[2026] Complete Guide to Music Festivals in Kyushu & Okinawa + Spotlight on Must-See Events

BLAZE UP NAGASAKI, the outdoor festival hosted by SHANK, a three-piece melodic punk band from Nagasaki Prefecture, will once again be held this year at their local venue, Kamino-shima Park in Nagasaki. Since 2015, this event has been held outdoors. With the heat still lingering, why not make it the perfect finale to your summer festival season?

This is an outdoor festival hosted by WANIMA, the popular three-piece rock band known for doing commercials and theme songs. Holding a festival they run themselves in their hometown of Kumamoto is a long-awaited event for both the band and their fans! I can’t wait to see which of their close-connected bands will be on the lineup. It’s a must-see event for fans who want to fully enjoy both music and Kumamoto. If you’re visiting Kumamoto for the first time, be sure to set aside plenty of time and go have fun!

The Miyazaki International Street Music Festival began in 2006 and is held with free admission throughout the city center under the theme “In Miyazaki, there’s a season when music blossoms,” so that residents can become more familiar with the festival. Featuring a wide variety of artists—from local street musicians to performers from overseas across many genres—it provides an opportunity to enjoy a diverse music culture. It’s also recommended as an event that tourists from Japan and abroad can easily enjoy.