From classics to fan favorites! A catalog of music and BGM to liven up your sports day
Many people struggle with choosing songs for sports day, don’t they?
Here, we introduce perfect tracks for each scene—from classic staples ideal for sports day to upbeat J-pop and Western hits that get everyone excited!
Well-known songs can hype up the crowd, but using the same ones every year can get old…
We’ve curated a selection of tracks to solve that problem.
You’ll find refreshing tunes that make you want to start running and motivational anthems that give you courage.
Use this article as a guide to make your sports day even more fun and exciting!
- Songs that hype up the athlete entrance at school sports festivals
- [Sports Day] Songs for footraces: tracks that make kids want to run [classics & J-pop]
- [Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM!
- [Sports Day] Recommended songs for tug-of-war: powerful BGM that ignites your fighting spirit
- Carefully selected J-pop to liven up sports days and athletic festivals! Also great as entrance songs.
- [March, Foot Races, Dance] Energetic songs and the latest hits to liven up a sports day
- Recommended Songs for Group Gymnastics: A Collection of Tracks to Elevate Your Routine [2026]
- [Sports Day BGM] A selection of classic tunes that liven up the venue
- Top Songs to Hype Up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals [2026]
- Get Fired Up! A Collection of Anime Songs to Hype Up Your Sports Day and Athletic Festival
- [To All Athletes] Inspirational Sports Anthems & Empowering Theme Songs
- [Dance Songs] Recommended for school sports days and athletic festivals! A curated selection of popular tracks that are fun to dance to
- Cheer songs to hype up the sports day! A collection of motivational tracks recommended for kids
Upbeat songs (1–10)
Is youth embarrassing, or is it youth if it’s embarrassing?Ryokushokushakai
An uplifting youth anthem featuring a dynamic melody and a driving, fast-paced sound.
Released by Ryokuoushoku Shakai in July 2024 as the theme song for an ABEMA dating show, it captures the anxieties and aspirations of adolescence and the brilliance of giving your all, expressed through powerful vocals and a grand arrangement with a 40-piece orchestra.
The track is also included on the album “Channel U,” and since its first live performance at Sukima Fes, it has been featured on numerous music programs.
It’s perfect for events like sports days and athletic festivals where you go all out with your friends.
A song that gently supports students living their “only-now” moments to the fullest.
Mela!Ryokushokushakai
It’s a coming-of-age anthem filled with a burning desire to become a hero.
Born from the pure wish to help the precious friends right in front of you, the song vividly portrays the protagonist’s emotions as they overcome doubt and inner conflict to take a step forward.
Included on the June 2020 album “SINGALONG,” this track became Ryokuoushoku Shakai’s signature song.
It’s perfect for sports days and athletic festivals, giving you the courage to carve out your own story with the brightest memories in your heart.
StaRtMrs. GREEN APPLE
This track is packed with a catchy melody and an uplifting message.
The refreshing pop-rock sound and dynamic, well-defined rhythm feel great, and it’s sure to encourage you every time you listen! Even when things don’t go well, it carries a powerful cheer: it’s okay to go back to basics and make a fresh start.
Featured on Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s major-label debut mini-album “Variety,” the song was also used in commercials for Kao Merit and as the theme for Fuji TV’s “Cho Hamaru! Bakusho Chara Parade.” It’s a perfect choice for moments when new challenges begin, such as opening ceremonies or athlete entrances at school sports days.
Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
Let’s hype up the venue with an emotional rock number! This track, chosen as the theme song for the film “Ao-Natsu: Kimi ni Koi Shita 30-Nichi” (Blue Summer: The 30 Days I Fell in Love with You), is by the rock band Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, known for their energetic sound, and was released in 2018 as their seventh single.
School sports days are often associated with the cooler autumn season, but no matter how low the temperature drops, our hearts still burn with passion! It’s a fiery classic that’s perfect for events like these!
Hype Songs (11–20)
Everyone’s a star!Haisukūru Myūjikaru
A hit movie that gained popularity as a Disney Channel Original Movie and later won two Emmy Awards.
With sequels released one after another, it’s a must-see not only for Disney fans.
True to its musical label, the story features plenty of bright, catchy songs.
Among them, the track “We’re All in This Together” has a side-to-side rhythm that evokes a classic feel, and the clapping and other choreography match perfectly.
It would make great background music for fun sports day events like beanbag tosses or giant ball rolling.
FRIENDS!!!imase
Set to a light, breezy melody, this heartwarming coming-of-age song celebrates the importance of friendship.
A groovy rhythm and the gentle vocals of imase, an artist from Gifu Prefecture, weave an exquisite harmony that carefully depicts reunions with friends, the subtle distances between hearts, and the feelings toward an unchanging bond.
Released in February 2025 as the theme song for the collaboration project “Everyone’s Concert” by the live communication app Pococha and Yamaha Corporation, the piece also features a special video with over 120 performers, proposing new ways to forge connections through music.
It’s perfect not only as BGM for school sports festivals and athletic meets, but also as a track to brighten any playlist capturing pages of youth spent with friends.
Vocaloid (11–20)
Many children and students like Vocaloid songs, so using them as entrance/exit or competition BGM would likely make the sports day even more exciting.
There are plenty of Vocaloid tracks with a sense of speed and great rhythm, making them a perfect fit for sports events.
Here, we’ve selected some recommended songs, so please use them as a reference.
Reference article: Get hyped! A collection of Vocaloid songs to energize your sports day and athletic festival
Vocaloid (1–10)
Dance ChinaAtena
A lively China-pop tune! This February 2025 release by Atena features a perfectly synchronized duet between Miku and Teto.
Its message—dance and forget all your worries—matches flawlessly with the bustling, Chinese-style sound! When your spirits are low, listening to this track is sure to lift you up.
Play it as a cheer song at sports days or athletic festivals, and you can dance with friends and get the crowd going!