<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>Art and cultural activities can benefit mental health. However, there is insufficient evidence on active engagement in art and cultural activities for preventing depressive symptoms among older adults. Therefore, we examined the association of active engagement in art and cultural activities with depressive symptom onset among older adults using 3‐year longitudinal data.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>This longitudinal study recruited non‐institutionalised older adults independent in daily living from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) established in 2010, and those without depressive symptoms were followed for three years. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale. Active engagement in nine art and cultural activities, including Japanese traditional cultural activities, were evaluated (musical performance, singing, dancing, handicrafts, painting, photography, poetry composition, calligraphy, and tea ceremony/flower arrangement).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Ultimately, 37,627 older adults without depressive symptoms at baseline were analysed. The participants' mean age (standard deviation) was 72.6 (5.5) years, and 51.5% were female. During the follow‐up period, depressive symptoms occurred in 3844 participants (10.2%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that active engagement in art and cultural activities was inversely associated with depressive symptom onset (odds ratio = 0.80, 95% confidence interval = 0.73–0.87, <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> < 0.001). This association was confirmed regardless of age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Among the activities, especially dancing and photography were protective against depressive symptoms.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>Active engagement in art and cultural activities may contribute to preventing depressive symptoms among older adults. Promoting art and cultural engagement could be important to protect their mental health.</jats:p></jats:sec>