List of indie festivals nationwide [2026]

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Saiin Fes is a free (tip-based) music festival held around Saiin in Kyoto. Since 2017, it has been held in spring, summer, and autumn. Not only live music venues but also cafes and shrines throughout the Saiin area become stages, filling the town with music for two days.

Northern19, a three-piece rock band from Niigata Prefecture, has been hosting this indoor festival in their hometown since 2014. Known for songs that epitomize the melodic hardcore vibe, Northern19 appears on festival lineups across the country every year. Starting with its fourth edition in 2017, their Tokirock event adopted a circuit format held across two venues.

RAZORS EDGE is a four-piece band from Osaka. Their circuit festival, STORMY DUDES FESTA, will be held again this year. It’s a circuit-style event that uses live music venues around America-mura. Centered on melodic hardcore and punk bands, it boasts a fiery lineup.

A circuit-style music event held across four live venues: Shimokitazawa GARDEN, Shimokitazawa Daisy Bar, Shimokitazawa SHELTER, and Shimokitazawa CLUB Que. As it’s an event hosted by up-and-coming bands popular with young people, it may well become an event that represents the future of the rock scene.