[March, Foot Races, Dance] Energetic songs and the latest hits to liven up a sports day
When it comes to sports day music, many people might think of classical pieces like ‘Orpheus in the Underworld’ (Infernal Galop from ‘Orpheus in the Underworld’).
However, in recent years, more schools have been using pop songs and anime tracks as background music in addition to the classic staples, making the selection more diverse.
In this article, we’ll introduce lively songs that perfectly match the sports day atmosphere—not only long-standing classics but also popular J-POP tunes among elementary and middle school students.
Use this as a reference for your playlist!
- [Sports Day] Songs for footraces: tracks that make kids want to run [classics & J-pop]
- Songs that hype up the athlete entrance at school sports festivals
- [Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM!
- [Dance Songs] Recommended for school sports days and athletic festivals! A curated selection of popular tracks that are fun to dance to
- From classics to fan favorites! A catalog of music and BGM to liven up your sports day
- Top Songs to Hype Up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals [2026]
- Carefully selected J-pop to liven up sports days and athletic festivals! Also great as entrance songs.
- [March] Carefully selected popular songs recommended for entrance and exit at sports days and athletic festivals!
- Popular songs recommended for nursery school sports days! A roundup of classic crowd-pleasers and the latest hits
- Recommended exit songs for sports day: A collection of tracks that are perfect for a brisk, quick-march exit.
- Cheer songs to hype up the sports day! A collection of motivational tracks recommended for kids
- Get Fired Up! A Collection of Anime Songs to Hype Up Your Sports Day and Athletic Festival
- Perfect for sports day parachute routines! Recommended J-pop songs
[Marching, Races, Dance] Lively Songs and Latest Tracks to Energize Your Sports Day (81–90)
poofKing Gnu
From the intro’s “I wonder what’s about to start?” to the upbeat melody that kicks in, this feels perfect for kicking off an event.
It’s a wonderful track that suits anything—dance performances, sprints, even group gymnastics.
Since it’s a trendy song, it’s sure to get the participants hyped.
I think it’s a choice you can’t go wrong with.
The rhythm naturally gets your body moving.
It conjures up a fun sports day or athletic festival, and it would be great to create that joyful time together with this song.
Highly recommended.
CarnivalMAZZEL
It’s an up-tempo tune whose exhilarating melody and hype-inducing rap will grab your heart! Released in October 2023, it’s the perfect cheer song for a school sports day.
The relentless, full-throttle drive feels amazing—especially a just-right fit for sprinting events where you dash at full speed! Brimming with energy and positivity, it’s sure to fire up any scene at a sports day or athletic festival.
While this track isn’t tied to an anime, we recommend learning and showing off MAZZEL’s signature sharp choreography, which is a big part of their appeal.
IllusionMY FIRST STORY × HYDE
This collaborative track by MY FIRST STORY and HYDE features a fiery, fast-paced rock sound.
Created as the opening theme for the Hashira Training Arc of the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, the song was digitally released on May 13, 2024.
Its lyrics strikingly delve into the core of the story, exploring the characters’ inner struggles and emotions, vividly portraying the conflict between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons, as well as sorrow and anger.
The powerful vocals and energetic sound make it a perfect fit for a school sports day where kids are giving it their all.
Make you happyNiziU
Born from the audition project Nizi Project, the idol group NiziU could very well be called the most talked-about idol group right now! They bill themselves as a global group and have drawn a lot of attention worldwide.
I’m sure all students of the younger generation know them! So, how about dancing to one of their songs? Of course, I think their music is also perfect as BGM for other competitions!
Sora-buneTOKIO
TOKIO is a three-member idol group that pioneered the new genre of “farmwork idols,” and is also known for their high-level performance skills and songwriting.
Their 35th single ‘Sorafune,’ released as a double A-side with ‘do! do! do!,’ was used as the theme song for the TV drama ‘My Boss My Hero.’ Its powerful vocals and catchy ensemble make a striking impact that grabs your ears even in the middle of a school sports day event.
The lyrics’ message also lifts your spirits—it’s a classic from years past.
The world calls it love.Sambomasutā
Sambomaster is a three-piece rock band whose trademarks are message-driven lyrics and a punk sound filled with shouts.
Their fifth single, “Sekai wa Sore o Ai to Yobun da ze,” written as the ending theme for the TV drama Densha Otoko, is a number often performed at wedding receptions thanks to its straightforward message.
The soul-stirring vocals ignite participants’ fighting spirit even at school sports festivals.
It’s a fiery rock tune whose powerful ensemble energizes any event.
[Marching, Footraces, and Dance] Energetic Songs and the Newest Tracks to Liven Up Sports Day (91–100)
Csikos PostHeruman Nekke
This is a staple tune for sports days—the kind of piece many people feel they’ve heard before even if they don’t know its title! As you listen, it’s like your feelings get more and more hurried.
That sense of urgency and tension is perfect for competition BGM! You can almost hear the classic sports day announcement: “Red Team is in first place!! White Team, keep it up!!” It’s ideal not only for running events but also for heated team battles like the ball toss or the giant ball roll.