Spring Music Festival Schedule Overview [2026]
As spring approaches, do you ever feel the urge to soak up live music outdoors? Surrendering yourself to your favorite tunes in an open-air setting under warm sunshine is one of the true joys of spring festivals.
This year, unique spring music festivals are being held all over Japan, each with its own genre and atmosphere.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of music festivals taking place in spring so you can compare and check out the ones that catch your eye.
Use it to help plan your next outing.
- March Music Festivals [2026]: A roundup of music events such as spring festivals and outdoor rock festivals
- April Music Festivals [2026]: A roundup of spring festivals, outdoor rock fests, and other music events
- Music Festivals in May [2026]: Outdoor Festivals and Events Summary
- List of Rock Festivals in May [2026]
- [GW] Music Festivals Held During Golden Week [2026] — List of Rock and Outdoor Festivals
- Spring music festival to be held in western Japan [2026]
- List of Rock Festivals in the Kanto Region [2026]
- June Music Festivals [2026] Outdoor Festivals & Events Summary
- [Held in 2026] Recommended music festivals: A roundup of outdoor festivals and major rock festivals you’ll want to attend at least once
- March Rock Festival Calendar [2026]
- Complete Guide to Spring Festivals in the Kanto Region! Introducing Featured Artists and Venue Information [2026]
- Music festivals in eastern Japan held during Golden Week [2026]
- List of anime song festivals nationwide [2026]
May
Forest and JAZZ Festival in Gunma ForestTue 5/5, Gunma Prefecture
| Schedule | Tuesday, May 5, 2026 |
| place | Gunma Prefecture, Takasaki City, Watanuki-machi 992-1, Gunma no Mori, East Lawn Plaza |
ZUMZUM KITCHENCAR FESMay 5 (Tue), Aichi Prefecture
| Schedule | Tuesday, May 5, 2026 |
| place | Tokoname Rinku Beach, Rinku-cho 2, Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture |
Imaike Music Wanderlust FestivalMay 5 (Tue), Aichi Prefecture
Imaike Yuran Music Festival is a live-circuit music festival in Nagoya’s Imaike area that started in 2016. With multiple longtime live houses clustered around Imaike Subway Station, attendees can freely move between venues and spend a whole day touring a wide range of genres, including rock, blues, and jazz. The festival also collaborates with the Imaike shopping street, featuring community-wide programs such as open-air karaoke and blues performances. The 13th edition will be held in May 2026.

| Schedule | Tuesday, May 5, 2026 |
| place | Around Imaike, Chikusa Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture (multiple live music venues) |
| Appearance | Acrobat★Boy / A La carte / ALTERNATORS / Maple in the Rain / The Arcades / Antlion Hell / Morning-Falling Snow. / The Bettys / the Burnham / CharismaTch / Clown Shoes / Coffee Beat / Copernicus / Cross My Pain / DAMS / DEERHOUNDS / THE DROPPERS / ensoleille muguet / FERRARI(S) / GASOLINE / Galaxy Kayō Show / Hagakure / High-collar Drop / Hamachi / Haru la Monelle / Shy Soldier / imaikecobras / Dogfall / ISAMU / Iwazumogana Giant Lizard feat. Maon / Until the Night-light Goes Out. / JUNK SICK JACK / Faint Blues / Kanazuchi / Karutempo / Kasumi / Kataribe / Ketsumidoro / Kowloon / Kojis / Kurashi no Nikogori / LayBack / Lili & The Acoustic Banshees / the Lotus / Mainheller -Menhera- / Marimo / Meruriri / Makoto Mochizuki / MONKEY CHAPS / Monster Room / Mujiruyōon / Kaoru Natsume / NICOLI / The “All Human Affairs Are Like Saiō’s Horse” Band / Ninniku Chaharns / Rainbow Electric Railway / No.39 / My Wonder / Oriental Funk Orchestra / Otassha Club / PEEBLES / Piranica / Potsdam Giants / Camel Band / Red Lobster / Layer / Re squall / Rie & Hiroki and Manabu / roller skate park / Sakogashira / →SCHOOL← / Sinca / SIN SET / Social Monkey / The Souleels / SOUL OF LIBERTY / Spanish Harlem II / The Strip Show / Mikiko Suzuki-z / Tana Kamio / Thrive on Praise / Tokinikiku & The Comets / Triotoka / Tsukkii / Hiroshi Tsuzuki / Noriyuki Uda / Eel No.11 / Unabu / VANILLA ZOMBIE / The Von / Watakushi / The Court in the Dark / Zwergspitz / pumpin’ up the blues IMAIKE Session |
| Website | https://imaikeyuuran.link/index.html |
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One Million Horsepower Music FestivalTue, 5/5 Gifu Prefecture
| Schedule | Tuesday, May 5, 2026 |
| place | Majolica Bamboo, 801-1 Komaba, Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture |
KOBE MELLOW CRUISETue 5/5 – Wed 5/6 Hyogo Prefecture
This is an urban music festival that has continually shared culture from the port city of Kobe. Under the banner “Culture sets sail for its next course,” it offers a captivating space where you can freely explore not only music, but also art, fashion, and food. In 2026, the venue will move from Meriken Park to GLION ARENA KOBE/TOTTEI PARK, taking place in the heart of the city where sea breezes meet an urban vibe. May 2026 marks the festival’s 5th anniversary—when a new voyage finally begins.

| Schedule | Tue, May 5, 2026 – Wed, May 6, 2026 |
| place | 2-1 Shinkocho, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, GLION ARENA KOBE / TOTTEI PARK |
| Appearance | [5/5] Yuki Chiba / Kohjiya / LEX / AI / AK-69 / AZU / DADA / ENEL / G.B.C CAMP / guca owl / HARKA / IFE / Jin Dogg / Kaneee / lilbesh ramko / Pxrge Trxxxper / Tete / Watson / De-void* Hosted by kZm / kZm / KAGVYA [5/6] KEIJU / Kvi Baba / kZm / Dengaryu -Band Set- / FNCY (ZEN-LA-ROCK / G.RINA / Chinza DOPENESS) / GADORO / KM / luv / Manaka / MIKADO / Peanut-kun / Peterparker69 / Skaai -Band Set- / SKRYU / tofubeats / WILYWNKA / 3Li¥en / 7 / MaisonDe from HIMEJI / Shurkn Pap / Taiyoh lj / Neibiss |
| Website | https://kobe-mellow-cruise.com/ |
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Ashiya Jazz FestivalTue, 5/5 Hyogo Prefecture
This jazz festival in Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture began in 2017 and will mark its 10th edition in 2026. Embraced as a free-admission event that turns the entire city into a stage—from the plaza in front of JR Ashiya Station and local shopping streets to a grand hall and even a chapel—it has become a local favorite. As an official UNESCO International Jazz Day event, the festival has received a letter of appreciation from Herbie Hancock every year since its first edition, reflecting its roots in both the local community and the wider world. Held in May during Children’s Day, it delivers a day filled with music and smiles.
| Schedule | Tuesday, May 5, 2026 |
| place | Hyogo Prefecture, Ashiya City, Funadocho, around JR Ashiya Station (multiple venues within the city) |
| Appearance | [5/5] [Multipurpose Hall] O-Jazztet / Tempo rubato / Paddy Fields / Do’ Desuka Band / color jam / SUDDENCOOL / Dan Band / SANDY EB / Ashioto / Mint Jamz [Ashiya Buddhist Hall] livestock trio / EN Crazy Dogs / Klezit / Kobe Y Project / ATB / DanZ / Fig / Go for it! Boars / Dal Paradiso [Luna Hall (Small)] BENTOS / Osaka City Funk Band / Speed Limit 180 / Naniwa Fusion Project / Sensual / SHOW-LOWs / Super Works / ClockWorkThing / Acid ICE / A♭ / Takuya Hirai TRIO / BLACK CANDY [Luna Hall (Large)] Hyogo Prefectural International High School HOPPIN’ NOTE / Konan High School & Junior High Plus Ensemble KBE2026 / Edwin & Mike Duo / Wi-Mo / Osaka Swing Lab / Drinkin’ Wonders / Shiho Akagi Serie AK Special / Stevie Silver & The Westsiders / Haruko’s Yuming Band / Osaka Victory Choir / Beers In Heaven / Chitaro BLUES JACK / The Three Wishes / VERMILION FIELD [Lead Ashiya] Breeze / Club-SQUARE / Molly Lane / Mellow Tone / C.S.B Falcon / Cotton Spinners / Uncle Sammy / Tomoaki Okudaira with Friends / NYNY Quartet / Akki, Yushi, Tetsu / Yume☆Chance / AI☆HOUSE / TAKE★FIVE / Fox Biyori Band [Catholic Ashiya Church] amapola / Not-Only-Sax Ensemble Nikoni ko / nao & Taichi / com bossa / Shino Ayane / Gloria Matsuda / Wang Yemin / MONDIEU [EJ] fan dii na / DAS / LUNA with friends / Pink Peppers / The Natsumerose / E.Hearts / BEAT-LUZ / @gray zone / Elephants / KIIT Jazz Project / Fusion Rewind / Osaka Pochi-Pochi Orchestra 51/2026 / Ashiya BBQ Club Band [Satsuma Fuji] JAZZ Joto / Noboru Kitahashi Ark of note / HY!HAT / Crimson5 / macska / mini me / narumi & hiro / Reflection / Anns / Nanatsuboshi / buvetts / Sugarloaf / Kuno Takayoshi / JACKY [Rio Coffee] Feliz / kinoshita / Poporipo / Norakura Pawn / HummingBird / Sunset Cocktail / Four Sparrows [Sacle Ev] Apple and Honey / Lumière / Very Berry / AMIG / Cocodrilo / Mille-feuille / Nao Oyama & Tadahiko Kudo DUO / Kyoko Ogusu & Jun Deguchi / Yoko and Hiroshi [TBDB] Amatan / Pokin Kintaro / Bourbon Life / Naosaka Ii Sinatra Tribute / Ok-kun / Mitsuharu’s Singing with Brothers / Gon, Ante & Myu / Mint Tea / DEPARTURES / Rokko Guitar Sub Trio / agApe / Jecco. / Mamma G / kamesh [Le Coin] Keiji / Hitoshi Watanabe / mario BOSSA NOVA Satoshi Abe / hacoseco / VEGA duo / YANTOO & MABLEE / Sunset Celebration / Keiko Raspberry & Hiroshi Hata Duo / Masaya Yuasa / Iida & Kanazawa Duo [Pedestrian Deck] REJOICE / Tea Gathering / Pink Gingerale / Fool Cool Pool / Grandpa / Jo-Ja / PARA★SKA / iro. iro. iro / Cattleya / B-Groo-V / Tea Time [COTTON FIELD] Uruwaka / Riverside Diva and Acchan Piano / Tipsy Time / Satoko Shudo / naonao / Sugar Malt / Yumi Mizuno & Nobuyuki Matsuoka Duo / Emiko & Karl / Unit SUMIRE / Tateppiro / Nine-Step / Aiko Yoden / Mami Yonekawa & Mine Hida / Harumi Katakai, Kana Ando, Mayumi Miyagawa Jazz Trio |
| Website | http://www.ashiya-jazz.info/ |
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Think!Feel!ESAKA!Wed, May 6 - Osaka Prefecture
| Schedule | Wednesday, May 6, 2026 |
| place | Hattori Ryokuchi Open-air Music Hall, 1-7 Hattori Ryokuchi, Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture |


