July Music Festivals [2026]: A roundup of summer festivals, outdoor rock fests, and other music events

“Shigasaku – Irie Run Festival” is a reggae festival held every summer on the shores of Lake Biwa. The venue is Takashima Biwakko Park in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, offering a beachside location with expansive views of the lake and sky. In addition to leading figures of Japan’s reggae scene such as CHEHON, NG HEAD, and HISATOMI, sound crews from around the country and dance shows also gather to bring an irie vibe to the day. Scheduled for July 2026.

SAKAIDE MUSIC STREET is the first-ever circuit live event to be held in Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture. Centered around the Sakaide City Hall, the event will take place across five venues—Akiyama Gakki (Akiyama Music Store), LET’S, Coffee Factory Sepia, and Sakaide Civic Hall—featuring a wide range of genres including rock, jazz, folk, and wind ensemble music. Artists with ties to Sakaide, including Keiichi Sokabe, the Sakaide City Tourism Ambassador, will perform. The event will be held on July 20, 2026 under the banner “Don’t Stop Music SAKAIDE.”