Kanto Winter Festival Information [2026]: Must-See Events for Music Lovers

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.

The season for winter festivals—the musical celebration that colors Kanto’s winter—has arrived.

With fiery performances that blow away the cold and a dreamlike atmosphere you can experience only in winter, it captivates the hearts of music fans.

Feel the immersive sound unique to indoor venues and the sense of openness offered by outdoor stages, even in winter.

Why not make this winter unforgettable with a supreme musical experience woven by a diverse lineup of artists?

Past events

ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVETue 12/30–Wed 12/31, Tokyo Metropolis

avex.jp

This is our 17th New Year’s Eve concert at Yoyogi Gymnasium, a tradition we’ve kept since 2000. Among fans, Yoyogi is called a “sacred place” and “home,” but it seems it will be unavailable for a while due to renovation work starting in 2017. This time, it looks like the performance will mark an important milestone at this special venue.

Schedule	Tue, Dec 30–Wed, Dec 31, 2025
place	First Gymnasium, Yoyogi National Stadium, Shibuya City, Tokyo
Website	https://avex.jp/ayu/news/detail.php?id=1128585
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New Year Rock FestivalWed, 12/31 Tokyo, Japan

newyearrockfestival.com

The New Year Rock Festival, a historic New Year’s Eve rock fest that began in 1973, has long been popular. With the slogan “Kōhaku isn’t the only show in town,” it has been cherished as a coveted event for rock bands. After organizer Yuya Uchida passed away, HIRØ from Kaiki Gesshoku took over as producer and the festival will be newly held. And in 2020, it will take the form of its first-ever audience-free, live-streamed New Year’s Eve concert—an unprecedented format that’s shaping up to be an event no one could have predicted.