Because 1940 was the 2600th year of imperial rule in Japan, the exhibition that year was known as the "2600th Year Celebratory Exhibition," and it was expanded in scope.
由於 1940 年正值日本天皇制實施 2600 年，當年的新文展因此冠上「紀元 2600 年奉祝展」名稱，並擴大舉辦。