Kansai Music Festivals [2025–2026]: Special Feature on Must-See Outdoor Fests & Events

Music Festival Master / Editor-in-ChiefKeisuke Hane
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.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICKeisuke Hane
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. After working at a music studio and in wedding sound engineering, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with various instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in middle school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on personal music activities and professional experience, produces daily articles, including song introductions, features on music festivals around Japan, and live reports. Enjoys a wide range of music, from domestic and international rock to, more recently, a broad spectrum of J-pop.

Live performances resonating from vast outdoor stages, the electric energy created by artists and fans as one, and making memories with friends.

This year, a variety of unique music festivals will once again be held across the Kansai region.

In these special spaces where diverse genres—rock, pop, jazz, and more—intertwine, why not experience irreplaceable moments of excitement?

In this article, we introduce standout outdoor festivals and event information.

Kyoto Prefecture

Kyoto Sound ExpressDec 13 (Sat) – 14 (Sun), Kyoto Prefecture

When it comes to summer festivals in Kyoto, 10-FEET’s Kyoto Daisakusen is the obvious pick, but the winter tradition has to be Kyoto-born rock band ROTTENGRAFFTY’s Kyouto Chotokkyu. In 2014, the event moved to Pulse Plaza, and since 2016 it has expanded to a two-day format—Kyouto Chotokkyu is a festival you simply can’t take your eyes off as it keeps growing!

Schedule	Sat–Sun, Dec 13–14, 2025
place	Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Kyoto Pulse Plaza
Website	http://porno.rotten-g.com/
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Kyo Premium LiveKyoto Prefecture, Sat 12/27 – Sun 12/28

miyako-premiumlive.jp

Kyoto’s anime music festival, Kyo Premium Live. With “Kyoto-ness” as its theme, this live event features anisong singers and voice-actor artists. For anime fans, it doesn’t get more luxurious than this. If you love anime, you can’t miss it.

Schedule	Saturday–Sunday, December 27–28, 2025
place	Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, ROHM Theatre Kyoto
Website	http://miyako-premiumlive.jp

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music ParkSaturday, March 14 – Kyoto Prefecture

monocro.info

Schedule	Saturday, March 14, 2026
place	Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Umekoji Park, Outdoor Stage
Website	http://monocro.info/park/index.html

MAIZURU PLAYBACK FES.Sun, Apr 26 — Kyoto Prefecture

The Maizuru Playback Fest is held in the port town of Maizuru on the Sea of Japan in Kyoto. The event aims to revitalize the city, inspire hope, and give people a reason to fall in love with Maizuru by framing it as “a place to begin again” through music. We’ve all had those moments when, feeling down or low on energy, we’re moved by a comforting melody, a voice, or lyrics that deliver a message and give us a push forward. In this perfect seaside setting where you can feel the refreshing ocean breeze, the music you enjoy might help you discover a new version of yourself.