This translation was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
NAKASU JAZZ 2026 brings live music to the streets of Nakasu in central Fukuoka on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13. Admission is free, and visitors can walk between stages while combining the festival with dinner, riverside scenery and Fukuoka’s nightlife.
As of August 10, 17 artists have been announced. Canal City Hakata’s B1F Sunplaza Stage is confirmed, but the complete stage map, artist times and final timetable are still pending. Treat those later announcements as essential trip-planning information.
- September 12–13, 2026; free admission
- Multiple stages in Nakasu, plus Canal City Hakata B1F Sunplaza Stage
- 17 artists announced; stage assignments and performance times pending
- Use public transport and check same-day weather and schedule updates
Information checked against the official festival pages on August 10, 2026. The lineup, venues and operating details may be added or changed.
NAKASU JAZZ 2026 dates and key information
| Item | Current information |
|---|---|
| Event | NAKASU JAZZ 2026 |
| Dates | Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026 |
| Admission | Free |
| Main area | Nakasu, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City |
| Confirmed venue | Canal City Hakata B1F Sunplaza Stage and stages in Nakasu |
| Performance times | Not yet announced; check the final timetable |
| Organizer | NAKASU JAZZ Executive Committee |
The 17 artists announced for 2026
Saturday, September 12 — 10 artists
- XinU
- 桜井ゆみ グループ feat. Choko Kimura Aiken (Yumi Sakurai Group)
- JABBERLOOP (with JABBERLOOP吹奏楽団)
- kiki vivi lily
- Nenashi
- Schroeder-Headz
- Shiho with Special Friends
- SOIL&“PIMP”SESSIONS
- THE ONE NIGHTS with GUNkondo
- VIDA Hollywood
Sunday, September 13 — 7 artists
- Big John TENTA
- Shiho×CHIHIROPE feat. 畑野圭慧 (Keisuke Hatano)
- Solitary Circus
- The Sleeping Boosters 伊藤大輔×竹中俊二
- TOKU
- 鈴木実貴子ズ
- 賽 (Sai)
The official announcement includes jazz, instrumental music, R&B, pop and rock. These 17 acts may not be the final lineup, and the festival has not yet assigned every artist to a stage or time.
If one performer is your priority, wait for the official map and timetable before fixing your route. A city festival can require more walking than the short straight-line distances suggest when streets and viewing areas are busy.
How the city-centre festival works
NAKASU JAZZ began in 2009 and differs from a single-venue concert: stages are placed around an active entertainment district. You can stop for a performance, walk to another venue and combine the evening with restaurants, yatai food stalls or the Naka River promenade.
This flexibility is ideal for travellers, but there is no reserved seat covering the whole event. Popular stages can fill up, and a free event can still apply access control for safety. Leave extra time between the artists you most want to see.
Canal City Hakata Sunplaza Stage
The B1F Sunplaza Stage at Canal City Hakata is confirmed for 2026. VIDA Hollywood, kiki vivi lily and JABBERLOOP with the JABBERLOOP wind orchestra are the first announced performers for this venue; their dates and times remain pending.
The B1F viewing zone is standing-only and limited to 400 people. Holding space with sheets or baggage is prohibited, and the venue has no event cloakroom or lockers. Upper floors may offer open viewing, but staff can restrict or redirect spectators when crowded.
Access, weather and crowd planning
For central Nakasu stages, Nakasu-Kawabata Station on the Airport and Hakozaki subway lines is the most useful starting point. For Canal City Hakata, Kushida Shrine-mae Station on the Nanakuma Line is about a three-minute walk; Hakata Station is roughly ten minutes away on foot.
The final stage map may make a different station more convenient. Use the official map rather than an older festival map, and travel by public transport because crowds or temporary traffic controls may affect the district.
Bring comfortable shoes, water, a charged phone, a mobile battery and rain protection. The festival includes outdoor stages: in 2025, thunderstorms caused the first day to stop at 19:00. Check the official website and social channels again on the day for lightning, strong-wind or schedule notices.
Official updates and related Fukuoka guides
The official artist page is the source for lineup additions, while the festival home page will publish stages and other operating information. Recheck both after the timetable is released.
For the rest of an autumn trip, use the Fukuoka Music Month guide to compare nearby festivals. The yatai and first-time visitor guides help plan food and sightseeing around the music.
