[2026] Curated J-POP to Energize Sports Days and Athletic Festivals! Also Great as Entrance Music
Music is essential for staging a successful sports day or school athletics festival.
You might find yourself thinking, “I want to pick songs that will hype up this once-a-year sports celebration!” or “What tracks will boost participants’ motivation and get the audience excited too?”
In this article, we’ve gathered the perfect songs for background music and entrance scenes at sports days and athletics festivals.
From tracks that fire you up to songs that gently encourage, you’ll find plenty of pieces that work in all kinds of moments.
Let moving music set the stage for an unforgettable event.
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[2026] Carefully selected J-POP to energize sports days and athletic festivals! Also recommended as entrance songs (111–120)
MORNIING SUNEXILE B HAPPY
Like refreshing morning light pouring in, EXILE B HAPPY’s song brightens the heart.
It was released digitally first in January 2024, followed by a CD release in May of the same year.
This pop song carries a positive message, themed around everyday happiness and a forward-looking start.
The lyrics, set to a bright and catchy melody, celebrate the beginning of a new day and will have you humming along before you know it! Whether you’re facing a challenge or feeling anxious, listening to this track is sure to lift your spirits.
It would also be perfect as an entrance song for a sports day or athletic festival, boosting participants’ energy and creating a fun atmosphere!
[2026] Carefully selected J-POP to amp up your sports day and athletic festival! Also great as entrance songs (121–130)
GO!!!FLOW
How about an upbeat, feel-good band sound? This is a smash hit from FLOW, a rock band with catchy melodies loved by people of all ages.
It’s a motivational anthem with a message: even when faced with difficulties and obstacles, keep challenging yourself.
If this is the BGM, everyone’s hype will skyrocket.
My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoRADWIMPS
This song was produced as an insert track for the anime film Your Name, which became a massive hit across society.
It’s also one of RADWIMPS’s signature songs and is popular among people who perform wotagei.
Since it’s a song everyone knows, it’s sure to liven up a school sports day or athletic festival.
Its up-tempo feel makes it perfect as background music for races or scavenger hunts.
If your school runs entrances and exits at a jogging pace, it could also be very handy as a “transition BGM” between events.
If you use it for a cheering battle, it might be fun to perfectly copy the wotagei routine!
Z Legend ~The Fanfare Won’t Stop~Momoiro Kurōbā Zetto
As fanfares resound, the athletes make their entrance with burning passion in their hearts.
The perfect song to color such a scene was performed by Momoiro Clover Z.
Also featured in a Tokyo Joypolis commercial, it powerfully sings about the importance of teamwork.
Reworked after Momoka Ariyasu’s graduation in 2018, this track is included on the album “Momo mo Jū, Bancha mo Debana.” Its lyrics, depicting the courage to face difficulties and the strength of unity, are sure to give a strong boost to those taking part in sports days and athletic festivals.
It would also work well as background music for group gymnastics.
It’s a warm, encouraging song that cheers on athletes as they come together as one to perform.
SUPREMACYHatsuboshi Gakuen
Hatsuboshi Academy, which debuted in the idol training game “Gakuen Idolmaster.” Released as a class song by Year 1, Class 1, this number features an irresistible aggressive rock sound with hints of traditional Japanese melodies.
Its lyrics, which sing of an unwavering focus on the very top and a thirst for absolute victory, ignite the listener’s fighting spirit.
The track was unveiled in August as the official song for the real-world event “Class Showdown: Hatsuboshi Grand Sports Festival,” to be held in September 2025, and is included on the compilation CD “Class Showdown: Hatsuboshi Grand Sports Festival SONG COLLECTION.” Put it on when you need to fire yourself up, and it will give you the courage to take that final step.
No.1DISH//
A guitar-rock tune that powerfully resonates with a message of charging straight toward your goals with an unwavering heart! Released by DISH// in May 2021, this track stands out with its exhilarating piano and edgy guitar sound.
It embodies a strong will to keep moving toward the light of hope without losing sight of your destination, along with a determination to live authentically without making excuses.
Chosen as the opening theme for the first cour of Season 5 of the TV anime My Hero Academia, it won strong support from anime fans as well.
It’s a powerful cheering song you’ll want to hear when you need the courage to face forward—before an important match, in moments of anxiety, or anytime you’re preparing your heart for what’s ahead.
OLA!!yuzu
This song was chosen as the theme for the movie Crayon Shin-chan: My Moving Story – Cactus Large Attack.
It was released in 2015 as Yuzu’s 42nd single.
Its bright, upbeat tone is definitely perfect for a school sports day.
