MEGA★ROCKS 2026, Sendai, Japan

• October 3, 2026
  Event date:
• October 3, 2026
  Event end:

What to expect in 2026

MEGA★ROCKS 2026 is a major one-day live music circuit taking place across central Sendai, Japan, on October 3, 2026. Rather than being held at one large outdoor festival site, the event connects multiple live music venues throughout the city, allowing audiences to move from one venue to another during the day.

The 2026 edition brings together a wide range of Japanese artists representing rock, alternative, indie, pop, acoustic music and other contemporary styles. The lineup includes established performers as well as emerging artists, giving visitors the opportunity to discover new acts while also seeing well-known names.

The festival is organized by Date fm and continues the distinctive MEGA★ROCKS concept of turning Sendai’s live-house scene into a large city-wide music event. Nine venues are participating in 2026: Rensa, darwin, MACANA, ROCKATERIA, LIVE HOUSE enn 2nd, LIVE HOUSE enn 3rd, space Zero, Neo BrotherZ and 誰も知らない劇場.

One of the main attractions is the freedom to create a personal schedule. Instead of following a fixed festival stage, attendees can select artists they want to see and travel between venues. Since multiple performances take place at the same time, planning ahead is important.

The event is particularly suited to music fans interested in Japanese live music and emerging performers. The compact nature of central Sendai also means that the festival experience extends beyond the venues themselves, with visitors walking through the city’s entertainment and shopping districts between performances.

Event dates

MEGA★ROCKS 2026 will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

It is a one-day event, so there are no additional festival days to choose from. The participating venues have different opening and performance start times, allowing the program to begin around midday and continue throughout the day.

Important event details include:

• Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
• Location: Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
• Event format: One-day multi-venue music festival
• Number of venues: 9
• General venue opening: From 11:00
• Earliest performances: From 12:00
• Main area: Central Sendai

Visitors should arrive early enough to exchange or collect any required admission materials and plan their first performance before the music begins.

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Venue & festival site

MEGA★ROCKS 2026 does not have a traditional single festival site. Instead, the event takes place at nine established music venues across central Sendai.

The participating venues are:

• Rensa
• darwin
• MACANA
• ROCKATERIA
• LIVE HOUSE enn 2nd
• LIVE HOUSE enn 3rd
• space Zero
• Neo BrotherZ
• 誰も知らない劇場

Rensa is located in the Ichibancho area and occupies the seventh floor of the TIC Building. It is one of the principal venues in the festival circuit.

darwin is another important Sendai live music venue and is located in Ichibancho. Its central location makes it convenient for visitors moving between several festival venues.

MACANA and ROCKATERIA are also situated in the central entertainment district, while the two LIVE HOUSE enn venues provide additional performance spaces.

space Zero and Neo BrotherZ add further locations to the circuit, while 誰も知らない劇場 offers a different theatre-style environment compared with the more traditional standing live houses.

Because there is no central festival field, visitors should check the location of each performance before creating their daily itinerary. Walking time between venues is an important part of planning.

Full lineup

The 2026 lineup includes a broad selection of Japanese artists from different parts of the country’s contemporary music scene.

Announced performers include:

• ACE COLLECTION
• Alaska Jam
• Anna
• Aonowa
• Ayllton
• Baja
• Enfants
• First Love is Never Returned
• Gum-9
• GOOD BYE APRIL
• GOODWARP
• HINONABE
• JIJIM
• KI_EN
• Klang Ruler
• Ku:ui
• kurage
• Laughing Hick
• LEGO BIG MORL
• LOT SPiRiTS
• Maverick Mom
• ORCALAND
• OddRe:
• PK shampoo
• WORSTRASH
• sanetii
• Tyrkouaz
• Vivanz Eden
• ねぎ塩豚丼
• ポップしないで
• リアクション ザ ブッタ
• 三四少女
• 上野大樹
• 野田愛実
• 春風レコード
• セカンドバッカー
• ポップしないで
• メリクレット
• 物品販売
• 秘めごと
• 挫・人間
• ザ・シスターズハイ
• さとう。
• すなお
• セブンス・ベガ
• 至福ぽんちょ
• 終活クラブ
• 中島寂
• 明くる夜の羊
• 野田愛実
• 八生
• 夜叉子
• めっちゃ美人
• ミーマイナー
• カラコルムの山々
• カラノア
• クレイジーウォウウォ!!
• Cosmic Mauve
• DeNeel
• Doona
• トップシークレットマン
• バチカン市国に愛されたい
• ひゅ〜どろん
• 春風レコード
• お風呂と街灯
• Ochunism
• OSHIKIKEIGO
• インナージャーニー
• IRIS MONDO
• Alaska Jam
• Jellow Glow
• 171
• らそんぶる
• Ayllton
• ODDRE:
• 笑い飯
• さとう。

The official artist announcements have been released in multiple stages, with additional performers added as preparations for the 2026 event progressed.

Headliners & featured artists

MEGA★ROCKS does not follow the traditional festival structure of having one officially designated headliner. Instead, the event spreads its artists across multiple venues, giving audiences the opportunity to select their own highlights.

Among the established and featured names in the 2026 lineup are ACE COLLECTION, LEGO BIG MORL, GOOD BYE APRIL, Klang Ruler, Alaska Jam, ORCALAND, First Love is Never Returned, PK shampoo and リアクション ザ ブッタ.

GOOD BYE APRIL is scheduled to appear with an acoustic set, adding a more intimate performance style to the program.

Klang Ruler provides another notable addition for listeners interested in contemporary Japanese alternative and pop sounds, while LEGO BIG MORL represents the established Japanese rock side of the lineup.

The festival also places considerable emphasis on emerging artists. Acts such as Enfants, Gum-9, OddRe:, kurage, Maverick Mom and other developing performers give attendees opportunities to discover musicians they may not have encountered previously.

Stages & performance areas

The festival’s nine participating venues effectively operate as individual stages.

Rensa is one of the major venues in the circuit and is located in central Ichibancho.

darwin provides another important live performance space and is conveniently located near Hirose-dori.

MACANA is a long-established Sendai live music venue and forms part of the central festival route.

ROCKATERIA adds another live-house environment to the circuit.

LIVE HOUSE enn 2nd and LIVE HOUSE enn 3rd operate as separate performance spaces, allowing the festival to host more artists simultaneously.

space Zero is another participating live venue in central Sendai.

Neo BrotherZ begins later than several other venues and provides an additional stop for visitors building a longer afternoon and evening itinerary.

誰も知らない劇場 is different from several of the standing live houses because it operates as a theatre-style venue.

The multiple-venue concept means there is no single main stage. Each venue has its own atmosphere, audience capacity and performance environment.

Stage-by-stage schedule

The exact artist-by-artist timetable should be checked against the latest official festival schedule before attending. The lineup is not presented in performance order, and artists appearing alphabetically on the official lineup page should not be interpreted as playing at those corresponding times.

The published venue opening schedule provides the following framework:

• Rensa: Doors 11:00, performances from 12:00
• MACANA: Doors 11:30, performances from 12:00
• LIVE HOUSE enn 2nd: Doors 11:30, performances from 12:00
• space Zero: Doors 11:30, performances from 12:00
• darwin: Doors 12:00, performances from 12:30
• ROCKATERIA: Doors 12:00, performances from 12:30
• LIVE HOUSE enn 3rd: Doors 12:00, performances from 12:30
• 誰も知らない劇場: Doors 12:30, performances from 13:00
• Neo BrotherZ: Doors 13:00, performances from 13:30

The simultaneous format means that audiences cannot see every performance. A good strategy is to identify priority artists and then choose nearby venues whenever possible.

Set times

Individual artist set times should be confirmed through the official MEGA★ROCKS timetable once the final schedule is published.

The earliest performances begin at 12:00 at Rensa, MACANA, LIVE HOUSE enn 2nd and space Zero. The next group begins at 12:30 at darwin, ROCKATERIA and LIVE HOUSE enn 3rd.

Theatre performances at 誰も知らない劇場 begin from 13:00, while Neo BrotherZ begins from 13:30.

Because the festival operates across several locations, visitors should avoid scheduling performances with no travel time between them. Even when two venues appear geographically close, queues and venue entry procedures can affect the time required to move between shows.

A practical itinerary should leave several minutes between performances, particularly when moving from one side of the central district to another.

Ticket types

The principal ticket for MEGA★ROCKS 2026 is the ONE DAY PASS.

The announced general ticket price is $30.40 USD, converted from the published ¥4,800 price.

The ticket provides admission to the participating festival venues, subject to venue capacity and the event’s admission conditions.

The published ticket information also includes a student-related cashback arrangement for high-school students and younger attendees. Eligible students can receive approximately $6.33 USD in cashback when the required student identification is presented according to the event rules.

A separate drink charge is also required at venue entry.

The earlier advance-sale price was approximately $25.30 USD, based on the ¥4,000 promotional price. This was an early promotional ticket and is different from the regular general-sale price.

Ticket availability and sales periods can vary by ticketing platform, so visitors should check the official ticket information before purchasing.

VIP & premium options

MEGA★ROCKS 2026 has not announced a separate VIP ticket or premium admission category.

The event is designed around a single-day circuit pass rather than a conventional festival hierarchy with general admission, VIP viewing platforms and backstage packages.

The ONE DAY PASS is therefore the principal admission option for visitors who want to move between the participating venues.

There is also no published separate premium camping area or VIP lounge because the event takes place throughout central Sendai rather than at a dedicated outdoor festival campground.

Visitors should focus their planning on the artist timetable, venue capacities and travel between performances.

Event rules

MEGA★ROCKS 2026 has several important admission and participation conditions.

Age restrictions: Preschool-age children are not permitted to enter the event.

Drink requirement: A separate drink charge is required at venue entry.

Student identification: Students seeking the applicable student cashback must bring valid identification.

Artist changes: Performers and schedules may be changed or cancelled.

Ticket refunds: Tickets are generally non-refundable except where the official event conditions provide otherwise, such as cancellation or postponement.

Venue instructions: Visitors must follow instructions from event staff and individual venue personnel.

Photography and recording: Individual venues may have restrictions concerning photography, video recording and audio recording. Visitors should follow the rules announced at each venue.

Because MEGA★ROCKS operates through multiple venues, rules can vary slightly depending on the building and performance space.

How to get there

Sendai Station is the principal arrival point for visitors traveling to MEGA★ROCKS from other parts of Japan.

The city is connected to Tokyo and other major destinations by the Tohoku Shinkansen, making Sendai accessible for visitors traveling from outside Miyagi Prefecture.

After arriving at Sendai Station, visitors can use the Sendai subway or walk toward the central entertainment district.

Several venues are concentrated around Ichibancho, Aoba-dori and the surrounding central districts.

For example, darwin is approximately 15 minutes on foot from Sendai Station and approximately three minutes from Hirose-dori Station.

The central location of the venues makes it possible to combine subway travel with walking.

Visitors coming from Tokyo or other Japanese cities should consider arriving in Sendai before the first performance they want to attend rather than attempting to arrive immediately before a scheduled set.

Public transport & parking

Public transportation is one of the most practical ways to navigate MEGA★ROCKS.

The Sendai subway provides connections between Sendai Station and central areas around the festival venues. Walking is also essential because several participating venues are relatively close to one another.

The event does not operate a dedicated festival parking area.

Visitors who drive should use commercial parking facilities in central Sendai and check parking restrictions before arriving. Parking spaces may be limited during busy periods.

Some participating venues do not provide their own parking or bicycle parking facilities, so visitors should not assume that venue parking will be available.

For visitors attending multiple performances, public transportation and walking also make it easier to move directly between venues without returning to a parked car.

Accommodation areas

Staying in central Sendai is the most convenient option for visitors attending MEGA★ROCKS 2026.

Sendai Station area is particularly useful for visitors arriving by Shinkansen or train. It offers extensive transport connections, hotels, restaurants and shopping facilities.

Aoba-dori area provides another convenient base, with easy access to central entertainment districts and public transportation.

Ichibancho is especially useful for festival visitors because several participating live venues are located nearby.

Hirose-dori is another practical area because of its subway access and proximity to venues such as darwin.

Visitors staying farther from the center can still reach the festival using Sendai’s subway and railway network, but staying centrally can reduce the amount of travel required between performances.

Since the event takes place on a Saturday, visitors traveling from outside Sendai should arrange accommodation in advance.

Food & drink

MEGA★ROCKS does not have one large central food court because the event takes place across multiple independent venues.

Instead, visitors can use the many restaurants, cafés, convenience stores and food establishments throughout central Sendai.

The Ichibancho and surrounding shopping districts offer a wide range of dining choices, making it possible to have lunch or dinner between performances.

The multi-venue structure can actually make eating easier for visitors who plan carefully. Rather than leaving the festival grounds, attendees can choose a restaurant close to their next venue.

A separate drink charge is required at venue entry, according to the event’s ticket information.

Because performances overlap, visitors should plan meals around their priority artists. Shorter meals or food close to the next venue can help prevent missed performances.

Accessibility

Accessibility arrangements can vary between the nine participating venues because each is an independent building with its own design and facilities.

Some venues are located in basements, while others occupy upper floors. Rensa, for example, is located on the seventh floor of its building, while darwin is located in a basement and 誰も知らない劇場 is located on the third floor.

Visitors who require wheelchair access, step-free routes, accessible toilets, seating or other assistance should contact the event organizer or individual venue before attending.

It is particularly important for visitors with mobility requirements to consider the distances between venues and the physical layout of each building.

Theatre-style 誰も知らない劇場 provides a different environment from the standing live-house venues, but specific accessibility facilities should be confirmed directly before the event.

Best days to attend

MEGA★ROCKS 2026 takes place on one day only, Saturday, October 3, 2026, so there are no alternative festival days.

For visitors attending the full event, arriving early provides access to more of the program. The first performances begin at 12:00, while some venues begin later in the afternoon.

The best approach is to prepare a personal schedule based on favorite artists.

Start by selecting the performances that are essential to your day. Then add nearby artists and allow sufficient time for walking and venue entry.

Visitors interested in discovering new Japanese artists may want to leave parts of their schedule open rather than filling every time slot with established acts.

The nine-venue format also means that an attendee can change plans during the day depending on queues, capacity and the atmosphere at each venue.

Previous year’s highlights

MEGA★ROCKS has a long history in Sendai’s music scene, with the official festival history documenting editions dating back to 2004.

The festival has developed a distinctive identity by connecting Sendai’s live houses into one large music circuit.

Previous editions have featured a mixture of established Japanese artists and emerging performers, maintaining the event’s focus on music discovery.

The 2024 edition, for example, featured artists including Conton Candy, FIVE NEW OLD, BIGMAMA, Mega Shinnosuke, muque, PK shampoo and ポップしないで.

The multi-venue concept has remained central to the festival. Rather than building a temporary festival site, MEGA★ROCKS makes use of existing Sendai venues and allows audiences to experience different parts of the city’s live music infrastructure.

The 2025 edition continued this approach, with multiple venues operating simultaneously and festival wristbands allowing attendees to move through the participating locations.

For 2026, the event continues the same basic city-wide model, bringing together nine venues and a large lineup of Japanese performers.

Official tickets

The official general ticket for MEGA★ROCKS 2026 is the ONE DAY PASS.

The published regular ticket price is $30.40 USD, based on the listed ¥4,800 price and an approximate exchange rate of ¥158 to $1.

An additional drink charge is required at venue entry.

The event’s early promotional ticket was approximately $25.30 USD, based on the original ¥4,000 price, but that advance promotion was limited to its designated sales period.

Official ticket information and current sales links are provided through Date fm’s MEGA★ROCKS website.

Official event website: https://datefm.jp/megarocks/

Visitors should purchase through the official ticket channels and check the latest timetable, venue information, artist announcements and ticket conditions before traveling to Sendai.

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