We’ve gathered music festivals held in Hokkaido, the great land of the north.
Among them, this time we’re highlighting events that focus on rock.
When it comes to rock festivals in Hokkaido, the RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL—considered one of Japan’s Big Four—is the most famous, but there are plenty of other exciting festivals too!
- Hokkaido Music Festivals [2026]: Outdoor Festivals and Events Roundup
- RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL in EZO (Rising Sun Rock Festival) | Music Festival / Event
- [2026] Guide to Music Festivals and Outdoor Events in Hokkaido and the Tohoku Region
- Summer Music Festival Schedule Summary [2026]
- Southern Hokkaido Rock Fest | Music Festival & Events
- List of Rock Festivals Nationwide [2026]
- KITAKAZE ROCK FES. (North Wind Rock Festival) | Music Festival & Event
- Ashibetsu MUSIC・HARVEST (Ashibetsu Music is Harvest) | Music Festival & Event
- Hokkaido & Tohoku Summer Festivals [2026]: The Complete Guide to Outdoor Music Events
- JOIN ALIVE | Music Festival & Event
- ARABAKI ROCK FEST. | Music Festival & Event
- LOVETOYA | Music Festival & Events
- Aomori Music Festivals [2026] Outdoor Festivals & Events Summary
Hokkaido
JAL SAPPORO MUSIC EXPERIENCEHokkaido, Sat 4/18 – Sun 4/19
| Schedule | April 18 (Sat)–19 (Sun), 2026 |
| place | Hokkaido, Sapporo, Daiwa House, Premist Dome |
| Website | https://sapporomusicexperience.com/ |
| SNS |
KITAKAZE ROCK FES.Hokkaido, Sat 4/25–Sun 4/26
The alternative rock band NOISEMAKER will host a circuit festival in their hometown of Hokkaido. With a strong focus on the region, the event aims to showcase the appeal of Hokkaido nationwide while inviting great bands to perform there.
| Schedule | Saturday–Sunday, April 25–26, 2026 |
| place | Hokkaido, Sapporo City, Zepp Sapporo |
| Website | https://kitakazerockfes.com/ |
| SNS |
JOIN ALIVEHokkaido, Sat 7/18–Sun 7/19
JOIN ALIVE has been held every year since 2010 at Iwamizawa Park, which features an open-air music hall and the Hokkaido Greenland amusement park. You sometimes hear about music festivals held at amusement parks, but a unique feature of JOIN ALIVE is that you can actually enjoy the rides there as well. This means families can attend without younger children getting bored. Admission is also free for junior high school students and younger, so this event may inspire many children to fall in love with music.
| Schedule | Saturday–Sunday, July 18–19, 2026 |
| place | Iwamizawa Park, Iwamizawa City, Hokkaido |
| Website | https://joinalive.jp/ |
| SNS |
RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL in EZOFri, Aug 14 — Hokkaido
Started in 1999 as Japan’s first full-fledged all-night outdoor rock festival, RSR is a large-scale open-air rock event that makes the most of Hokkaido’s vast landscape. A major feature is that you can pitch a tent and camp—chat with friends around your campsite, stay up all night catching live shows, or choose freely among the nearly simultaneous performances across multiple stages. How about crafting your own two days of freedom, in your own way?
| Schedule | Friday, August 14, 2026 |
| place | Hokkaido, Otaru City, Outdoor Special Stage next to Tarukawa Wharf, Ishikari Bay New Port |
| Website | http://rsr.wess.co.jp |
| SNS |
Past events
AKABIRA CAMP BREAKHokkaido, Sat 9/20–Sun 9/21
| Schedule | Saturday–Sunday, September 20–21, 2025 |
| place | Hokkaido Akabira City Elm Highland Resort |
| Website | https://campbreak.com/ |
| SNS |


![List of Rock Festivals in Hokkaido [2026]](https://media.ragnet.co.jp/img/1200__jpg__https://www.ragnet.co.jp/files/2018/05/2a67925c360b4ff0fafb4ef41c7b0b6d.webp)
