Music Festivals in May [2026]: Outdoor Festivals and Events Summary

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.

We’ve put together a roundup of music events in May, including outdoor rock festivals, jazz festivals, and circuit-style festivals.

This year is packed with exciting festivals and events once again, such as VIVA LA ROCK, FFKT—the successor to Taico Club—and WIRED MUSIC FESTIVAL!

May

Taro Hakase Music FestivalMay 30 (Sat)–31 (Sun), Kyoto Prefecture

hakasetaroongakusai.com

The HAKASE TARO Music Festival is a revamped version of the annual summer festival hosted by Taro Hakase since 2002, relaunched with a new concept in 2019. Held as an outdoor festival in two locations—Kyoto and Tokyo—both venues are places where you can feel Japan’s history, offering a new experience of enjoying contemporary music. In Kyoto, the venue is a shrine, promising an even more special time. Exploring Kyoto’s history or strolling through the city before attending the event will likely enhance the way you enjoy it.