July Music Festivals [2025–2026]: A roundup of summer festivals, outdoor rock festivals, and other music events

The Oga Namahage Rock Festival held in Akita Prefecture was launched to revitalize the region by drawing many visitors to Oga, increasing Oga’s name recognition, and fostering local pride. Artists from a wide range of genres—such as mixture, hardcore, and reggae—come together to create two exhilarating days.

This is an idol festival held in Roppongi, where TV Asahi is located. Since there’s also a popular music program that features idols, you might discover fresh idols before they truly explode in popularity. It’s a recommended festival for fans of idol culture and for fans of “kawaii” culture.

MURO FESTIVAL is a fest hosted by Shibuya O-Crest. At a time when people say audiences are drifting away from live houses, it was launched to create opportunities for bands active in live houses to perform outdoors and give back to the live house scene. This year it will be held indoors, combining the best of Muro Fes with the appeal of live houses.

The Monterey Jazz Festival in Noto began in 1989 as a friendship initiative through jazz by the City of Monterey in the United States and the Wakura Onsen Tourism Association of Nanao City. Due to this history, the program features performances by a U.S. all-star jazz orchestra as well as by Japanese junior high school big bands.