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

Setouchi International Music Festival is a music festival positioned as “Zero Session 2026,” to be held for the first time in September 2026 in the Kagawa–Setouchi area. Transcending the boundaries of classical music, it champions once-in-a-lifetime sounds and encounters born from the convergence of different cultures, genres, and generations. The venues are Sunport Hall Takamatsu and Miki Town Cultural Exchange Plaza. In addition to performances by top-class classical musicians from Japan and abroad, the festival will feature a rich array of programs including vocalists, children’s choir, and handmade instrument workshops.

The Nerima Jazz Festival, launched in 2012 with the aim of revitalizing the town through music from the street corner, has continued for 15 years despite three cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this year marks its 12th edition. The venue is the Lawn Plaza in Tokyo Metropolitan Hikarigaoka Park in Nerima Ward, and admission is free. Food trucks, dining areas, and merchandise tents will line the grounds, and about 40 bands will perform across the First and Second Stages over two days. It’s an outdoor jazz festival that can be easily enjoyed by everyone from children to adults. Scheduled for September 2026.