List of summer festivals in western Japan held during the summer vacation [2026]: Rock festivals and outdoor music festivals

Musikfest Nara, whose name comes from the German word for “music festival,” is a large-scale music festival organized by Nara Prefecture that began in 2012. Venues across the prefecture include World Heritage shrines and temples, historic halls, as well as cafés and community centers in town, blending the ancient capital’s scenery with a rich variety of sounds. Centered on classical music, the lineup spans jazz, traditional Japanese music, world/folk music, and rock, fostering a community-wide music culture. In 2026, it will run for an extended period from May through December.

SAKAIDE MUSIC STREET is the first-ever circuit live event to be held in Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture. Centered around the Sakaide City Hall, the event will take place across five venues—Akiyama Gakki (Akiyama Music Store), LET’S, Coffee Factory Sepia, and Sakaide Civic Hall—featuring a wide range of genres including rock, jazz, folk, and wind ensemble music. Artists with ties to Sakaide, including Keiichi Sokabe, the Sakaide City Tourism Ambassador, will perform. The event will be held on July 20, 2026 under the banner “Don’t Stop Music SAKAIDE.”