Lovely music festival

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.
Music Festival Master / Editor-in-ChiefHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC and in charge of music festivals. When I attended my first music festival as a freshman in college, I was captivated by its charm—“I can’t believe there’s a place this free and this fun.” I share information about wonderful music festivals every day to help grow the community of festival fans.

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

Schedule	Sunday, January 4, 2026
place	Club Citta, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Website	http://www.thickfestival.com/
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HatsuUta FESSunday, 1/4, Gunma Prefecture

Schedule	Sunday, January 4, 2026
place	G Messe Gunma, Exhibition Hall C, 12-24 Iwaoshi-machi, Takasaki-shi, Gunma

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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

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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Niseko Music RecitalHokkaido, Sat 1/10–Mon 1/12

The Niseko Music Recital is a classical music event held at Park Hyatt Niseko HANAZONO in Hokkaido. Artistic Director and violinist Richard Tognetti will deliver a live performance together with ensemble artists. After the performance, a cocktail party featuring canapés and drinks from Park Hyatt Niseko will be offered. The event will take place in January 2026.

Highlights from the Niseko Music Recital 2026 | MnK Niseko

Niseko Music Recital

Schedule	Sat, Jan 10–Mon, Jan 12, 2026
place	Park Hyatt Niseko HANAZONO, 328-47 Iwaobetsu, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido
Appearance	Richard Tognetti / Ensemble Artists
Website	https://www.nisekomusicfestival.org/
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