2026 Roundup of Popular Winter Festivals: Music Festivals for the Cold Season

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

Until now, when people talked about music festivals, the standard was summer festivals held outdoors.

But lately, winter festivals held during the colder months have also become the norm.

Most winter festivals are indoor events held in large halls or exhibition centers, and even in the cold of winter, the venues are filled with excitement.

In this article, we’ll introduce a whole lineup of these hot winter music festivals!

From Christmas events and countdown events to those held right after the New Year, there’s a full schedule.

Past events

New Beginning FesSun, Jan 4 – Tokyo Metropolis

Schedule	Sunday, January 4, 2026
place	Tokyo Garden Theater, Koto City, Tokyo Metropolis
Website	https://www.new-beginning-fes.jp/
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rockin’on sonicSun, 1/4 (Chiba Prefecture)

Schedule	Sunday, January 4, 2026
place	Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture
Website	https://rockinonsonic.com/
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THICK FESTIVALSun, Jan 4 — Kanagawa Prefecture

A festival hosted by the three-piece melodic punk band SECRET 7 LINE will be held. In 2016, there was a great sorrow for them and for us fans, but seeing them overcome it and continue to perform is truly moving. Live-show kids, be sure to check it out.

Schedule	Sunday, January 4, 2026
place	Club Citta, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Website	http://www.thickfestival.com/
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ROCK IN WINTERJan 4 (Sun), Aichi Prefecture

Schedule	Sunday, January 4, 2026
place	Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya City — Diamond Hall / SPADE BOX / Shangri-La / HeartLand / CLUB ROCK’N’ROLL
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Hofu Music Festival New Year ConcertFri 1/9 – Mon 1/12 Yamaguchi Prefecture

aspirante-hofu.com

The Hofu Music Festival, held in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture at the start of the new year, is designed so that citizens can enjoy music casually. Under the title “Street Corner Live Concert,” there are free-admission performances at several venues around the downtown area, open clinics by wind and percussion players, and ticketed concerts featuring a full, star-studded orchestra with guest performers active in Japan and abroad. The program changes daily to keep things fresh and enjoyable for everyone. It’s a recommended event that even beginners can enjoy!

Schedule	Fri, Jan 9, 2026 – Mon, Jan 12, 2026
place	Yamaguchi Prefecture, Hofu City, Design Plaza HOFU / Aspirato 1st Floor Civic Space / Tenjin Pia / Aspirato 3rd Floor Music Hall
Website	https://aspirante-hofu.com/event/newyear-consert2026/

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deer rockSat 1/10 – Sun 1/11, Fukushima Prefecture

This is a circuit event organized by Shikachan, an event promoter active in Fukushima Prefecture. Shikachan is reportedly a staff member of TONEFOLK, a music information site based in the Tohoku region. Although it’s a small-scale circuit event held across two venues, the lineup mainly features up-and-coming bands on the verge of breaking through, making it an event you won’t want to miss.