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

ULTRA, one of the world’s largest music festivals originally held in the United States, has been held in Japan since 2014. Staged across the globe, ULTRA has become a major festival in Japan as well, known for its overwhelmingly lavish production. With countless artists who lead the global dance music scene performing, this is an event you can’t take your eyes off.

ROCK IN JAPAN, organized by Rockin’ On Japan, is one of Japan’s premier summer festivals alongside Summer Sonic and Fuji Rock. Since 2014 it has been held over four days, making it one of the largest events in the country. With an exceptionally impressive lineup every year, attending Rockin’ might be the perfect way to catch all the most popular Japanese bands.

Inazuma Rock, an outdoor rock festival with an uncompromising focus on Shiga Prefecture, organized by Takanori Nishikawa—who hails from Shiga and serves as a Shiga Hometown Tourism Ambassador—has been confirmed for this year as well. Held in an unbeatable setting by Lake Biwa and Mount Hiei, the event mainly features artists connected to Shiga or who have ties with Nishikawa. Part of the venue offers free admission, and there’s even a stage within the free area where you can enjoy live performances! Nishikawa is also known for his engaging talk segments, so it’ll be exciting to see how he fires up the crowd.

This is the spring event of the Kochi Machi La La La Music Festival, held in the heart of Kochi City. As the season begins to feel like spring, the festival offers outdoor live performances that turn the city into a stage, creating a warm atmosphere that brings performers and audience closer together. It’s beloved by both residents and participating artists. Anyone who loves music can enjoy this event as the city and audience come together as one, making it highly recommended for those who want to start making music, those thinking about taking it up again, or anyone interested in participating in various ways.