A summer music festival in Sapporo where young musicians from around the world bring their music together
Pacific Music Festival
The 2026 edition of Pacific Music Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/07 〜 2026/07/27Ended
- Season / frequency
- Around July each year / Every year
- Location
- Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara, Sapporo Art Park, venues around Hokkaido, Tokyo, and elsewhere
- Area
- Hokkaido・Sapporo City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 30 min–2 h · flight time only)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Varies by performance. The Picnic Concert costs ¥3,000 for an unreserved seat in the chair section, or ¥2,000 for an unreserved seat on the lawn. Open rehearsals are free.
- Age restrictions
- Varies by performance. Preschool children may not attend open rehearsals; elementary school students must be accompanied by someone of junior high school age or older.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
An international educational music festival in Sapporo, where young musicians from around the world learn together through music with leading instructors. The program features a wide range of events, including orchestra and chamber music performances, outdoor concerts, and open rehearsals.
About Pacific Music Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Ku-ma96 File:Sapporo Art Park Outdoor Stage (2017).jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Pacific Music Festival Sapporo (PMF) is an international educational music festival held primarily in Sapporo.
Young musicians gather from around the world to study under conductors and performers at the forefront of their fields.
The academy’s education and presentations of its participants’ work are at the heart of the festival, alongside the concerts.
International exchange and the development of talent through classical music continue in Sapporo.
Festival highlights
Highlights include orchestra and chamber music performances featuring young musicians from around the world performing alongside renowned musicians.
Performances are held mainly at Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara, as well as on the outdoor stage at Sapporo Art Park and at venues around Hokkaido.
In 2026, PMF Orchestra concerts, a picnic concert, a GALA concert, and other events were scheduled.
Open rehearsals offer a chance to see the music-making process, which differs from a regular performance.
Source: 「PMF2026」概要のご案内 | お知らせ | PMF（パシフィック・ミュージック・フェスティバル札幌） / オープンリハーサル | オープンリハーサル | スケジュール | PMF（パシフィック・ミュージック・フェスティバル札幌）
A summer music festival in Sapporo where young musicians from around the world bring their music together
What to expect
At the festival, academy participants study under the guidance of faculty members and form the PMF Orchestra and chamber ensembles.
Their work is presented in main concerts in concert halls, picnic concerts on outdoor stages, and performances at local venues.
At open rehearsals, visitors listen to a regular rehearsal from the designated seating area after checking in.
In 2026, educational programs for children and open master classes were also scheduled.
How to take part
General visitors can buy tickets to attend concerts or listen to free open rehearsals.
No advance registration is required for open rehearsals. Go directly to the venue on the day, where admission is handled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Admission policies for preschool children and the availability of childcare vary by event, so check the conditions for each event you wish to attend.
The academy for participants who perform is a separate program from participation as a general audience member.
For the 2026 open rehearsals, register at the venue on the day; advance registration is not required.
For the session on July 10, registration is from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and the rehearsal runs from 2 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., with a capacity of 400 people.
Paid performances, such as the Picnic Concert, can be purchased through the PMF online service and various ticket agencies.
Application methods vary by performance, so please follow the instructions for the performance you wish to attend.
Source: ピクニックコンサートの楽しみ方 | はじめてのPMF | PMF（パシフィック・ミュージック・フェスティバル札幌）
Location and access
- Venue and address
The main venue is Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara.
The Picnic Concert is held at the open-air stage at Sapporo Art Park (2-75 Geijutsu no Mori, Minami-ku, Sapporo).
- Train and bus
To get to Sapporo Art Park, take the Takino Line bus from bus stop 2 at Makomanai Station on the Namboku Subway Line, and get off at “Geijutsu no Mori Iriguchi” or “Geijutsu no Mori Center.”
It is about a 15-minute walk from the “Geijutsu no Mori Iriguchi” bus stop to the entrance gate for the open-air stage.
- By car
You can use the parking lot inside Sapporo Art Park.
Parking for standard cars is paid.
- Parking
During the Picnic Concert, parking inside the park costs ¥500 for a standard car. If the lot is full, visitors will be directed to a temporary parking area outside the park, with a free shuttle bus running to the open-air stage.
Event venue 北海道札幌市 札幌コンサートホールKitara
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, PMF was held primarily in Sapporo for 21 days, from July 7 (Tue) through July 27 (Mon).
The program included Opening Night, PMF Orchestra concerts, chamber music, open rehearsals, and a picnic concert, among other events.
The main venues were Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara and Sapporo Art Park, with performances also held around Hokkaido and in Tokyo.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Hokkaido / Sapporo City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Unlike regular performances, open rehearsals may be interrupted.
Photography, audio recording, and video recording are prohibited. Visitors must watch from the designated seating block.
Elementary school students must be accompanied by someone in junior high school or older. Preschool children cannot enter the open rehearsals.
Traffic congestion is expected for the outdoor picnic concert, so visitors are advised to arrive early.
Nearby attractions
大通公園
北海道札幌市中央区にある公園
写真：redlegsfan21 / CC BY-SA 2.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
さっぽろ羊ヶ丘展望台
北海道札幌市豊平区羊ケ丘にある観光名所
写真：ykso / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
モエレ沼公園
札幌市東区にある公園
写真：もんもん at Japanese Wikipedia / Public domain(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
北海道博物館
札幌市厚別区にある道立博物館
写真：禁樹なずな / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
北海道神宮
北海道札幌市中央区にある神社
写真：Daigaku2051 / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
北海道立真駒内公園
札幌市南区にある道立公園
写真：ja:利用者:もんもん / Public domain(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
北海道開拓の村
北海道札幌市厚別区にある野外博物館
写真：t-konno / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
大倉山ジャンプ競技場
札幌市中央区にあるジャンプ競技場・展望台
写真：Hwoarang17 / Public domain(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
札幌宮の森美術館
札幌市中央区にあった美術館
写真：Guillaumb / CC BY 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
札幌市アイヌ文化交流センター
博物館相当施設
写真：禁樹なずな / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
札幌芸術の森
札幌市南区にある複合文化施設・公園
写真：札幌芸術の森美術館 / CC0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
サッポロビール博物館
札幌市東区にあるビールの博物館
写真：The original uploader was K. Takeda at Japanese Wikipedia . / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Pacific Music Festival
PMF was founded in Sapporo in 1990 by conductor, composer, and educator Leonard Bernstein as an international educational music festival to nurture young musicians.
It was initially envisioned as an event in Beijing, but the location was changed to Sapporo, and the first festival was held with Sapporo Art Park and other sites serving as training venues.
After Bernstein’s death, Sapporo City took over the festival and its support. The organizing body became a foundation in 2002 and a public interest incorporated foundation in 2010.
Official information
Official information is available on the website of PMF (Pacific Music Festival Sapporo).
You can check the 2026 overview, concert schedule, venue access, and participation requirements for each performance.
Pacific Music Festival at a Glance
PMF is an international educational music festival that began in Sapporo and is centered on nurturing young musicians.
Enjoy orchestra and chamber music by musicians from around the world at concert halls, outdoor stages, and venues around Hokkaido.
In 2026, it was held from July 7 to the 27th, with free open rehearsals and an outdoor picnic concert also taking place.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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