・Ages 20 and over: 3,000 yen (tax incl.)
・Ages 13 to 19: 2,000 yen (tax incl.)
・Ages 12 and under: 1,000 yen (tax incl.)
*Tickets required for ages 7 and over.
*Tickets are limited in quantity. Sales will end as soon as they are sold out.
Access:
5-minute walk from “Funabashi-keibajo” Station on the Keisei Line
10-minute walk from “Minami-Funabashi” Station on the JR Keiyo Line
https://www.f-keiba.com/access
Ticket Purchase:
https://livepocket.jp/e/8_8tf
Organizer: Redcliff Inc.
Inquiries regarding this matter:
*For those other than members of the press, please contact us via the email address below.
marketing@redcliff-inc.co.jp
