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

Good evening, konya-nyachiha!Fri, Dec 5 – Sat, Dec 6, Tokyo

http://www.fujio-90fes.jp

Schedule	Fri, Dec 5–Sat, Dec 6, 2025
place	Tokyo Metropolis, Shibuya Ward, LINE CUBE SHIBUYA
Website	https://www.fujio-90fes.jp/music.html

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MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL JAPANDec 5 (Fri) – 7 (Sun), Kanagawa Prefecture

http://www.montreuxjazz.jp

One of the world’s three major jazz festivals, the Montreux Jazz Festival, is set to be held in Tokyo this October as Montreux Jazz Festival Japan 2016! In addition to live performances by top artists from Japan and abroad, a variety of events such as workshops will also take place.

Schedule	Fri–Sun, Dec 5–7, 2025
place	Pia Arena MM, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Website	http://www.montreuxjazz.jp
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TOHOKU MUSIC JOURNEYSat 12/6 – Sun 12/7, Miyagi Prefecture

tohokumusicjourney.com

Schedule	Sat–Sun, Dec 6–7, 2025
place	Miyagi Prefecture, Sendai City, Yume Messe Miyagi, Exhibition Halls A, B, and C
Website	https://tohokumusicjourney.com/
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SUMIDA BLOCK FESTIVALDec 6 (Sat) – 7 (Sun), Tokyo Metropolis

Schedule	Sat–Sun, Dec 6–7, 2025
place	Sumida Park Soyokaze Plaza, Sumida City, Tokyo
Website	https://sumidablockfes.com/
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At ShimokitazawaSat, Dec 6 – Tokyo Metropolis

A circuit-style event held in the Shimokitazawa area—home to restaurants, vintage clothing stores, record shops, and live houses, and a hub for diverse culture—Shimokitazawa Nite. The organizers are the band THE Love Ningen. The event is held with the theme of creating new connections through music. With a stamp rally and performances by elementary and junior high school bands, it’s an event that can be enjoyed not only by adults but also by children.

Schedule	Saturday, December 6, 2025
place	Tokyo, Setagaya City, Shangri-La / CLUB251 / 440 / BASEMENTBAR / THREE / Flowers Loft / mona records / CREAM / ReG / SHELTER / LIVE HAUS / MOSAiC / DaisyBar / Laguna / ERA / WAVER / Chikamatsu / Chikamichi (Shortcut) / Otema-e / Shimokita Senrogai Open Space / Shimokitazawa Station Front Plaza
Website	http://www.shimokita-nite.net/
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