Hokkaido & Tohoku Summer Festivals [2026]: The Complete Guide to Outdoor Music Events

HOKKAI Donuts FES is a new outdoor music festival championing “MADE IN Hokkaido,” set at Dalwhinnie Entertainment Village Sapporo in Minami Ward, Sapporo, heralding the early summer of Hokkaido. In the vast lawn area, alongside a live stage featuring bands and singer-songwriters from around Hokkaido, there will be kitchen cars (food trucks) and a handmade goods market. With a dog run and camping area also on site, the 5th edition will be held in June 2026.

This is an anison (anime song) festival to be held for the first time at Noboribetsu Civic Hall on June 13, 2026. The executive committee is promoting it as “an anison festival you can only experience in Noboribetsu,” aiming for an event integrated with the local community, including food trucks from the area. Three acts—Hironobu Kageyama, Masaaki Endoh, and Hiroshi Kitadani—have been confirmed to perform, promising a day to fully enjoy the voices of anison in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido.

"HOMETOWN MUSIC LIFE" is a music event held every June in Aomori City. In 2026, it will take place over two days, Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, at the Nebuta-no-Ie Wa Rasse West Plaza in Aomori City, with free admission and held rain or shine. The lineup includes Satoru Sakamoto, and d-iZe will serve as the main host. Four acts, including WATAERFALL, who won the official audition, have also earned the right to perform and will join the event’s stage.

The "Sapporo Festival" is the annual grand festival of Hokkaido Shrine. Since June 15 was designated as the festival day in 1872, it has continued as a seasonal tradition heralding the arrival of summer in Sapporo. During the festival, food stalls and dedication stages line the shrine grounds and Nakajima Park. On the procession of the 16th, led by lantern-lit festival music, more than 1,000 participants dressed in period costumes—such as Sarutahiko and the Ishin Kinno-tai—parade through the city together with nine festival floats. In 2026, the festival will be held from June 14 to 16.

“FLY HIGH fes.” is a citizen-participation, comprehensive festival held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of New Chitose Airport in Chitose City. The venue is a special stage at the Japan Aviation Academy Hokkaido New Chitose Airport Campus. Rather than simply celebrating a milestone, it is designed as a place where people of different generations and purposes can come together through music, food, the outdoors, and hands-on experiences. Performers include Tatsuya Ishii and SOIL & “PIMP” SESSIONS, and the event will take place in June 2026.

This is an outdoor music festival held at a special venue on the Central Pier in Kaigan-cho, Muroran City, Hokkaido. Organized by club RED HILL and supported by Muroran City and others, it is known as the largest outdoor reggae event in Hokkaido. Centered on reggae and hip-hop, about 25 artists gather in the port town each time, raising their passionate voices at Muroran Port together with roughly 800 fans who come from all over Japan. Numerous vendors, including food trucks, line the venue. In 2026, it will be held in June.