It appears Microsoft’s next big racing game reveal has slipped out early. Ads for Forza Horizon 6 have started appearing on Instagram, confirming that the Horizon Festival is headed to Japan in 2026. The promotional post, uploaded by the official Forza Horizon account, urged players to wishlist the title, all but confirming what has long been rumored.
The ad rollout seems to have gone live ahead of schedule, sparking discussion online about a possible mishap in timing. For months, speculation had pointed toward a Japanese setting, with insider NateTheHate previously reporting that Microsoft and Playground Games planned to unveil the game at the Tokyo Game Show 2025. He described Japan as the chosen backdrop, calling the event a fitting stage for the official announcement.
This leak follows other hints in recent weeks. Earlier in September, Australian car import company Cult & Classic shared and quickly deleted a post about a Playground Games developer photographing vehicles at its showroom. The spotlighted model was a Kei car, a small vehicle strongly tied to Japanese automotive culture, which only added to the mounting speculation.
The confirmation of a Japanese setting marks a highly anticipated shift for the franchise, which has previously taken players across the United States, Europe, Australia, and Mexico. Fans have long requested Japan as a destination, largely due to its rich car culture, iconic landscapes, and urban racing potential.
First launched in 2012, Forza Horizon has grown into Microsoft’s premier racing franchise, overtaking the long-running Forza Motorsport series. Following the success of Forza Horizon 5 in 2021, which earned praise for its open-world Mexico setting, expectations are high for Playground Games’ next installment.
With official ads already circulating and the Xbox Showcase at Tokyo Game Show 2025 just around the corner, the full reveal of Forza Horizon 6 now seems inevitable. The Horizon Festival will officially shift gears to Japan in 2026, giving fans plenty of reason to look forward to the next chapter.
