[2026] Graduate with a Smile! Recommended Uplifting Graduation Songs
When it comes to graduation ceremonies, solemn, tear-jerking songs are wonderful—but celebrating the send-off with bright, upbeat tunes can make for a special memory, too.
Up-tempo, positive graduation songs are perfect for a hopeful new beginning.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of cheerful graduation songs to liven up your ceremony! From warm tracks that sing of gratitude and friendship to songs that powerfully encourage that first step forward, we’ve gathered a variety of styles.
You’re sure to find the perfect song for a smile-filled graduation send-off.
- [Danceable!] Recommended Dance Songs to Liven Up Graduation Ceremonies and Thank-You Parties
- [For Graduates] Graduation Songs and Cheer Anthems to Convey Gratitude and Support
- Tear-jerking classic graduation songs! Recommended tracks for graduation movie BGM
- [Touching] Entrance/Exit Songs for Graduation Ceremonies: Classics & the Latest BGM
- A funny song that livens up a farewell party
- [Great Lyrics!!] Recommended Tear-Jerking Graduation Songs with Heartfelt, Moving Words [2026]
- A graduation song that's trending and popular on TikTok. A perfect track for memory videos.
- [Moving] Heartfelt Japanese Songs Recommended for Graduation Season [2026]
- [Graduation Songs] Choral pieces perfect for singing at elementary school graduation ceremonies: A collection of moving classics
- A farewell song for a dear friend—an uplifting graduation song that conveys heartfelt gratitude.
- [Gratitude, Encouragement, Memories] Tear-Jerking Graduation Songs You Can’t Listen to Without Crying [2026]
- [2026] Modern graduation songs: Reiwa-era staples and new tracks you should know
- Songs to use in the memory movie. Let’s look back on our memories before graduation!
[2026] Graduate with a Smile! Recommended Upbeat Graduation Songs (71–80)
People and PeopleYugeda Kensuke

This is a warm piece that sings about the importance of encounters through music.
The fresh melodies woven by Kensuke Yugedate carry a gentle calm while conveying a moving message.
In clear, resonant words, it speaks of the joy born from human connections and the inevitable meaning hidden within chance meetings.
Delivered by the pure voices of the Toin Gakuen Elementary School Choir, the work is also slated to appear in elementary school music textbooks starting in 2024.
Its kind, uplifting message is perfect for children who are about to meet new people in a new environment.
As they take their next step in school life, this wonderful song will give them courage and hope—please give it a listen.
If you laugh at the skywacci

Painting a youthful landscape where heartache and hope intersect, “Sora ni Waraeba” is a song that resonates not only during graduation season but at every turning point in life.
With wacci’s moving melody and lyrics, it adds color to seasons of farewells and new encounters.
The song carries a strong will to overcome painful experiences and a deep gratitude for cherished friends who shared those times, forging a powerful bond with each listener’s own memories.
As you look back on all your efforts, it gives you the courage to take a new step forward and becomes a source of support.
Highly recommended for anyone who poured their heart into club activities or studies.
It’s the perfect BGM for graduation and farewell parties—be sure to try singing it at karaoke.
FarewellSEKAI NO OWARI

With its light rhythm and uplifting melody, this track resonates pleasantly and is perfect for anyone taking a new step forward.
Released by SEKAI NO OWARI in April 2023, the song was also used as the theme for Fuji TV’s Wednesday drama “My Housekeeper Nagisa-san.” Its message—valuing your true self amid a changing world—gently nudges graduates onward.
Even when a new environment feels daunting, listening to this song will give you courage.
It’s recommended for those who want to greet graduation day with a smile while moving at their own pace.
[2026] Graduate with a Smile! Recommended Upbeat Graduation Songs (81–90)
CELEBRATELittle Glee Monster

Little Glee Monster, the vocal group that adopted a new lineup in 2022 and continues to captivate fans with their unwaveringly powerful choral work, has released their 22nd single, “UP TO ME!” The track “CELEBRATE,” included on the single, was selected as the collaboration song for the National High School eSports Championship.
Its lyrics, which depict the feeling of taking a step toward one’s own dreams, seem perfect for powerfully brightening the new beginning that is graduation day.
With a refreshing ensemble and soulful vocals that give you a push forward, it’s a pop tune you’ll want to play on a day of celebration.
Gazing up, the sky is blueHata Motohiro

With a gently expanding, tender singing voice and words that warm and touch the heart.
The melodies spun by Motohiro Hata are a perfect fit for the milestone of graduation.
Through the changing seasons, they depict life’s transitions, farewells, and the hope of new beginnings.
Released in March 2019, this work was written specifically for SoftBank’s music project TV commercial, “Graduation.” The music video—filled with memories of school life and graduation ceremonies—is also captivating.
It’s a song that gives you the courage to face forward and keep walking, so it’s recommended not only for those approaching graduation, but also for anyone stepping into a new stage of life.
spring sunlightKanapu × Kujira

A track that radiates the warmth of spring sunlight was born from the collaboration between KAF and Kujira.
While themed around a parting scene, the lyrics are striking for the way they hint at the beginning of a new story.
Released in March 2022, this song is perfect for the graduation season.
It captures the brightness of spring and a delicate sense of poignancy in exquisite balance, resonating deeply with listeners.
It’s recommended for those graduating or embarking on a new chapter, and it’s also a work that many facing a turning point in life will relate to.
Goodbye Memoriessupercell

This is a graduation song from supercell, known for the hugely popular “Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari,” the opening theme of the anime Bakemonogatari.
It’s a refreshing rock tune featuring their signature piano, guaranteed to lift your spirits as you listen! The lyrics portray a faint, youthful romance that feels truly wonderful.
At the very end of the song, the protagonist confesses their feelings to their crush—you’ll feel your heart skip a beat just by listening! It’s a bright love song with romance as its theme.



