Uma Musume US concerts face visa uncertainty in Los Angeles
Cygames says visas for the Uma Musume: Pretty Derby world tour shows in Los Angeles are still awaiting approval, with a final decision due before the concerts.
Cygames says the visas needed for the Uma Musume: Pretty Derby 7th Event World Tour concerts in Los Angeles had not been approved as of 19 October, leaving the 22 and 23 October shows uncertain. The company says it has been working with US lawyers and promoters for more than six months and is still exploring every option to make the concerts happen. 1
What has happened
The concerts are scheduled for the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on 22 October at 8 p.m. PDT and 23 October at 7 p.m. PDT. They are part of the first Uma Musume: Pretty Derby world tour, which also includes stops in Tokyo, London, Seoul and Yokohama. 2
The official announcement does not say that the Los Angeles shows have been cancelled. Instead, Cygames says a final decision will be announced by 10 p.m. Pacific Time on 19 October. That means fans may not know whether the performances will go ahead until only a short time before the first scheduled show. 1
The event is built around live performances from the franchise's cast, including Machico as Tokai Teio, Tomoyo Takayanagi as Oguri Cap, Rena Maeda as Grass Wonder, Minami Takahashi as El Condor Pasa, Yui Ogura as Manhattan Cafe and other performers. 3
Why the visa issue matters
The performers and staff need permission to enter the United States for the Los Angeles leg. Cygames says the visa process has been under way for more than six months, but the necessary approvals had still not arrived when the company issued its update. The staff apologised for the worry and inconvenience caused by the late notice. 1
The timing is particularly awkward because the world tour is a major step for the franchise. The Tokyo event marked the start of Uma Musume's first international tour, and the Los Angeles performances are its next overseas stop. The official English channel has promoted the tour as a global live event rather than a routine local concert. 2
Until Cygames publishes its final decision, ticket holders should treat the concerts as pending rather than cancelled. The next official update is expected by the stated 10 p.m. Pacific Time deadline, after which fans should check the event website or the franchise's official channels for practical information about attendance and any changes. 1
Our opinion
The frustrating part is not simply that an international concert has run into an immigration problem; it is that the uncertainty arrived so close to the performances. Cygames says it has been working on the visas for months, yet fans are still being asked to wait for a final answer after travel and accommodation plans may already be in motion. The company is right not to declare cancellation before every option has been exhausted, but a firm update at the promised deadline is essential. If the shows cannot proceed, the clearest possible explanation and fast guidance for ticket holders will matter almost as much as the decision itself.
- Cygames says US visas for the Los Angeles concerts had not been approved as of 19 October.
- The final decision is due by 10 p.m. Pacific Time on 19 October.
- The concerts are scheduled for 22 and 23 October at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.