SUMMER SONIC 2026 is celebrating its 25th anniversary. With the festival just around the corner, let’s take a look back at the highlights of these three days that will have music lovers dancing with joy!

Summer Sonic 2026 (SUMMER SONIC 2026; hereinafter “Summer Sonic”) is finally just one day away. Since this year marks the 25th anniversary, the festival will be held over three days as a special celebration. The lineup features a well-balanced selection of high-quality artists—both new and established, spanning various genres and representing both international and Japanese acts—and the organizers have put even more effort into it than in previous years.

Three days of intense excitement for music lovers in Tokyo and Osaka. With the event just around the corner, I’d like to take this opportunity to give a highly subjective rundown of the highlights of this year’s Summer Sonic, focusing on the Tokyo venue.

TOKYO Day 1 / Friday, August 14

On the first day, will THE STROKES be the headliners? They were a central figure in the rock ’n’ roll revival of the 2000s and are one of the most important bands of the 21st century, having completely transformed the values of rock music. They have a strong connection to Summer Sonic, having performed there twice before: in 2003—a performance now spoken of as legendary—and in 2011, when they returned as headliners. Furthermore, with their new album, *Reality Awaits*, having just been released, the timing couldn’t be better. I can’t wait to see what kind of performance they’ll deliver on the MARINE STAGE for the third time. It feels like they’ve found a new lease on life since their previous album, *The New Abnormal*, and I’m already looking forward to seeing THE STROKES—still going strong on the front lines—take the stage.

Filling the slot as the sub-headliner before THE STROKES is BUMP OF CHICKEN—a band active during the same era that has had a massive influence on contemporary Japanese rock. It’s fascinating to see these two bands, which have been at the heart of the Japanese and international rock scenes for over 20 years, sharing the bill. Will rock fans who grew up during that era stick around to see both? I’m also curious about the K-pop acts like JENNIE and BABYMONSTER, as well as FKA TWIGS and FLORENCE ROAD on the SONIC STAGE.

TOKYO Day 2 / August 15, Sat

On the second day, the lineup on the MOUNTAINE STAGE—Sakanaction followed by David Byrne—is a must-see. Honestly, the MOUNTAINE STAGE feels a bit too small for Sakanaction at this point, but isn’t it exciting that they’re slotted right before David Byrne, who’s one of their musical roots? A lineup that evokes specific genres and narratives is a great way to fully enjoy the unique musical experience that only a festival can offer. David Byrne’s performance at Korčula this year was the talk of the town, and since he’s a legend you don’t get to see very often (his solo show on the 13th is already sold out!), I definitely want to make sure I catch him this time.

Day 2 is also packed with other must-see artists—I definitely want to catch John Spay, who headlined the very first Summer Sonic; SUEDE, the quintessential 90s UK band synonymous with Summer Sonic; and VIAGRA BOYS and mgk, who have been getting rave reviews from critics. And of course, I’m curious about the headliner Ado, but there’s a scheduling conflict… Of the three days of the festival, Day 2 might have the most difficult lineup to navigate. I’ll probably be agonizing over this right up until the last minute.

TOKYO Day 3 / SUNDAY, AUGUST 16

On the third day, the lineup seems to span an even wider range of genres and generations than the previous two days. While the schedule is likely to vary greatly depending on the listener, the slot on the MOUNTAINE STAGE seems particularly intriguing. Being able to see JAMIROQUAI—who took the world by storm with acid jazz in the ’90s—and their followers, Suchmos, perform back-to-back on the same stage is truly one of the unique thrills of a festival. There’s been a trend in recent years to re-evaluate JAMIROQUAI, and I’m also curious about Suchmos’s “Chapter 2” following their comeback. It sounds like a great way to wrap up the final day of Summer Sonic—dancing the night away to these two acts.

BABYMETAL—who have a close relationship with Summer Sonic—curated a special stage: the SONIC “METAL” STAGE is sure to resonate with fans of loud music, while the BEACH STAGE—dubbed “EURODANCE PARADICE”—will, true to its name, bring together artists who defined the ’90s Eurodance scene, and is sure to liven up the beach even more. And of course, I want to see L’Arc-en-Ciel too!

We’ve taken a quick look at some of the highlights, but the artists mentioned here are just a tiny fraction of the lineup. Over these three days, the festival will bring together artists spanning generations, genres, and national borders—including rock, hip-hop, R&B, Latin, metal, punk, Asian pop, club culture, and Eurodance.

Whether you want to take your time enjoying your favorite artists’ performances or look forward to discovering new music, SUMMER SONIC 2026 has exciting moments in store that will make this the summer of a lifetime for music lovers.

Of course, if you already have a ticket, that’s great—but since same-day tickets are reportedly available on certain days, if you’re even slightly on the fence, you should definitely head to the venue. For details on the performing artists and tickets, check out the official website via the link below!