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

The Kyoto Circuit Acoustic Festival is an acoustic music festival co-hosted by Kyoto Station Building Development Co., Ltd., with support from JR West. The 2026 edition, titled “Sea of Kyoto,” will tour Maizuru Red Brick Park, Ine Town’s Urashima-kan, and Fukuchiyama Castle Park, culminating in a finale at the Kyoto Station Building’s first-floor Station Plaza. A diverse lineup including Shinji Harada, Kyogo Kawaguchi, Chicago Poodle, and →Pia-no-jaC← will perform, bringing musical experiences to various locations across Kyoto from March through May.

KYOTOPHONIE is an international music festival launched in 2023 by Lucille Reyboz and Yusuke Nakanishi, co-founders of KYOTOGRAPHIE Kyoto International Photography Festival. Held twice a year at unique venues throughout Kyoto Prefecture, it has drawn a total audience of around 40,000 by spring 2025. Characterized by experimentation unconstrained by conventional genres, venues, or formats, and by cross-disciplinary collaborations, it presents a diverse lineup. In spring 2026, performers will include Msaki & Tubatsi and Dora Morelenbaum.

Emergenza Japan is the Japan edition of an international live contest held in over 15 countries worldwide. The competition is primarily decided by audience voting, with professional judges joining at the finals. The winning band is awarded a slot to perform at Germany’s Taubertal Festival. Open to all regardless of professional status, age, or background, the contest has helped launch artists such as Daiki Tsuneta, Yuuri, and Novelbright. In 2026, it will be held from April to June at venues including Shibuya eggman.

The urban entertainment festival that has been running since 2018 will be rebranded and expanded as “HIBIYA LIVE FESTIVAL” starting in 2026. Set in Hibiya—a district often called “Japan’s Broadway”—the event will center on theater and music, presenting a wide range of live performances including musicals, opera, ballet, and jazz. A roofed special stage will debut at the main venue, Hibiya Step Square, and during Golden Week, Hibiya Park will also join as a satellite venue.