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The Demo Events Roll Out in Two Stages — "Wave 1 → Wave 2," Starting at Select Large-Scale BANDAI TCG+ Stores. The BCG Fest Venues Selling the Two Exclusives Are Named: Orlando and London

“When and where can I actually touch the cards?” With about eight months to go before the June 2027 launch, that is probably the most pressing question.

The October 10, 2026 (local time) New York Comic Con 2026 announcement established that in-store demo events begin in February 2027 (the full announcement is in Launch Is “June 2027”; the Japanese official names are in The First Booster Pack’s Japanese Name).

Lining up the primary sources on these events turned up two statements we did not cover in yesterday’s article: that the rollout happens in two stages, and that the venues selling the two exclusives are named.

2 stagesDemo event rolloutWave 1 → Wave 2
2 venuesBCG Fest venues namedOrlando / London
1 millionDemo Decks distributedSpring 2027, worldwide total
0Confirmed dates or store namesAll to be announced later

Basis for this article: everything below comes from BANDAI’s official press release (October 10, 2026, English), the Japanese article on the official NARUTO site (naruto-official.com) (October 11, 2026), and the TV TOKYO Holdings, Inc. press release (October 11, 2026, Japanese). Original wording is quoted, and where interpretation is required we say so.

1. The demo events roll out as Wave 1 → Wave 2

BANDAI’s English press release covers this in two sentences. The first gives the timing and the place:

Starting in February 2027, NARUTO CARD GAME Premier Demo Events will be held at participating TCG stores, where players, including longtime NARUTO fans who have never played a trading card game, can try the cards in person and learn the rules of the game in a relaxed setting.

And the second sentence is the one we want here:

The rollout begins at select large-scale stores participating in BANDAI TCG+ (Wave 1), with more participating stores added in Wave 2.

Three things can be read from it:

  • The events are not a simultaneous start. They are divided into stages labelled “Wave 1” and “Wave 2”
  • Wave 1 targets select large-scale stores participating in BANDAI TCG+. Among participating stores, there is a further filter by scale
  • In Wave 2, more participating stores are added

BANDAI TCG+ is BANDAI’s app and service for its card games. We have covered it in the BANDAI TCG+ face photo guide, and the press release notes that the game’s information channel (“NARUTO TCG Updates Channel”) lives in that app as well. For anyone hoping to attend a demo event, TCG+ looks likely to be the first point of entry.

To be careful here: the timing of Wave 1 and Wave 2 individually has not been announced. “February 2027” appears as “Starting in February 2027,” i.e. the start of the whole programme. Whether Wave 1 is February and when Wave 2 follows is not in the original text. The threshold for “large-scale” is not defined either.

Demo event rollout (from BANDAI's English press release, October 10, 2026)
  1. February 2027 start"Starting in February 2027"
  2. Wave 1Select large-scale BANDAI TCG+ stores
  3. Wave 2More stores added (timing unannounced)

2. The BCG Fest venues selling the two exclusives are named: Orlando and London

For the two exclusives — the Official Playmat - NARUTO VS. SASUKE - and the Premium Card Collection Vol.00 - CHAKRA Set — the original text names venues:

Both will be available only at the Premier Demo Events and select BANDAI CARD GAMES FEST 26-27 events, including BANDAI CARD GAMES FEST Orlando and BANDAI CARD GAMES FEST London.

Not just “select,” but “including BANDAI CARD GAMES FEST Orlando and BANDAI CARD GAMES FEST London” — two venues by name. The Japanese article on the official NARUTO site says only “これらは先行体験会に加え、一部の『BANDAI CARD GAMES FEST 26-27』でのみ販売予定です” (“in addition to the demo events, they are planned for sale only at some BANDAI CARD GAMES FEST 26-27 events”); no venue names appear on the Japanese side.

Read it carefully:

  • “including” means “among others” — it does not mean “Orlando and London only.” Other venues may also be included
  • At the same time, because it says “select,” it has not been announced that every BCG Fest 26-27 venue will carry them
  • Whether the Japanese venue (BCG Fest Tokyo) is included is not stated in either source

The venues and dates of BANDAI CARD GAMES FEST 26-27 are covered in the BCG Fest Tokyo announcement.

3. The start date is worded three ways across primary sources

On the single question of when the demo events begin, the primary sources do not line up:

Source (all official)Start of the demo events
BANDAI English press release (Oct 10)Starting in February 2027
TV TOKYO Holdings Japanese PR (Oct 11)2027年2月より (from February 2027)
Official NARUTO site, Japanese (Oct 11)2027年初頭より (from early 2027)

The TV TOKYO Holdings release reads:

発売に先駆け、2027年2月より体験会の開催や豪華限定商品の発売、春季には大規模なデモデッキ配布キャンペーンが実施されます。

“February 2027” is consistent between the English and one of the Japanese sources. The official NARUTO site’s “from early 2027” is a broader way of saying it that includes February, so there is no contradiction. We adopt the more specific “February 2027” and have reflected it in our timeline and event calendar.

Note also that the TV TOKYO Holdings release names BANDAI CO., LTD., BANDAI SPIRITS CO., LTD. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. as the three companies behind the announced game developments, with the card game itself described as “handled by BANDAI CARD GAMES.”

4. The 1 million Demo Decks: only “spring”

The other pre-launch initiative is the Demo Deck distribution campaign:

In addition to the in-store events, a global campaign will begin in spring 2027 to distribute a total of 1 million Demo Decks worldwide, giving players an easy way to experience the basic flow of the game and its ninja-style mind games at their own pace ahead of launch. Campaign details will be announced later through the official website and social channels.

  • The timing is spring 2027. TV TOKYO Holdings’ Japanese release says 春季 (the spring season) — both give only the season
  • The quantity is 1 million worldwide in total
  • The purpose is to let players “experience the basic flow of the game and its ninja-style mind games at their own pace ahead of launch”
  • Campaign details will be announced later

One thing worth recording: the Japanese article on the official NARUTO site does not mention this Demo Deck campaign. Its headline promises “体験会や大型キャンペーンも発表！” (“demo events and a major campaign announced too”), but the body only explains the demo events and the advance-sale products. The only Japanese text touching the campaign is that one line in the TV TOKYO Holdings release.

The distribution method, the number per person, the countries and regions covered, and where to pick one up are all unannounced. Whether Japan is included is not stated either.

5. The schedule to launch — what is fixed and what is not

Putting it in order: the only item fixed to the day is Jump Festa 2027.

Dates fixed before the June 2027 launch (as of October 12, 2026)
  1. December 19–20, 2026Jump Festa 2027 (date and venue fixed)
  2. February 2027Demo events begin (day unannounced)
  3. Spring 20271 million Demo Decks (month unannounced)
  4. June 2027Simultaneous worldwide launch (day unannounced)

The next major announcement window is Jump Festa 2027. The official NARUTO site’s NYCC round-up article gives the date and venue:

2026年12月19日㊏～12月20日㊐に幕張メッセ 国際展示場で開催されるジャンプフェスタ2027『NARUTO-ナルト-』ジャンプスーパーステージでは、今回発表となった情報の続報をお届け予定！

That is December 19 (Sat) – 20 (Sun), 2026, at Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall. For the card game specifically, BANDAI’s English release likewise says “The next major NARUTO CARD GAME update is scheduled for Jump Festa 2027 this December.”

The roadmap on the official NARUTO site’s PROJECT RASENGAN page lists four items, and only the card game’s row carries a date (“本格トレーディングカードゲーム 全世界同時リリース！！ 2027.06 RELEASE!”). The other three — the new anime, the mobile game and the new manga — have no timing, and the roadmap ends with “MORE TO COME!” (confirmed October 12, 2026). In other words, of everything coming for NARUTO, the card game currently has the most specific timing.

What is still unannounced

  • Participating stores, event dates and registration for the demo events (“Details on participating stores, event dates, registration, product availability, and purchase procedures will be announced later”)
  • The timing of Wave 1 and Wave 2, and the threshold for “large-scale”
  • Whether the demo events will be held in Japan
  • The price, quantities and per-person purchase limits for the two exclusives
  • The distribution method and the countries and regions for the Demo Decks
  • The launch date (which day in June 2027)

For now, the only places to actually play remain event-venue demo sessions (SPIEL Essen and Paris Games Week on October 22–25, Lucca Comics & Games from October 28 to November 1, and Tabletop.me in Dubai on November 6–8). The near-term schedule is in the October 2026 schedule.

Summary

  • The demo events (Premier Demo Events) roll out as Wave 1 → Wave 2. Wave 1 begins at select large-scale stores participating in BANDAI TCG+
  • The BCG Fest venues selling the two exclusives are not just “select” — Orlando and London are named (no venue names appear in the Japanese text; “including” leaves room for others)
  • The start is February 2027 in both BANDAI’s English release and TV TOKYO Holdings’ Japanese release. The official NARUTO site uses the broader “from early 2027”
  • The 1 million Demo Decks are given only as “spring 2027 / 春季,” and the official NARUTO site’s Japanese article does not mention the campaign
  • Before launch, the only item fixed to the day is Jump Festa 2027 (December 19–20, 2026, Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall). Stores, dates and registration are all to be announced later

Sources

Source: www.prnewswire.com

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