[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.
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[Graduation Live & Farewell Party] Graduation Songs We Want to Perform as a Band [2026] (71–80)
Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)Green Day
The title “Good Riddance” means something like “I’m relieved that the annoying person is gone,” but in this song it also seems to carry a somewhat wistful nuance.
It’s said to be a staple at American high school and college graduations.
It’s also well-known among fans that during Green Day’s encores, Billie typically sings this song with just an acoustic guitar.
Lost ManBUMP OF CHICKEN
“Lost Man” is a song released in 2003 as the sixth single by BUMP OF CHICKEN, a four-piece band from Chiba Prefecture.
It’s also known for being covered by Bank Band, led by Kazutoshi Sakurai.
The song is about moving forward while holding on to unspoken feelings.
With its sense of resolve, it seems like a perfect fit for occasions such as graduation.
1096Cody Rī (Ri)
Cody・Lee (Li) is a four-piece rock band that made their major debut in 2022 and has been gaining attention for their diverse musicality.
Their 11th digital track, “1096,” features lyrics said to be born from vocalist-guitarist Hibiki Takahashi’s real-life experiences—truly striking, aren’t they? The ensemble, highlighting a melody that is both beautiful and tinged with melancholy and the timbre of the piano, is likely to move listeners’ hearts along with its realistic message.
It’s a lyrical number that’s sure to be a highlight at any graduation live show.
Azure Swimnishina
A song sung by NISHINA that portrays memories with a friend and parting ways.
Her vocals, which seem to convey real pain, leave a strong impression.
It expresses the feeling of moving forward without knowing the right path, and the resolve to keep going even if it means being separated from a friend.
It carries both a sense of poignancy and grandeur, and its distinctive, floating feel also conveys anxiety.
Centered on piano and strings, it has a gentle ambiance, so an acoustic arrangement might work well when performing it with a band.
Even if we forget springaibii karaa
“Even If We Forget Spring” has a sound that appeals across generations and is a perfect love song for graduation scenes.
It’s recommended for those who don’t want to pick a stereotypical “graduation song” and for those who want to enjoy performing while dedicating a piece.
Though people say “spring is the season of partings” and the lyrics are a bit bittersweet, the song’s energetic melody line will make for a lively thank-you party.
Even if the audience doesn’t know the song, they’ll enjoy it if they clap along to the performance.
It’s sure to motivate the band during practice, too.
