[Youth Anthems] A curated selection of popular and latest songs to hype up your school cultural festival
Many people look forward to the once-a-year cultural and school festivals! For students, they’re probably a big event that decorates an important page of their youth.
Music is indispensable in many moments at cultural and school festivals—venue BGM, theme songs, stage performances, dance, and other acts.
In this article, we’ll introduce perfect youth-themed songs for various scenes that brighten up your event.
Find wonderful tracks that will make your youth shine even brighter.
- Youthful songs recommended as theme songs and openings for cultural and school festivals
- Popular band songs that hype up cultural and school festivals & recommended latest hit songs
- [Uplifting Songs] A curated selection of popular and latest tracks to energize your school cultural festivals!
- [Guaranteed to resonate!] Youth songs that strike a chord with teens. Recommended coming-of-age tracks.
- A friendship song that fires up the culture festival/school festival
- Fun and exciting! Dance songs that hype up cultural and school festivals [2026]
- An uplifting, moving song to liven up the school festival—one that will be etched into your memories.
- A youth song with great lyrics. A lovely message that stays with your heart.
- Dance/popular songs ranking for the school cultural festival
- A roundup of youth-themed songs recommended for high school students
- [For School Culture Festivals] A Selection of Hype Dance Tracks [2026]
- [Clubs, Friendship, Romance] Youth songs middle schoolers should listen to
- [Culture and School Festival Songs] A curated selection of popular and hit songs to brighten up your venues and events!
[Youth Songs] Carefully Selected Popular and Latest Tracks to Hype Up School Culture Festivals (111–120)
Start to shine and run forwardSambomasutā
It’s a cheer song brimming with youthful passion and hope.
It portrays a protagonist who carries deep pain in their heart and feels on the verge of losing themselves, yet by accepting that suffering, the work gives them the courage to take a new step forward.
Released by Sambomaster in August 2018, the track was chosen as the theme song for the TBS Friday drama “Cheer☆Dan,” and, alongside the story of high school students striving to conquer the United States, left a lasting impression on many viewers.
This piece is also perfect as background music for school sports days and athletic festivals, gently supporting students who give their all and sweat it out together with their friends.
Let’s give it a tryWANIMA
“I’ll give you the courage to move forward!” This warm message resonates in this uplifting anthem.
Set to a bright and refreshing melody, it carries a positive spirit that says we can overcome difficulties together.
WANIMA’s powerful performance and the lyrics that gently nudge you to face forward are truly compelling.
Airing from January 2017 in au’s Santarō series commercials and included on the album “Everybody!!,” this song is a fantastic choice for school events—band performances at culture festivals or live shows, choir, sports days—any moment where you take on a challenge with friends and unite as one.
Sing it together and get fired up—it’s sure to become an unforgettable memory!
It doesn’t meltmakaroni enpitsu
School festivals and cultural festivals are fun no matter what.
But those fun times pass in the blink of an eye, don’t they? That’s why I want to introduce “Tokenai” (“Won’t Melt”).
It’s a song Macaroni Empitsu wrote as a tie-in with Seventeen Ice.
The lyrics capture both the joy and beauty of youth and the loneliness of how quickly it slips away.
And precisely because of that, it encourages us to enjoy the present with our friends.
Wouldn’t it be lovely to listen to it toward the end of your school or cultural festival?
Merry LouSIX LOUNGE
This song feels like a snapshot of bittersweet youth.
The lyrics, where sweet-and-sour first love and loneliness intersect, beautifully capture the emotional instability of school days.
Released in November 2015, it’s the band’s milestone first single, three years after their formation.
The groove-filled performance and earnest vocals really strike a chord.
It’s perfect for a passionate set at a school or cultural festival.
It will surely speak directly to teenagers struggling with love.
Sing it with your friends and make some wonderful memories!
Make up your mind!Sabasusutā
Sabashistar’s track is a memorable song with lyrics filled with deep emotion.
Centered on themes of inner conflict and the resolve to choose one’s path, it brilliantly captures the complex feelings experienced during youth and growth.
It’s included on their first full-length major debut album, “Make Up Your Mind!” released in March 2024.
The album was released in three formats, including a CD+DVD edition and a Tower Records–exclusive set with slippers.
It’s a perfect pick for anyone who wants to play straightforward rock ’n’ roll without unnecessary frills.
It’s sure to get the crowd going as background music for school festivals and cultural events!
Liberated zoneASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
A track defined by its searing, intense sound and lyrics that hit straight to the heart.
Set against backdrops of sunset-lit skyscrapers and the bustle of factory districts, it portrays the loneliness of modern society and a yearning for liberation.
Released in May 2019, it was also chosen as the official support song for Fujieda MYFC.
At ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION’s concerts, it’s a fan favorite that brings the show to a climactic close.
Play it on a culture festival or school festival stage, and the whole venue is sure to come together in excitement.
It’s bound to resonate powerfully with teens and people in their twenties in the midst of their youth.
youth↑THE HIGH-LOWS↓
This song by THE HIGH-LOWS, the undisputed legends of Japan’s punk scene, was also used as the theme for the 2000 TV drama “Legendary Teacher.” It’s an uplifting youth anthem marked by Hiroto Kōmoto’s biting lyrics, passionate and melodic guitar, and a breezy eight-beat groove.
Masatoshi Mashima’s guitar bends are especially cool.
Listening to the lyrics brings scenes of youth vividly to mind.
Let’s play this track as the BGM for the school festival!