Summer Sonic 2026

Summer Sonic is back again with 2026 marking its 25th anniversary!

Set in an amazing location overlooking Tokyo Bay, Summer Sonic’s huge arena is host to a wide range of acts spanning every genre. The festival is held simultaneously over three days in Tokyo (Chiba) and Osaka, with acts switching days — so both cities get (mostly) the same lineup.

A day before the headbanging begins, Sonicmania, an unofficial fourth day of Tokyo’s Summer Sonic, will also be held.

If you’d rather get your music fix in the cool(ish) mountain air, you might prefer Fuji Rock in late July, otherwise head to our article on summer music festivals to check your other options this summer.

Summer Sonic 2026 lineup

Summer Sonic’s 25th anniversary 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.

Getting tickets

2026 tickets are not yet on sale, but last year general sales started on May 24 at 10 a.m. In Tokyo, one-day tickets cost ¥20,000 and two-day tickets cost ¥38,000. Pricier Platinum Tickets, which included access to exclusive viewing areas, lounges, cloakrooms, and shuttles, cost ¥34,000.

Osaka tickets were slightly cheaper than Tokyo: ¥18,000 for one day, ¥35,000 for two days, and ¥30,000 for a one-day Platinum Ticket.

Morning ticket for first entry

If you are keen to be front and center for your favorite act, consider purchasing a morning ticket in addition to your general admission to enter before the crowds. Last year, the morning ticket cost ¥3,500 per day and had to be purchased in advance. Tickets are limited, so you’ll first be entered into a lottery to see if you can grab one. The lottery opens after the timetable is released in July.

Picnic boxes were also available inside Zozo Marine Stadium for ¥35,000 per day, accommodating up to five people. They’re small box seats towards the front of the stadium seating, where you can sit and watch the bands or use as a meet-up area for you and your friends.

Resale tickets

Reselling tickets is prohibited on unauthorized websites — e.g., Viagogo — and you may not be allowed in the venue if you have such a ticket.

FAQs: What to expect at Summer Sonic 2026

Here are your questions answered.

What time does Summer Sonic start and end?

At the main festival, doors open at 9 a.m., and most acts will finish around 9:30 p.m. Midnight Sonic on Saturday night starts at around 10 p.m. and runs until around 4 a.m. Sunday morning.

How many stages are at Summer Sonic?

There are six main stages at Summer Sonic, split into two areas. The Zozo Marine Stadium area includes the Marine Stage — this is where the headliners play — and can hold up to 35,000 people sitting and standing — as well as the Beach Stage, right on the seafront.

The Makuhari Messe area includes the Mountain Stage, which can hold 20,000 people; Sonic Stage, for break-out acts; Pacific Stage, for artists from Asia; and Spotify Radar: Early Noise Stage for up-and-coming artists.

What is there to eat and drink?

There are rows and rows of food stalls both inside and out in both areas. As well as dishes from all around the world, there are also spots to grab yourself an alcoholic or soft drink.

Is Summer Sonic suitable for families?

Yes. Preschoolers can enter Summer Sonic for free (one per guardian). There is also usually a Kids’ Club section, complete with a DJ, although details for 2025 are yet to be officially announced. Children are not allowed in the front sections of the stages, and guardians are asked to keep a close watch at all times.

How to get there

Summer Sonic Tokyo is held just outside of Tokyo at both Zozo Marine Stadium and Makuhari Messe (a convention center) in Chiba. Both are within walking distance of each other.

Summer Sonic Osaka is held at Expo ’70 Commemoration Park (Bampaku kinen kōen).

Train from Central Tokyo

For Zozo Marine Stadium/Makuhari Messe in Chiba, the closest station is Kaihin-Makuhari Station. It’s around 40 minutes on the JR Keiyō Line from Tokyo Station and costs ¥580 one way. Take either the local or express — there’s only a 6- or 7-minute difference.

From Kaihin-Makuhari Station, it’s a 7-minute walk to Zozo Marine Stadium.

Shuttle bus between Zozo Marine Stadium and Makuhari Messe

Both areas are around a 10-minute walk from each other, but if you want to save some energy for the sets, then jump on the shuttle bus. It’s free and goes every 10 minutes.

Bus from Central Tokyo

Getting the bus to Summer Sonic isn’t worth it unless you’ve just landed at Haneda Airport. From there, you can take a Limousine Bus directly to Makuhari Bay Town. It takes about an hour and costs ¥1,300. The venue is then a 20-minute walk away.

How to get to Summer Sonic Osaka from Tokyo

If you want to attend the Osaka festival instead, first read how to get from Tokyo to Osaka. Once there, head to Bampakukinenkoen Station on the Osaka Monorail — the closest station to Expo ’70 Commemoration Park. From Umeda Station, it takes around 30 minutes, with a change at either Senrichuo Station or Minami-Ibaraki Station. The venue is around a 9-minute walk away. Find more information in our Summer Sonic Osaka event guide.

Accommodation at Summer Sonic Tokyo

There is no camping at Summer Sonic. It is fairly close to Tokyo, so staying at a hotel in the center and getting the train there and back is your best bet for saving some money.

Alternatively, stay near the venue in Chiba. Hotel New Otani or Hotel Green Tower are good choices.