Written by Patrick Balfe
You’re spoiled for choice if you’re looking for international concerts in Japan in 2026.
With household names like Diana Ross and lesser-known artists like Courtney Barnett and Rochelle Jordan, there’s something for everyone right into summer and beyond. On top of that, there are a bunch of awesome music festivals to head to. Check out some of our top picks below — and also see how to get tickets to concerts in Japan.
Pro tip: Get a taste of traditional Japanese music with a shamisen performance and dinner in Tokyo.
May 2026
Who to see in May:
Deftones
May 18–20¥14,000–¥17,500
Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi
Alternative metal stalwarts Deftones are touring this May in support of their latest full-length album Private Music. The album, released in August of last year, is their first in five years and has been met with universal critical acclaim. The tour will take them to venues in Tokyo, Osaka, and Aichi and will mark their first headline performances in the country in 15 years.
Tickets
Tickets for their Tokyo Garden theater show range from ¥14,000 for A seats to ¥15,000 for S seats and ¥17,500 for standing. Osaka Zepp Bayside and Nagoya Comtec Portbase tickets are ¥16,000 for standing and ¥17,500 for seated tickets.
Thundercat
May 19–22¥9,000
Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya
In celebration of his upcoming fifth album, Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, bassist, and Japanophile Thundercat is returning to Japan for a run of shows this spring. The new album, Distracted, is set for release in April and features Kevin Parker, A$AP Rocky, Lil Yachty, Willow, and a posthumous appearance from Mac Miller. Thundercat will be playing two shows at Tokyo’s Toyosu Pit, followed by performances at Osaka’s Namba Hatch and Nagoya’s Comtec Portbase.
Tickets
Tickets for all shows at ¥9,000 via Eplus and Zaiko. All tickets at Toyosu Pit are standing; Osaka has both standing and seated tickets; and Nagoya has reserved seating.
Greenroom Festival
May 23—24TBC
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
Yokohama’s much-loved Green Room Festival is back again this year. Since 2005, the event has advocated for clean oceans through a mix of music, art, and culture. This year, the event will welcome international artists such as Jon Batiste, Ezra Collective, Emma-Jean Thackray, and Joe Armon-Jones, to name a few. In addition to music, the event will feature an eclectic mix of visual and performing arts, as well as food and market stalls. More artists and ticket details are set to be announced in the coming months.
Tickets
Tickets for Greenroom Festival are ¥17,000 for one-day tickets (Saturday-only or Sunday-only) and ¥28,000 for two-day tickets. Discounts apply for those under 18, and a special online ticket portal exists for those purchasing from overseas.
Hiatus Kaiyote and Snarky Puppy
May 23—25¥9,800–¥14,000
SGC Hall Ariake (Tokyo), Zepp Namba (Osaka)
Hiatus Kaiyote and Snarky Puppy, two big names in the jazz, fusion, and neo soul worlds, are teaming up for a small run of shows in May. Both bands have built a loyal following through regular festival appearances and headline performances in Japan, but this will be the first time they share a stage here since the Blue Note Jazz Festival in 2015.
Tickets
Tickets for the Tokyo performance range from ¥9,800 for A seats to ¥14,000 for S and arena seats. The Osaka show has first-floor standing tickets for ¥13,000 and second-floor reserved seats for ¥14,000.
Pro tip: If you need a Japanese phone number to buy tickets for any of these gigs, consider the Voice Lite SIM/eSIM from Mobal that gives you a local number and SMS capabilities.
Diana Ross
May 23–25¥18,000–¥67,000
Yokohama K-Arena and Osaka Castle Hall
Diana Ross is coming out to Japan, and fans couldn’t be happier. The Queen of Motown will be playing two shows during her visit, her first in the country in 11 years and her first in Osaka since 1998. In the intervening time, she’s released the album Thank You, her 25th studio effort, so we can expect to hear tracks from that as well as the many, many hits from her back catalog.
Tickets
Tickets for both shows range from ¥18,000 for A seats to ¥67,000 for Gold Seats with bonus merch. Yokohama has five ticket types (A, S, Balcony, SS, and Gold), and the Osaka show has A, S, SS, and Gold.
Wu-Tang Clan
May 24¥15,000–¥28,000
K Arena Yokohama
The inimitable Wu-Tang Clan will return to Japan for their first headline show in 29 years this May. The tour, entitled Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber, is set to be their final appearances as a group and will feature all living original members plus an appearance from ODB’s son, YDB. Guest artists are set to be announced, and a special re-issue of the group’s debut album is set to be released in mid-May.
Tickets
Tickets range in price from ¥15,000 to ¥28,000, and general release tickets are available from March 21.
Jon Batiste
May 26–27¥12,000–¥14,000
Shibuya Spotify O-East, Zepp Namba Osaka
Eight-time Grammy Award winner and former Late Show band leader Jon Batiste is doing a small run of side shows in addition to his set at Greenroom Festival this May. The artist is touring with a new album under his belt Big Money, which earned three nominations and a win at this year’s Grammys and features appearances from artists such as Andra Day and Randy Newman.
Tickets
The Spotify O-East show is all standing, with tickets going for ¥12,000. The Osaka performance has seated tickets for ¥14,000 and standing tickets for ¥12,000.
Of Monsters and Men
May 27¥9,000
Zepp Shinjuku
Icelandic folk rock outfit Of Monsters and Men are returning to Japan for their first headline show in 13 years. With a performance in Harajuku in 2013, followed by sets at Fuji Rock 2013 and 2015, the band was set to capitalize with a national tour in 2020 but unfortunately had to cancel for…reasons. Now, with the release of a new album, they’re sure to deliver old and new favorites to the delight of Japanese fans.
Tickets
Tickets are all standing, and presales are now available for ¥9,000. Door prices are TBC.
Other concerts in Japan in May 2026
Some more options for May:
- May 14–16: English power pop quartet Hot Milk are backing up their Summer Sonic ‘25 performance with a run of shows across the country in the middle of the month.
- May 25: British composer and producer Joe Armon-Jones will head to Daikanyama’s Space Odd late in the month for an intimate one-night show.
June 2026
Here’s what’s happening in June:
Tortoise
June 2—5¥9,500
Umeda Club Quattro (Osaka), Nagoya Club Quattro, Zepp Shinjuku
Chicago post-rock legends Tortoise are making their way to Japan this summer. It’ll be their first shows in the country in nine years, promoting their first album in as many years, the critically acclaimed Touch. The tour will see them play intimate shows in Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo,
Tickets
Tickets for all shows are standing tickets and will set you back ¥9,500. The June 4 show in Tokyo sold out quickly, so an additional show has been added the following night.
Rochelle Jordan
June 3¥9,000
Daikanyama Unit
R&B and dance-pop artist Rochelle Jordan heads to Daikanyama’s Unit this June in celebration of her third album Through The Wall. Jordan has come a long way since her debut in 2014, earning comparisons to 90s R&B artists like Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson, and she’s backed it up with her latest album, receiving universal acclaim and high rankings amongst more than a handful of 2025’s top-50 lists. Chances are, this will be the last chance to catch Jordan in a venue of this size in Tokyo.
Tickets
Unit is standing only, all tickets are ¥9,000.
Lee Young-ji
June 5–7¥13,800–¥19,800
Zepp Haneda (Tokyo), Zepp Namba (Osaka)
South Korean rapper Lee Young-j is heading back to Japan for her second run of shows in the country this June. Since making her start on High School Rapper 3 in 2019, her rise has been meteoric, taking out Show Me the Money in 2022 and following things up with a string of hits including Small girl in 2024 and Robot earlier this year. She’ll play shows at two Zepp venues – Haneda and Namba.
Tickets
Tickets for both shows range from ¥13,800 for general standing to ¥14,800 for second-floor seated tickets and ¥19,800 for VIP standing tickets.
Courtney Barnett
June 16–18¥9,000
Nagoya Club Four, Spotify O-East (Tokyo), Yogibo Meta Valley (Osaka)
Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett is touring in support of her long-awaited fourth album. The new album, entitled Creature of Habit, features contributions from artists such as Waxahatchee, Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and Floating Points, and comes after a move to Los Angeles and the disestablishment of Milk! Records in 2023. This will be her first trip to Japan in seven years.
Tickets
All shows are standing venues and tickets for each show are ¥9,000 via Smash.
Stereolab
June 29–July 2¥9,800– ¥12,000
Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo
Stereolab are back with their first album in 15 years, and they’re heading to Japan for a run of shows to celebrate. The latest album Instant Holograms On Metal Film spans 13 tracks and picks up where they left off in 2010 with tight krautrock grooves and layered synths, and marks a welcome return for the band. With their planned 2020 performances canceled due to the pandemic, this will be their first return to the county in 17 years.
Tickets
The band will head to Umeda Club Quattro (Osaka), Nagoya Club Quattro, and, with their Tokyo show at Ex Theater Roppongi selling out quickly, the band announced a second Tokyo performance at Kanda Square Hall the night before. Remaining performances are standing room only and tickets are ¥9,800.
Other concerts in Japan in June 2026
Here are some other shows to check out in June:
- June 9–10: Scottish psychedelic folk outfit The Beta Band are heading to Japan after a 21-year hiatus with intimate shows at Liquidroom in Tokyo and Umeda Club Quattro in Osaka.
- June 18: Global Citizen, the world’s largest movement to end extreme poverty, will hold Global Citizen Live: Tokyo at the Tokyo International Forum in Marunouchi. The event will see performances from Japanese pop outfit &TEAM, Japanese-American singer AI, and Japanese rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer Yuki Chiba.
July 2026
This is what we’re doing in July:
Fuji Rock Festival
July 24 – 26TBC
Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata
Japan’s premier outdoor music festival returns to Niigata this July. Held at Naeba Ski Resort, Fuji Rock Festival combines stunning nature with some of the biggest names in domestic and international music from the worlds of indie, hip hop, rock, pop, and more. This year’s lineup includes international artists like The xx, Turnstile, Khruangbin, Tomora, Massive Attack, and Mogwai, and locals like Fujii Kaze, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Susumu Hirasawa, and Hi-Standard.
Tickets
Tickets for Fuji Rock usually go on sale from mid to late February.
Honne
July 21–22¥11,000– ¥12,000
NHK Osaka Hall, SGC Hall Ariake (Tokyo)
English electronic duo Honne are marking their tenth anniversary with a trip to Japan this summer. The duo, known for tracks like Location Unknown and Day 1 have kept busy over the last decade, racking up gold, platinum, and multiplatinum status across multiple releases in multiple countries. Their show in Tokyo on March 22 will be the 10th anniversary of their debut release Warm on a Cold Night.
Tickets
Tickets for both shows are ¥11,000 for A seats, ¥12,000 for S seats.
Other concerts in Japan in July 2026
What else is happening in July?
- June 16: Norwegian Duo Kings of Convenience will play their first shows in the country in 16 years. They’ll be heading to Zepp Divercity in Tokyo and Umeda Club Quattro in Osaka.
August
Here’s what to check out :
Summer Sonic Festival
August 14–16TBC
Zozo Marine Stadium & Makuhari Messe (Chiba) and Expo ’70 Commemorative Park (Osaka)
Marking its 25th anniversary this year, Summer Sonic, will once again tour Osaka and Tokyo in August. Held simultaneously over three days in both cities, Summer Sonic lineups tend to lean a little heavier than Fuji Rock, but recent years have seen no shortage of big-name pop acts. This year’s event will feature international artists like The Strokes, David Byrne, Jamiroquai, and FKA Twigs, and Japanese artists like L’Arc-en-Ciel, Sakanaction, Cornelius, and Hitsujibungaku.
Tickets
Ticket sales for Summer Sonic usually start in March.
September
Who’s coming in September?
The Weeknd
September 20TBC
Belluna Dome (Seibu Dome), Saitama
Tokyo is about to be “Blinded by the Lights” this September as The Weeknd kicks off the final Asia leg of his massive After Hours Til Dawn tour at Belluna Dome on September 20. Joining the Grammy-winning artist are Japanese hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts, performing at most stops on the tour, along with DJ Yousuke Yukimatsu at select Asia shows. First launched back in 2022, the tour has already grossed more than US$1 billion across 153 shows, making The Weeknd the highest-grossing solo male touring artist ever — and with this newly announced Asia run marking the tour’s final chapter, it may be the last chance for Tokyo fans to catch him live.
Tickets
Presale begins on May 18.
Belle and Sebastian
September 22–25¥9,800–¥12,000
Bigcat Osaka, Kanadevia Hall Tokyo
1996 was a big year for Scottish indie outfit Belle and Sebastian. With their debut and sophomore albums released only a few months apart, they quickly became one of the defining indie bands of the late ’90s and early ’00s. With their first two albums turning 30(?!) this year, the band is bringing them to a series of shows in Osaka and Tokyo. The first show at Osaka’s Bigcat will see the band perform their sophomore album If You’re Feeling Sinister in full. The next two nights at Kanadevia Hall, Tokyo, on July 24 and 25 will see them perform Tigermilk and “Sinister” respectively.
Tickets
Tickets for Bigcat are ¥12,000, all standing. Tickets for the Tokyo shows are ¥9,800 for A seats and ¥12,000 for S seats.
US
September 28 and 29¥6,500
Takutaku Kyoto, Liquidroom Tokyo
Finnish Garage Rock band US love Japan, and the feeling is mutual. They made a huge impression at Fuji Rock’24, performing multiple times over the weekend, and have performed numerous times since to ever-growing buzz. Now, with their Sophomore album set for release in June, they’re returning for a run of shows in September in Kyoto.
Tickets
Presales for these shows started on April 10 and aren’t likely to last long. Tickets are ¥6,500 for each show.
Avenged Sevenfold
September 30¥17,500
SGC Hall Ariake
It’s been a long time between drinks for Asian Avenged Sevenfold fans, but now, after 10 years away, the band is returning for a run of shows across six cities in Asia. The band has been teasing a new album for a long time now, and, with a bunch more touring and festival appearances set for 2026, it looks like fans might have something to look forward to in the near future. The second show of the Asia tour will see the band play at Ariake’s SGC Hall in Tokyo on September 30.
Tickets
All tickets for this show, seated and standing, are ¥17,500.
Other concerts in Japan in September 2026
Who else is there to see in September?
- September 9–10: Adrian Sherwood presents Dub Sessions 2026 featuring Nightmares on Wax in Tokyo and Osaka.
November
Some of the heavy hitters include:
Melanie C
November 26¥14,000 – ¥16,000
Ex Theater Roppongi
Pop fans will Wannabe in Roppongi this November for former Spice Girl Melanie C’s first performance in the country since ’99. Chisholm has a new album out this May, her 9th solo effort, entitled Sweat, which has been preceded by three dancefloor-ready tracks, including the perspiration-laden lead single of the same name. This will be her only Japan show on the 25-city world tour.
Tickets
Standing tickets for this show are ¥14,000, seated tickets are ¥16,000. Upgrade options include a Fan Pass and an All Access Experience.
Wolf Alice
November 23–25¥9,900
Toyosu Pitt (Tokyo), Gorilla Hall (Osaka)
Fresh off the back of a Rockin’ On Sonic appearance at Makuhari Messe in January, the UK’s Wolf Alice are heading back to the country for a short run of shows. The band is touring their 2025 album The Clearing , a Mercury Prize nominee and the band’s second consecutive number one album on the UK Albums Chart.
Tickets
Tickets for both shows are standing only, and they’re going for ¥9,900 via the usual outlets.
Iron Maiden
November 24–25¥15,000 – ¥30,000
K Arena Yokohama
Metal veterans Iron Maiden are returning to Japan for their Run For Your Lives tour.
The shows, held over two nights at Yokohama’s K Arena, will see the band — new drummer in tow — perform tracks from way back in their catalog from Iron Maiden to Fear Of The Dark.
Tickets
You can grab tickets from the official tour page. General release sales start from 10 a.m. on April 25.
Frequently asked questions
Let us answer your Japan gig questions.
Can I buy resale tickets if the show is sold out?
We recommend only buying from official resellers. Some bigger ticketing companies, like ePlus and Ticket Pia, will generally announce official resale tickets if they become available. While unofficial resale sites often have tickets available, tour promoters and official ticket agencies typically have policies against them.
I need a Japanese phone number to buy gig tickets online. What should I do?
Check out the Voice Lite SIM/eSIM from Mobal. It gives you a local number and SMS for ¥990 per month.
Why does the ticket price say “1 drink”?
Most shows in Japan, big or small, have a drink ticket policy. This additional cost (usually around ¥500) guarantees bar revenue for the venue and helps to keep costs down for artists and promoters.
Can I buy tickets from overseas?
Larger events and ticketing agencies usually have a separate link or landing page for customers purchasing tickets from outside Japan, but this is not always the case.
What time will the show finish?
Gigs in Japan usually start and finish early. For most live shows, you can expect doors to open around 6 p.m. and the performance to begin around 7 p.m. This means that shows are usually finished before the last train, so attendees can make it home safely.
What is the ticket lottery?
You’ll see this for many big shows and festivals. Basically, lotteries are a way to prevent ticket scalping and website overload when shows go on sale. Allowing lottery entries over days or weeks gives fans enough time to enter the lottery comfortably and apply for a limited number of tickets. Most available tickets will generally get picked up during this period, but those who miss out still have a chance when general sales become available.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. The first version of this post was published in August 2023. Last updated in April 2026 by Patrick Balfe.
