Songs to Play at the End of 2026! A Roundup of New Year’s Eve and Winter J‑Pop
The year that felt both long and short is already coming to an end.
From around the time Christmas passes, you really start to sense that the year is winding down, don’t you?
And as we reach the year’s end, a variety of music programs and events take place, starting with the Red and White Song Battle on New Year’s Eve.
Every year, I bet a lot of people ring in the New Year while listening to music.
With that in mind, this article rounds up a bunch of songs perfect for the end of the year, including tracks about New Year’s Eve and classic winter tunes.
It’s a playlist you can enjoy on your own to reflect on the past year, or throw on with everyone to hype up the countdown.
- A classic that evokes the year’s end. Looking back on the year through music [Just a little left of this year!]
- [2026] Karaoke songs to sing on New Year’s Eve: classic and popular Japanese hits
- [Songs to Listen to in December] J-POP and Christmas Songs that Feel Like Winter [2026]
- Popular Winter Songs Ranking [2026]
- Masterpieces to Listen to in January: New Year-Themed, New Year-Ready, and Winter Songs
- [Winter Songs] The Best Classic and Popular Winter Tunes to Listen to in Winter
- [New Year’s Songs] Timeless classics and popular New Year tunes you’ll want to listen to at the start of the year
- Winter Songs: Classic tracks you want to listen to in winter. Songs you long for during the winter.
- Winter songs you'll want to listen to in the cold season! Recommended for the yutori generation
- Winter songs in 90s J-pop: a roundup of popular winter tunes
- [For Seniors] Beloved songs to sing in December: heartwarming moments with nostalgic kayōkyoku and children’s songs
- [For Seniors] Winter songs you'll want to hum along to. A collection of classic tunes recommended for BGM and recreational activities
- I want to hear more than just the classics! Hidden gems of winter songs
[2026] Songs to Hear at Year’s End! New Year’s Eve/Year-End Songs and Winter J‑Pop Roundup (41–50)
broad daylightKing Gnu
King Gnu is a four-piece crossover band.
Their song “Hakujitsu” is perfect for the snowy season.
It starts quietly with a high, husky vocal, then surges into a powerful band sound in the chorus—the contrast with the melancholic lyrics is really cool.
It portrays the struggles of people who keep living despite life’s hardships.
It’s a track I want people to hear as they endure winter and wait for spring.
[2026] Songs to Hear at Year’s End! A Roundup of New Year’s Eve and Winter J‑Pop (51–60)
White LoveSPEED
A signature song by SPEED, the popular group that sprang from the Okinawa Actors School, which also produced stars like Namie Amuro and MAX.
With this track, SPEED swept numerous awards and instantly became a charismatic presence among teens.
Eriko Imai—now a member of parliament—was one of the members.
Back then, fans loved to debate which of the twin vocalists they preferred, Eriko or Hiroko—much like how people split into Seiko Matsuda vs.
Akina Nakamori camps.
The lyric “In the sky where snow flutters, our meeting was no coincidence” also evokes a touch of the holy night.
A highly recommended song to sing at year-end parties!
The Promised DecemberSaitō Kazuyoshi
This is a song included on Kazuyoshi Saito’s 26th single, released in 2004.
It’s said to be Saito’s first Christmas song, and from the very beginning the lyrics use many words that evoke Christmas.
The song progresses by looking back on how the relationship with a loved one changed—recalling what it was like in each month.
Carried by a quiet melody that can feel a bit anguished, it belts out with all its strength the tender feelings for a precious person that were rediscovered in December.
DearNishino Kana
This is the eighth single by singer Kana Nishino, whose lyrics—hugely supported by women—and catchy melodies earned her widespread popularity.
Although she has been on an indefinite hiatus since 2019, this track was selected as the official song for NTT Docomo’s “Hang in There, Exam Students ’09–’10.” Its poignant melody, carried by digital beats and an emotional arrangement, aligns perfectly with the lyrics.
During the year-end season, when everyone is busy, that intensified longing for someone is something many can relate to.
It’s a love song that any woman in love is sure to empathize with—feelings overflow even as the heart tries to hold back.
New Year’s DayELLEGARDEN
It’s a song by ELLEGARDEN that seems to express a strong hope for the year ahead.
The straight, high-energy band sound is striking, as if sprinting full speed toward the future.
As it looks back on the year, it also feels like it reflects on one’s life up to now.
The lyrics, which directly reach the heart, portray unchanging feelings amid change—this is a key point.
It’s a track that conveys a power that calls out, “The coming year will surely be a fun one.”
~asterisk~ORANGE RANGE
If you’re an anime fan, you might already know this song.
It’s the opening theme of the anime BLEACH, based on the Weekly Shonen Jump manga.
The track is by ORANGE RANGE, a mixed-genre rock band from Okinawa, and it was released in 2005 as their ninth single.
Its gradually intensifying arrangement and catchy melody line leave a strong impression.
Listening to it makes you want to sing it at karaoke—when you do, be sure to picture a starry sky.
Rock ‘n’ roll drummers love cleaning.Gita Panda
An artist who made his major-label debut at 24 and is now expanding his fan base while producing albums for various musicians, Guitar Panda.
The track “Rock ’n’ Roll Drummers Love Cleaning,” included on his 8th album, Guitar Panda’s Rock ’n’ Roll Pandemic, features irresistibly catchy phrases that stick in your head.
Its cleaning-themed lyrics are likely to evoke the year-end atmosphere familiar to people in Japan.
It’s a catchy pop tune that also makes you rethink your relationship with cleaning.