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The U.S.-Japan Council announced the return of the Japan-Texas Economic Summit, set to take place May 11–13, 2026, in Arlington.
Reviving a landmark event first held in 2018, the summit aims to advance economic collaboration between Japan and Texas amid shifting trade dynamics and growing alignment on industrial policy and supply chain resilience.
The 2026 gathering will be hosted by the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) in partnership with the city of Arlington and the Arlington Economic Development Corporation as title sponsors, with ABeam Consulting serving as the organizing sponsor, according to a press release.
“This is more than a conference. It’s a strategic signal,” said Sachi Hamai, chair of the USJC Board of Directors. “As bilateral trade discussions intensify, the Japan-Texas Economic Summit reflects a shared commitment to partnership through commercial vision, policy alignment, and real investment.”
The Summit will draw governors, mayors, agency officials, and executives from both countries to develop strategies for long-term growth. The inaugural event in 2018, held in Houston, drew more than 400 government and industry leaders.
Since then, Texas has become a top destination for Japanese investment. From 2011-21, employment by Japanese firms in the state more than doubled to over 75,000 jobs, far surpassing the national average.
“The 2018 summit, combined with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Statement of Mutual Cooperation with Governor of Aichi Prefecture Hideaki Ohmura last year, reveals a deep appetite to strengthen Japan-Texas ties,” said Steve Sakanashi, chair of the Japan-Texas Economic Summit. “The 2026 summit will build on that momentum and become the permanent gathering point for our two economies to plan for the future.”
With Arlington as the host city through 2028, the Summit will be anchored in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, part of the booming Texas Triangle region that drives more than 75% of the state’s $2.7 trillion GDP.