[GW] Music Festivals Held During Golden Week [2026] — List of Rock and Outdoor Festivals
Here’s a roundup of music festivals taking place during Golden Week.
There’s nothing quite like immersing yourself in music outdoors, enjoying the sense of freedom that only a long holiday can bring.
This article offers a broad look at Golden Week festival options for anyone thinking, “I’m interested, but what kinds of festivals are there?” They range from easy day-trip events to multi-day experiences where you can stay on-site and dive in completely, so be sure to find an event that fits your schedule and interests.
- Music Festivals in May [2026]: Outdoor Festivals and Events Summary
- List of Rock Festivals in May [2026]
- Music festivals in eastern Japan held during Golden Week [2026]
- [2026] Complete Guide to Summer Festivals in the Kanto Region: Music Festivals and Outdoor Festival Information
- April Music Festivals [2026]: A roundup of spring festivals, outdoor rock fests, and other music events
- Music festival in Western Japan held during Golden Week [2026]
- List of Rock Festivals in the Kanto Region [2026]
- Spring Music Festival Schedule Overview [2026]
- List of Rock Festivals Nationwide [2026]
- Spring music festival to be held in western Japan [2026]
- Tokyo Music Festivals [2026]: Outdoor Festivals and Events Summary
- Osaka Festival Calendar [2026]: Music Festivals and Outdoor Events Summary
- [Held in 2026] Recommended music festivals: A roundup of outdoor festivals and major rock festivals you’ll want to attend at least once
May
Kichijoji Music FestivalMay 3 (Sun) – 5 (Tue), Tokyo
The Kichijoji Music Festival, which began in 1986, is a long-running city festival that will mark its 41st edition in 2026. The venues span all of Kichijoji in Musashino, Tokyo, with eight stages set up around town—including the plaza at the station’s North Exit and the area around Inokashira Park—filling the city with music against the backdrop of a unique culture where bustling commercial districts and residential neighborhoods blend seamlessly. Under the banner of a “festival of culture and creativity,” a diverse range of music—jazz, folk, rock, and more—colors the entire city over three days during the Golden Week holidays.
| Schedule | Sun, May 3–Tue, May 5, 2026 |
| place | Tokyo Metropolis, Musashino City, Kichijoji Station North Exit Plaza |
| Appearance | [5/3] GUSOKUMUZU / FINLANDS / Ressentiment / THE SKA FLAMES / LIBRO / BAKU / NOVEL VINTAGE / Shintaro Suzuki / Reugene / Latyr Sy × Seitaro Mine / Hiroyasu Nitori trio / Kichijoji Jazz Society [5/4] 3markets[ ] / Chinza DOPENESS / NakamuraEmi / Ukitto & Akiko Igaki / HIMIZ / Jukai Nakagawa / Yumeno Kishimoto / Takada Wataru’s / SHIGE BAMBAM / DJ Yoshizawa dynamite.jp [5/5] Wienners / chilldspot / the shes gone / YONA YONA WEEKENDERS / THOMAS MARQUARDT / Erika Nishi / maboroshi girl / Toshiyaki Chiku / Uri Nakayama / Crefy |
| Website | https://www.kichion.com/2026/ |
| SNS |
VIVA LA GARDENMay 3 (Sun) – 6 (Wed), Saitama Prefecture
This is a free outdoor festival produced by VIVA LA ROCK, a music festival originating in Saitama. In 2026, due to the relocation of the main event venue, it will be held at the Saitama Stadium 2002 Park South Plaza and the Daimon Kamiike Regulating Pond Plaza. In addition to music on the GARDEN STAGE, there will be a gathering of attractions for all ages, including festival food booths, a giant inflatable dome, a mascot character show, and a Tyrannosaurus race. With the aim of bringing the joy of festivals to future music fans, it will take place in May 2026.
| Schedule | Sun, May 3 – Wed, May 6, 2026 |
| place | Saitama Prefecture, Saitama City, Midori Ward, Misono 2-1, Saitama Stadium 2002 Park, South Plaza + Daimon Kamiike Retention Pond Plaza |
| Website | https://vivalagarden.jp/ |
VIVA LA ROCKMay 3 (Sun) – 6 (Wed), Saitama Prefecture
A city-style music festival that has continued since 2014 as a rock fest symbolizing Saitama during Golden Week. For many years, it was held at Saitama Super Arena, combining indoor and outdoor stages, and has garnered support with a wide-ranging lineup centered on Japanese rock—from next-generation up-and-comers to major bands. In 2026, the venue will move to a special outdoor site around Saitama Stadium 2002, offering a four-day experience in an open-air early-summer setting.

| Schedule | Sun, May 3 – Wed, May 6, 2026 |
| place | Saitama Prefecture, Saitama City, Saitama Stadium 2002 / Nearby Venues |
| Appearance | [5/3] Aina The End / Kiro Akiyama / UNFAIR RULE / OSHIKIKEIGO / OddRe: / CreepHyp / Sarasa (Band Set) / 35.7 / Sundae May Club / SHISHAMO / Super Tozan-bu (Super Mountaineering Club) / STARGLOW / This is LAST / Natori / PEOPLE 1 / Hitsujibungaku / My Hair is Bad / Macaroni Enpitsu / Meiyo Densetsu / Lavt / Retro Riron [5/4] Aimyon / Aburi na Town / Wienners / UVERworld / KANA-BOON / CLAN QUEEN / Creepy Nuts / Suspended 4th / Chevon / Tele / the telephones / Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra / NEE / Itabame / Humbreaders / PK shampoo / Hiroji Miyamoto / Yabai T-Shirts Yasan / Laughing Hick / WANIMA [5/5] Arstake / 171 / Age Factory / EMNW / ENTH / coldrain / SiM / SHADOWS / 3markets[ ] / w.o.d. / TETORA / Backdrop Cinderella / Hanabie. / Harukamirai / FOMARE / HEY-SMITH / Paledusk / Maki / Maximum the Hormone / MAN WITH A MISSION [5/6] ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION / ELLEGARDEN / Kishidan / Kimyo Reitaro / Good Grief / Suchmos / SKY-HI / Tempalay / 10-FEET / Nikon / Novel Core / First Love is Never Returned / 04 Limited Sazabys / Frederic / YOGEE NEW WAVES / Raisan / LEX / Laura day romance |
| Website | http://vivalarock.jp |
| SNS |
Nasu-Shiobara Picnic Garden FestivalSun., 5/3, Tochigi Prefecture
| Schedule | Sunday, May 3, 2026 |
| place | Ishino Stage, Nakagawa Riverside Park, 365-1 Kuroiso, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture |
Guntame FESSun., 5/3, Gunma Prefecture
| Schedule | Sunday, May 3, 2026 |
| place | Michi-no-Eki Laran Fujioka, 1131-8 Naka, Fujioka City, Gunma Prefecture |
Kiryu Jazz FestivalSun., 5/3, Gunma Prefecture
| Schedule | Sunday, May 3, 2026 |
| place | Gunma Prefecture, Kiryu City, Suehirocho 5-16, Kiryu Station North Exit Outdoor Plaza |
ONE FES -imizu music festival-May 3 (Sun) – 4 (Mon), Toyama Prefecture
This open-air music festival from Toyama was named by combining the “wan” of Toyama Bay with the desire to create “the place in the prefecture that gathers the most smiles and love.” Set in Imizu City’s Kaiwomaru Park—one of the prefecture’s premier locations with views of the Shinminato Bridge, the sailing ship Kaiwomaru, and the towering Tateyama Mountain Range—local volunteers continue to hold the event to contribute to the community through music and food. A hallmark of the festival is its family-friendly focus, with nursing rooms, diaper-changing stations, and play areas for children. It will be held over two days during Golden Week in 2026.

| Schedule | Sun, May 3, 2026 – Mon, May 4, 2026 |
| place | Kaiōmaru Park, 8 Kaiōmachi, Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture |
| Appearance | [5/3] Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai / The Bawdies / Su-Xing-Cyu / Dragon Ash / Nanchiku globe (Soft-style globe) / Harukamirai / Backdrop Cinderella / FOMARE / 04 Limited Sazabys / HEY-SMITH / MAN WITH A MISSION [5/4] ACIDMAN / Kaela Kimura / Kyuso Nekokami / SHANK / The Ravens / G-FREAK FACTORY / Hump Back / PUFFY / FUNKY MONKEY BABYS / BLUE ENCOUNT / muque |
| Website | https://one-fes.jp/ |
| SNS |


