[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, Footraces, Dance] Energetic Songs and the Latest Tracks to Liven Up Sports Day (191–200)
Kaiju no Hanabuta (Monster’s Flower Song)Vaundy
Vaundy’s song resonates with the heart through its energetic melody and striking lyrics.
It was released in May 2020 and is included on the album “strobo.” The track was also featured in a Maruha Nichiro commercial.
Crafted with live performances in mind, it became a symbolic anthem that helped people push through the COVID-19 pandemic.
With an uptempo, rock-based sound and a call-and-response structure that’s fun to engage with, it’s perfect for flag dances at school sports festivals.
When this song plays, it’s sure to bring everyone together and ignite the crowd.
together; along with; bothWANIMA
An upbeat WANIMA track packed with passion and powerful musical energy! Chosen in 2017 as the theme song for a project focused on recovery from the Kumamoto Earthquake, this piece is included on the 2016 single “JUICE UP!!”.
The lyrics, filled with love for their hometown and a message of support, inspire courage and hope in the face of hardship.
The exhilarating, fast-paced melody and KENTA’s powerful vocals will lift your spirits.
If it plays at a school sports day or athletic festival, it’ll make everyone want to sprint their hardest! It’s also a fantastic hype song for cheering—sing it together and you’ll feel a real sense of unity.
A perfect, high-energy tune to color a page of youth—ideal for any sports day!
NEW DANCEXG
A song that celebrates the joy of having fun freely, carried by the exhilarating rhythm of dance-pop.
It’s a track by the seven-member girl group XG, released in August 2023.
It served as the lead single from their first mini album, “NEW DNA.” With a bright, party-ready vibe and a message that values self-expression, it’s perfect for events where everyone wants to let loose, like school festivals or sports days.
The lively lyrics capture the excitement of learning a new dance, and if you dance with your friends, it’ll surely become an unforgettable memory!
idolYOASOBI
It’s a track marked by an unstoppable sense of speed and a melody that grabs your heart.
Tied in with an anime, it made a big splash as soon as it was released in April 2023.
The lyrics, which portray the inner conflict between the front and back sides of being an idol, leave a deep impression on listeners.
Packed with everything that makes YOASOBI so compelling, this song is perfect for a flag dance at a school sports day.
Combined with its 166 BPM tempo, it’s sure to energize the entire venue.
Dance together and it’s bound to become a lasting memory.
A highly recommended song for anyone who wants to unite feelings through music.
[March, Sprint, Dance] Energetic songs and the latest tracks to liven up the sports day (201–210)
primary colorsYOASOBI
YOASOBI’s “RGB,” with its glamorous melody, seems perfect for livening up a sports day both as a dance track and as an entrance march.
Released digitally in 2021, the song was created based on Yuichiro Komikado’s novel RGB.
How about choreographing an original dance to its sparkling, catchy tune that will get your body moving? And if you play it as an entrance march, it will help build an exciting atmosphere for the events to come.
Don’t give upZARD
Triggered by its use on the 24-Hour Television program, this masterpiece established itself as a staple not only for marathon cheers but also as a go-to sports anthem.
The simple phrase in the title, “Don’t Give Up,” is sure to fire up students who are giving their all in competition.
While the song has a distinctly ’90s J-pop vibe, it continues to be loved across generations, and it will no doubt create moving moments at any school sports day.
Dokimeki Diaryasmi feat. Chinozo
An upbeat tune with a driving melody and asmi’s captivating vocals that really hit home! Released in April 2023, it was chosen as the opening theme for the anime Pokémon and has become a big favorite with kids.
The lyrics, which capture small everyday discoveries and shifting emotions, are filled with the joy of finding a new you.
It’s a perfect, energetic pick for an exit scene at a school sports day.
It’ll lift your spirits and bring smiles all around, so it’s highly recommended for everyone to enjoy together!