music festivals Archives

You're spoiled for choice if you're looking for international concerts in Japan over the next six months. With household names like Post Malone and Bruno Mars and lesser-known artists like Die Spitz, there's something for everyone right into winter. 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. Don't miss: If you like music, make sure to experience a Candlelight Concert in Tokyo -- one of the best cities in the world for it. July 2026 This is what we're doing in July: Future Frequencies Festival July 11–12, 2026 – Mon Takanawa, Tokyo The lineup for the inaugural Future Frequencies Festival pulls from a variety of sonic worlds. The first day's lineup includes London-based DJ and producer Joy Orbison as well as legendary UK electronic outfit The Sabres of Paradise. The night will wrap up with an audiovisual set from Nosaj Thing and Daito Manabe, and recently announced opening artists include Loraine James, Marihiko Hara, and Mount XLR. The second day's activities will feature a headline performance from Knower, the experimental jazz-funk collaboration between solo artists Louis Cole and Genevieve Artadi, and earlier performances from jazz/hip-hop artist Kassa Overall, Hasegawa Hakushi, YPY, and Kei Matsumaru. Note: Knower will also play a side show at Osaka’s Big Cat on July 13. Head to the promoter website for more information. Tickets One- and two-day seated and standing tickets are currently available via Beatink. Fuji Rock Festival July 24 – 26, 2026 TBC 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 Update: As of June 2026, 3-day tickets and 1-day Saturday general admission tickets have officially sold out. Under-22 1-day Saturday passes and under-17 1-day passes have also sold out. Remaining adult tickets include 1-day Friday or Sunday passes or cheaper Friday night tickets. Honne July 21–22, 2026 – 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 July 22 will be the 10th anniversary of their debut release Warm on a Cold Night. Tickets Tickets for both shows are for A seats, for S seats. Other concerts in Japan in July 2026 What else is happening in July? July 6–7: 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 2026 Here's what to check out : Holly Humberstone August 13, 2026 Shibuya Duo Music Exchange England’s Holly Humberstone is doing a special show in Shibuya the night before Summer Sonic gets started in Tokyo and Osaka. The show, part of the festival's Summer Sonic Extra series of gigs, will see Humberstone performing tracks off her latest album Cruel World amongst fan favorites and will be a rare opportunity to see the artist in a mid-size club setting. Tickets Tickets will set you back and go on sale on July 11 via Creative Man. Steve Lacy August 13, 2026 Toyosu Pitt Steve Lacy will also do a Summer Sonic Extra performance on August 13. The artist, best known for the viral track Bad Habit, will head to Toyosu Pitt mere days before the release of his highly anticipated upcoming album Oh Yeah?. Tickets All tickets will be standing tickets and are currently on sale for . Summer Sonic Festival August 14–16, 2026 TBC 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 June 2026 update: For Summer Sonic Tokyo 2026, 3-day tickets, Platinum 3-day tickets, and Platinum 1-day tickets are officially sold out. Only single-day tickets are currently still available. For Summer Sonic Osaka 2026, August 14 and 16 Platinum 1-day tickets are sold out; remaining ticket categories are still on sale. Florence Road August 17, 2026 Daikanyama Space Odd Hailing from Ireland’s County Wicklow, Florence Road will stick around after Summer Sonic for an intimate set at Daikanyama’s Space Odd. Dubbed “the biggest breakout band of 2025," the quartet caught attention with their debut mixtape Fall Back last year and haven’t slowed down since. With performances at SXSW London and The Great Escape already under their belts and a string of festival appearances slated for the rest of the year, we can expect to see a lot more from Flo Ro in Tokyo, but likely at bigger venues. Tickets Tickets are on sale from July 11 for . Flo August 31–September 2, 2026 – Toyosu Pit (Tokyo), Zepp Namba (Osaka) British girl group Flo will return to Japan for a brief jaunt this September. The trio, who have earned comparisons to popular R&B and hip-hop groups of the ‘90s and ‘00s, have kept busy since their breakout 2022 single Cardboard Box with appearances at major festivals like Glastonbury, Coachella, and Summer Sonic, plus numerous industry awards and nominations. With a brand new album due for release on August 7, fans will have plenty of time to memorize their lyrics ahead of the Japan shows. Tickets Tickets for the Tokyo show are for general standing tickets or for the meet-and-greet upgrade. In Osaka, tickets are standing, seated, or for the meet-and-greet upgrade. Other concerts in Japan in August 2026 Some extra options for August: August 16–17: Jon Spencer will head to Club Quattro in Nagoya and Shibuya over two nights. August 17: Ireland's Kodaline will play their last ever Japan show at Spotify O-East in Shibuya. August 18: December 10 will also head to Spotify O-East for a Summer Sonic Extra performance. September 2026 Who's coming in September? Adrian Sherwood Presents Dub Sessions 2026 Feat. Nightmares on Wax September 9–10, 2026 Spotify O-East (Tokyo), Yogibo Meta Valley (Osaka) Sherwood’s Dub Sessions is a long-running live event series known for combining live dub mixing, improvisation, and collaborations between veteran reggae, electronic, and alternative musicians. This year's event will tie in to the 20th anniversary reissue of the Nightmares on Wax album In A Space Outta Sound and a new Sherwood dub reinterpretation titled In A Space Outta Dub. The night will feature performances from both artists. Tickets Tickets for each show are and are currently available via Beatink. The Damned September 17–19, 2026 Gorilla Hall (Osaka), Toyosu Pit (Tokyo) One of London’s most iconic punk bands, The Damned, is bringing its 50th anniversary tour to Japan in September. Having undergone more lineup changes and churning through more bass players than cooked dinners since their inception in 1976, the show will feature original members Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, and Rat Scabies, as well as Paul Gray and Monty Oxymoron. The show comes off the back of the covers album Not Like Everyone Else, released in January, and support artists are set to be announced in the coming months. Tickets Tickets are via Creative Man, both shows are standing. The Weeknd September 19–20, 2026 – 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 19 and 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 Tickets for the September 20 show sold out quickly, so an additional show has been announced for September 19. Tickets range in price from to for general A, S, and S-Reserved seats. There are also fancy options like Silver Seats for , Gold for , and if you're super keen, Platinum for . For that price, though, we hope he personally delivers you a hand-cooked 7-course dinner. Belle and Sebastian September 22–25, 2026 – 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 September 24 and 25 will see them perform Tigermilk and "Sinister" respectively. Tickets Tickets for Bigcat are , all standing. Tickets for the Tokyo shows are for A seats and for S seats. Pub Choir September 24, 2026 Shibuya WWW X Since starting in Brisbane, Australia in 2017, Pub Choir has become an international sensation praised by big-name artists such as Kate Bush, Dolores O’Riordan, Mariah Carey, Radiohead, Kiss, and more. The concept is simple: Astrid Jorgensen, the host, picks a song and teaches it to the crowd over the course of the gig. At the end, the crowd performs the song in three-part harmonies, and leaves with a new skill and life-affirming experience up their respective sleeves. Pub Choir has traveled to cities all over the world, and this September is heading to Japan for the second time, as part of a tour of Asia, the UK and Ireland. Tickets Tickets for the show are available now for ; all tickets are standing. US September 28 and 29, 2026 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 for each show. Avenged Sevenfold September 30, 2026 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 . June update: tickets for this show are now sold out. Other concerts in Japan in September 2026 Who else is there to see in September? September 2: Michigan indie outfit Racing Mount Pleasant perform at Tokyo's Daikanyama Unit. September 14–16: California's Fishbone will play a run of shows in Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo. September 17: English death metal legends Carcass head to Toyosu Pit in Tokyo. October 2026 Some gig options for October: Spacey Jane October 5, 2026 Daikanyama Space Odd Formed in Western Australia in 2016, Spacey Jane achieved breakout success during the pandemic with the success of their single Booster Seat. Last year, they embarked on a successful international tour of Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe, and the UK around their third studio album If That Makes Sense, produced by Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, Wolf Alice, The 1975). With their latest release, the Exit Wounds EP, they’re heading to Japan for their debut show in the country off the back of appearances at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza in the US. Tickets General release tickets are available from July 18 for . Post Malone October 6, 2026 – K Arena Yokohama Post Malone is bringing his Big Ass Stadium Tour to Yokohama this October. The world tour, his first all-stadium jaunt, started in April 2025 and ran through September of last year, with over 45 shows. Part two of the tour kicked off in April of this year and is scheduled to run through to October, with the Japan show currently slated as the tour finalé. The tour is in support of Malone's sixth studio album, F-1 Trillion, which was released in 2024 and marked a transition to country music. Tickets The performance has a bunch of different ticket classes. Basic seated tickets will set you back between and , depending on where you're seated. Basic standing tickets are . There are also Silver, Gold, and Platinum options that come with different perks for , , and , respectively. Final lottery presale finished in early June, and any tickets remaining will be made available via general release from June 20. CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso October 21–22, 2026 – Namba Hatch (Osaka), Toyosu Pit (Tokyo) This autumn will see the first Japanese headline appearances from CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso. The Argentinian duo made a huge splash here in 2025 with their Saturday Green Stage opening set at Fuji Rock Festival. The set, which came off the back of a viral Tiny Desk Concert and other noteworthy international festival slots, was one of the most memorable and well-attended early morning sets the festival has seen in a while. And, anyone who was able to make their late-night appearance at Crystal Palace that night was part of Fuji Rock history. Now, the duo is returning for two huge debut headline performances at Osaka's Namba Hatch and Tokyo's Toyosu Pit. Tickets Tickets for the Tokyo show are now sold out, except for VIP standing meet-and-greet tickets, which are . The Osaka show only has standing tickets remaining, which are . Those who missed out on tickets should keep an eye out for additional shows or official resale announcements. Night Tempo October 29–November 23, 2026 – All over Japan Night Tempo is one of the biggest names to come out of the city pop revival of the last 10 years. One of the leading figures of the future funk scene, his early remixes of ‘70s and ‘80s city pop classics from artists like Maria Takeuchi and Wink have earned him a global fanbase and appearances at major festivals all over the world. With a new album on the way, the 2026 Showa Groove tour will be one of his biggest in the country yet, including first-time appearances in Oita and Kanazawa. Tickets Advance tickets for all shows are except the Tokyo performance, which costs . The first round of presales is available until July 12. The second round will run from July 17 to 27; any remaining general release tickets will be made available after that on a first-come, first-served basis. Other concerts in Japan in October 2026 Some other peeps to check out in October: October 13: London jazz quintet Ezra Collective will play their debut Japan headliner at Toyosu Pit in Tokyo. November 2026 Some of the heavy hitters include: Death Cab for Cutie November 8–9, 2026 Matsushita IMP Hall (Osaka), Toyosu Pit (Tokyo) Death Cab for Cutie are celebrating the release of their 11th studio album with a trip to Japan this November. The album, entitled I Built You a Tower, came together during the 20th anniversaries of Transatlantism and Plans and marks their first release with indie label Anti-. Now almost 30 years into their career as a band, this will be one of their first headline tours in over a decade and will be their first in the country since they performed on a rainy yet full White Stage at Fuji Rock in 2019. Tickets Tickets are via Creative Man, both shows are standing. Jason Mraz November 10–11, 2026 – Tokyo Garden Theater, Festival Hall, Osaka Multi Grammy Award-winning artist Jason Mraz will make some stops in Japan on his Asia tour this November. The stops, happening at Garden Theater in Tokyo and Festival Hall in Osaka, will be the artist's first in the country in seven years and are set to feature classics from his roughly 25-year back catalog, as well as newer material released this year. Tickets Both shows have A, S, and SS seated ticket categories going for , , and respectively. 5 Seconds of Summer November 21–22, 2026 – SGC Hall Ariake (Tokyo) Unless you've come down with Amnesia some time in the last 12 years, chances are you know at least one track from Australian pop-rock outfit 5 Seconds of Summer. Since 2012, they've accumulated numerous global music awards, billions of streams, and even a "Net Worth" stem on their Wikipedia page. Now, with a new album under their belts, they're making their way back to Japan this November on their Everyone's A Star! world tour. The album, the group's sixth, has received positive reviews from outlets like Kerrang and Rolling Stone Australia and will see them play 89 shows, wrapping up in Tokyo on November 21 and 22. Tickets Tickets are – for A and S seats, for General standing, and for Gold standing. Various VIP upgrades are also available. General sales start on June 13. June 15 update: As predicted, dates for the November 21 show sold out quickly, a second show has been announced at SGC Hall for November 22. Wolf Alice November 23–25, 2026 Toyosu Pit (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 via the usual outlets. Iron Maiden November 24–25, 2026 – 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. Melanie C November 26, 2026 – 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 , seated tickets are . Upgrade options include a Fan Pass and an All Access Experience. Two Door Cinema Club November 30, 2026 – SGC Hall Ariake (Tokyo), Diamond Hall (Nagoya), Zepp Osaka Bayside Northern Irish indie outfit Two Door Cinema Club are celebrating 15 spins around the sun. It's been a big decade and a half for the three-piece, with their debut album rocketing them to festival stages around the world and netting them a devoted following of indie fans. Since then, they've gone on to release four more albums and, more recently, sold out massive tours of the US and Australia. These will be their first headline shows in the country in seven years. Tickets The Tokyo show has seated tickets for – and standing tickets for . The Nagoya show has standing tix only for . The Osaka show has first-floor standing tickets for and second-floor seated tickets for . Tickets for all shows are on sale now via Creative Man. December 2026 Here's who to catch in December: Evanescence December 2–4, 2026 – SGC Hall Ariake (Tokyo), Zepp Osaka Bayside Evanescence will wake us up inside (save me!) when they hit the stage in Japan this December. The Arkansas five-piece will head to the newly built SGC Hall in Tokyo and Zepp Osaka Bayside to promote their sixth studio album. The latest album, entitled Sanctuary, features the track Afterlife from the soundtrack for Netflix's Devil May Cry and is their first album to feature Australian bassist Emma Anzai. Tickets Tickets for the Tokyo show go for seated or standing, the Osaka show has first-floor standing tickets for or second-floor seated tix for . Die Spitz December 14, 2026 Daikanyama Space Odd (Tokyo) One of the buzziest bands of 2026, Die Spitz, is making their first trip to Japan this December. Having caught attention with their earlier EPs Revenge of Evangeline and Teeth, the release of their debut album Something to Consume last year solidified their status as ones to watch. This will definitely be your last chance to catch them at a venue of this size in Japan. Tickets Tickets are via Creative Man and will likely sell out before doors. A Perfect Circle December 15–17, 2026 – Zepp DiverCity Tokyo, Zepp Osaka Bayside A Perfect Circle are performing a couple of cheeky shows here in December with a new track under their belts. The famously sporadic music project of Maynard James Keenan and Billy Howerdel picked things up again in 2024 after about six years of inactivity with a new track. The track, released on a gloriously niche split EP with themselves, Puscifer, and Primus, also saw the return of drummer (more recently of Foo Fighters) to the band after about 10 years of absence. The show will be opened by Puscifer, which also features Keenan on lead vocals. Tickets Standing tickets for both shows will set you back , seated tickets are going for . Tickets are on sale from June 13 via the official tour site. January 2027 Here's who to catch in January: Bruno Mars January 4–28, 2027 – Nagoya, Sapporo, Saitama, Osaka, Fukuoka, Tokyo Just the way you are -- or all dressed up in 24K magic -- this is one for the calendar. Bruno Mars is heading back to Japan in January 2027 for The Romantic Tour in Japan, a six-city dome tour with 12 shows across Nagoya, Sapporo, Saitama, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Tokyo. The Tokyo dates take place at Tokyo Dome on January 27–28, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and the show starting at 7 p.m. Tickets Tickets for all shows start from , and the official pre-sale lottery starts on June 29, 2026, via Live Nation. 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 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 ) 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 June 2026 by Patrick Balfe.

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