A festival for barrier-free understanding through music, bringing the streets of Sendai together
Tokkushiteki Ongakusai
The 2026 edition of Tokkushiteki Ongakusai has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/06/07Ended
- Season / frequency
- Early June (usually the first Sunday of June) / Once a year
- Location
- Central Sendai (Kotodai Park, Motokajicho Park, Nishikicho Park, Sendai Mediatheque 1F Open Square, the area in front of Sendai Station, and other locations)
- Area
- Miyagi Prefecture・Sendai City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 30 min–2 h · bullet train)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
- Free to watch. Performing live costs 2,000 yen per person (free for preschoolers).
- Age restrictions
- Preschoolers can perform for free. No other age requirements have been set.
- Required number of participants
- You can take part on your own. You may perform with up to 2 groups.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A street music festival with multiple stages throughout Sendai, where people with and without disabilities can enjoy music.
About Tokkushiteki Ongakusai
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 伊藤清市 File:とっておきの音楽祭.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Tokkushiteki Ongakusai is a street music festival where people with and without disabilities can enjoy music together, with the aim of fostering barrier-free understanding through music.
Stages are set up at multiple venues in central Sendai, with live performances held mainly outdoors.
Various parts of the city become stages for music, including Kotodai Park, Jozenji-dori, shopping streets, and the area in front of Sendai Station.
Source: とっておきの音楽祭 - Wikipedia / 出演者募集 - とっておきの音楽祭ー心のバリアフリーを目指すストリート音楽祭
Festival highlights
One of the highlights is that, rather than being concentrated in one large venue, the festival spreads across multiple stages throughout Sendai.
In 2026, the festival was scheduled to take place at venues including Kotodai Park, Motokajicho Park, Nishikicho Park, Sendai Mediatheque, and the area in front of Sendai Station.
Live performances are held at each stage, and the event is run with consideration for people with hearing impairments, including by providing sign language interpreters.
A festival for barrier-free understanding through music, bringing the streets of Sendai together
What to expect
Performers give live performances on stages at the venues. In 2026, street performances were scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Each performer’s slot allows up to 30 minutes of performance time, with approximately 10–15 minutes for changing performers.
After the performances, a finale was scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. on a special stage in Kotodai Park.
How to take part
Admission is free, and visitors are invited to enjoy the stages around central Sendai at their leisure.
Applications to perform were open to groups, families, and individuals, and performers who supported the festival’s aims were invited to apply.
Applications to perform in 2026 have closed, so anyone hoping to perform should check when applications open next time.
There were 2 ways to apply to perform in 2026: mail an application form and a video of the performance, or apply through a web form.
Applicants were asked to submit a video featuring approximately 2 songs, as well as a stage layout plan.
Applications had to arrive by February 20, 2026. Performers selected to take part were scheduled to be announced on the official website by March 20.
Source: 第25回とっておきの音楽祭 | イベントナビ
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kotodai Park, Motokajicho Park, Nishikicho Park, the Open Square on the 1st floor of Sendai Mediatheque, and the area in front of Sendai Station, all in central Sendai.
Address Central Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 25th festival in 2026 was announced as scheduled for June 7 (Sun). Street performances were scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by the finale from 5:30 p.m.
It is usually held in early June, and past announcements have listed the first Sunday of June as the event date.
The application period for performers in 2026 ran from December 20, 2025 to February 20, 2026.
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 Miyagi Prefecture / Sendai City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
It was announced that in 2026, part of Kotodai Park will be unavailable due to renovation work, and the number of performance stages for loud bands using drums is expected to decrease significantly.
Performers are asked to make adjustments such as replacing drums with percussion instruments like the cajón, or switching from electric to acoustic guitar.
Since the event takes place at multiple venues, it’s a good idea to check the location and time of the stages you want to see in advance.
Nearby attractions
Venues for the music festival include facilities and streets in central Sendai, such as Kotodai Park, Jozenji-dori, Motokajicho Park, Nishikicho Park, Sendai Mediatheque, and the area in front of Sendai Station.
Since the venues are spread across multiple locations, visitors can enjoy the performances while exploring different areas of the city center.
Please check each facility’s information for its opening status and travel times.
二柱神社
宮城県仙台市泉区にある神社
写真：Naokijp / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
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仙台うみの杜水族館
仙台市にある水族館
写真：広瀬川 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
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仙台市八木山動物公園
仙台市太白区にある動物園
写真：広瀬川 / Public domain(resized and reformatted)
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仙台市博物館
宮城県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
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仙台市天文台
宮城県仙台市青葉区にある公開天文台
写真：Kinori / Public domain(resized and reformatted)
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仙台市戦災復興記念館
仙台市にある、仙台空襲からの復興を記念する公共施設
写真：Sendai_City_War_Reconstruction_Memorial_Hall.JPG : 広瀬川 derivative work: 0607crp ( talk ) / Public domain(resized and reformatted)
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仙台市歴史民俗資料館
宮城県仙台市の榴岡公園にある資料館
写真：Kyotohippie / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
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仙台市科学館
日本の宮城県仙台市青葉区にある科学館
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
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仙台市野草園
仙台市の植物園
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仙台東照宮
宮城県仙台市青葉区東照宮にある神社
写真：Naokijp / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
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地底の森ミュージアム
宮城県仙台市太白区にある歴史博物館
写真：Asenas10 at Japanese Wikipedia / CC BY 3.0(resized and reformatted)
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大崎八幡宮
宮城県仙台市にある神社
写真：Tak1701d / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Tokkushiteki Ongakusai
The Tokkushiteki Ongakusai began in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, in 2001.
The first festival was held in October to coincide with the National Sports Festival for People with Disabilities. From the 3rd festival onward, it has been held on the first Sunday of June, before the rainy season begins.
Its ideal of creating barrier-free understanding through music has spread to other areas, and since 2003, festivals in the same format have also been held outside Sendai.
Official information
Official information is available on the website of the Tokkushiteki Ongakusai Executive Committee SENDAI.
It features the 2026 special event page, performer applications, and event details, where you can also check the application deadline and planned venues.
Tokkushiteki Ongakusai at a Glance
The Tokkushiteki Ongakusai is a music festival that aims to foster barrier-free understanding while people enjoy music at multiple venues in central Sendai.
In 2026, the festival was scheduled for June 7, with venues including Kotodai Park, Motokajicho Park, Nishikicho Park, Sendai Mediatheque, and the area in front of Sendai Station.
Admission was free. Performers could apply as a group, a family, or an individual.
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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