Kansai Music Festivals [2026]: Spotlight on Must-See Outdoor Fests & Events

Music Festival Master / Editor-in-ChiefHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC and in charge of music festivals. When I attended my first music festival as a freshman in college, I was captivated by its charm—“I can’t believe there’s a place this free and this fun.” I share information about wonderful music festivals every day to help grow the community of festival fans.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

Live performances resonating from vast outdoor stages, the electric energy created by artists and fans as one, and making memories with friends.

This year, a variety of unique music festivals will once again be held across the Kansai region.

In these special spaces where diverse genres—rock, pop, jazz, and more—intertwine, why not experience irreplaceable moments of excitement?

In this article, we introduce standout outdoor festivals and event information.

Past events

RADIO CRAZYDec 26 (Fri) – 29 (Mon), Osaka Prefecture

RADIO CRAZY, known as “RediKure,” is the annual year-end rock blowout. Held over two days at INTEX Osaka, RediKure features multiple stages where many popular artists deliver performances worthy of closing out the year.

Schedule	Fri, Dec 26–Mon, Dec 29, 2025
place	Intex Osaka, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Website	http://radiocrazy.fm/
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Kyoto Sound ExpressDec 13 (Sat) – 14 (Sun), Kyoto Prefecture

When it comes to summer festivals in Kyoto, 10-FEET’s Kyoto Daisakusen is the obvious pick, but the winter tradition has to be Kyoto-born rock band ROTTENGRAFFTY’s Kyouto Chotokkyu. In 2014, the event moved to Pulse Plaza, and since 2016 it has expanded to a two-day format—Kyouto Chotokkyu is a festival you simply can’t take your eyes off as it keeps growing!

Schedule	Sat–Sun, Dec 13–14, 2025
place	Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Kyoto Pulse Plaza
Website	http://porno.rotten-g.com/
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Meriken Music Nights – WinterSun, Dec 7 – Hyogo Prefecture

meriken-music.com

Schedule	Sunday, December 7, 2025
place	Meriken Park, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture
Website	https://meriken-music.com/2024winter

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Himeoto FestivalSun, Dec 7 – Hyogo Prefecture

Schedule	Sunday, December 7, 2025
place	Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, ACRIER Himeji / and others
Website	https://himeon.jp/
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Nippa-chi FestivalSat, Dec 6 — Osaka Prefecture

Schedule	Saturday, December 6, 2025
place	Osaka Prefecture Osaka City VS.
Website	https://www.nippachifactory.jp/events/nippachifest2025
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Nagata Grand MarchSat, 12/6, Hyogo Prefecture

It’s a festival hosted by the hugely popular youth punk band, Gagaga SP. The festival was organized out of a passionate desire to keep bands rooted in Kobe. All the performers are fiery artists whom Gagaga SP themselves genuinely want to share the stage with.