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[Graduation Live & Farewell Concert] Graduation Songs You’ll Want to Play with Your Band [2026]
For students in bands, many of you probably perform live around graduation time—at events like graduation thank-you parties, graduation live shows, or farewell gigs for departing members.
Of course, it’s great to play those memorable songs you performed many times while in school.
But since it’s a special occasion, a lot of you might be thinking about playing songs that fit the graduation theme!
Still, it’s not always easy to come up with graduation-themed songs…
So in this article, we’ll introduce plenty of popular graduation songs that are perfect for band performances.
We’ve selected not only band songs, but also singer-songwriter tracks that would work well with a band setup, so feel free to use this as a reference for choosing your setlist.
[Graduation Live / Farewell Party] Graduation Songs You’ll Want to Play with Your Band [2026] (1–10)
rainbowELLEGARDEN
This is a song by ELLEGARDEN, a four-piece rock band known for their talent, with each member also active in other bands.
It’s a track from their April 2005 album “RIOT ON THE GRILL,” and among their many fast-paced songs, this one stands out for its warm, mid-tempo feel.
The lyrics depict someone who keeps staring at their feet and ends up missing what’s truly important, yet still finds the moment to lift their head and start walking forward.
It’s perfect for the graduation season, when people take new steps while carrying doubts and anxieties.
Rather than hyping things up, it has a quiet strength that seeps into the listener’s heart.
It’s an emotional rock tune you’ll want to add to a graduation live setlist—one that gently looks back on days with friends and gives a soft push toward the future that’s about to begin.
The season of farewellSHISHAMO
This is a song I’d love to have current students perform rather than the graduates.
And ideally, I want a girl who’s secretly had a crush on an older student to sing it! The lyrics capture those feelings for a senior who’s about to graduate, expressed in SHISHAMO’s signature, unadorned, down-to-earth style.
It’s super cute and guaranteed to make your heart skip a beat.
At the same time, the track itself has a surprisingly bright and lively vibe, so it’s great for hyping up a live show.
If there’s a chance for current students to perform at a graduation concert, definitely consider this one!
C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h.ONE OK ROCK
Graduation is also a time to look back on the path you’ve walked so far.
With that in mind, how about this epic rock ballad? It’s a song by the popular rock band ONE OK ROCK, who are active internationally, included on their fifth album, “Zankyo Reference,” released in 2011.
The song was written with the members’ friends in mind, and the lyrics convey their straightforward feelings for them.
It makes you wonder who that kind of person is for you, doesn’t it? I’d love to hear it performed with high energy.
Farewell, YouthChatto Monchī
Chatmonchy formed in 2000 and disbanded in 2018.
While many teachers say they were “that generation,” there are probably plenty of fans among today’s students as well.
“Saraba Seishun” is a song that honestly expresses the feelings of the day before graduation.
Its simple lyrics vividly evoke scenes and are full of moments that really hit home.
As the song progresses, the lyrics—singing about realizing that every day up until now was special—might even bring you to tears.
It’s also recommended as a piece to perform while playing various instruments and experimenting with the arrangement.
CorrectRADWIMPS
This is a song by RADWIMPS released in 2018.
It sings about the struggles and joys we experience in school life and with friends.
Students will surely be able to sing it with their own feelings, as it’s a song with many relatable points.
We were taught that there are always answers, yet there are none for the things we truly want to know.
With lyrics like that and a beautiful melody, if it’s sung at a thank-you ceremony, there won’t be a dry eye in the house.
May the future be a good one.
It’s a song that makes you want to cheer on the students in the days ahead.
SignalWANIMA
This song by WANIMA, a three-piece rock band from Kumamoto Prefecture, features piercing high-tone vocals and a driving, exhilarating sound that stirs the heart.
It was included on their major-label first full album, “Everybody!!,” released in 2018, and was also used in a Lotte “Sou” commercial.
Written for NHK’s large-scale project “18 Fes,” the track calls out to move forward together—even if we’re not perfect—while carrying everyday anxieties and doubts, making it a true youth anthem.
At live shows, the moments when the entire venue becomes one through clapping and call-and-response are especially captivating.
It’s a rock tune perfect for graduation concerts or farewell parties, gently giving graduates the push they need to take a new step forward.
Youth and a momentmakaroni enpitsu
Macaroni Enpitsu is a rock band wildly popular among younger generations.
Among their songs, “Seishun to Isshun” (Youth and a Moment) is perfect for a graduation live show with a youth theme.
It features a medium-tempo band sound with a distinctly emotional vibe.
Many students will likely relate to the lyrics, which depict struggling through days that don’t go as planned.
While the performance itself is straightforward, the song really tests the band’s overall sense of groove.
Try performing this rock number—great for graduates to send to current students, or for underclassmen to dedicate to their seniors.
