[GW] Music Festivals Held During Golden Week [2026] — List of Rock and Outdoor Festivals

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.

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.

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.

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.