The heatwaves seem to be behind us and autumn is just around the corner, but you can never be sure with the weather round here. What we do know is that another busy month lies ahead, with a wide range of interesting tours and Japanese music at various events. If you’re still looking for a great show or event to attend in September, this is the article to turn to for inspiration.
Below, we have compiled as comprehensive an overview as possible of all Japanese music events in Europe.
On tour in September 2026
In recent years, the experimental metal band Sigh have been seen on European soil quite regularly for performances at festivals and clubs. This month, the experimental metal band from Tokyo will return for a new European tour, titled Jigokuezo – An Inferno over Europe 2026 – with American black metal and deathrock band Devil Master. There are 12 shows scheduled in six countries, including two shows in the Netherlands.
After their successful first shows in the United Kingdom, alternative indie trio She Her Her Hers will return to Europe this month for a European tour. Comprising of 13 shows across five countries, the band will perform at the Reeperbahn Festival in Germany. More information about the band and the tour can be found here.
Visual kei metal band JILUKA will return to Europe for the fourth time in recent years for a new tour as part of their world tour entitled DeViLs. The four-piece band, whose sound is a unique blend of electro, gothic and metal, has scheduled ten club shows across five countries. More information about the tour can be found here.
Soul singer and songwriter Nao Yoshioka has a couple of European shows planned in September, as part of the self World Tour, titled after her recently released sixth album. There are five shows planned, in London, Barcelona, Milan, Paris and Gdańsk. It will be the first time for the Japanese musician to perform in Italy and Spain. The singer was interviewed by AVO Magazine in 2025; the article can be found here.
The flamboyant musician KAMIJO has had a busy summer, including a performance with Versailles at the B7KLAN J-Rock Fest and his very first gig in the United States. But this month he is back in Europe for a European tour comprising eight shows. In this article, you can read more about his upcoming tour in September and October.
10 years after their DEIMOS European tour in 2016, the metalcore/deathcore band NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST will return to Europe for a one-off show in Madrid. The performance is part of the band’s overseas tour, with stops in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Spain.
Crystal Lake will be touring through Europe as one of the supporting acts of Fear Factory’s Cybernetic Domination Tour. The metalcore band recently announced a new permanent vocalist, PK, who is also active in the metalcore band Prompts, following John Robert Centorrino’s departure earlier this year. In September, they will perform more than twenty shows, including a show at Baroeg Open Air in Rotterdam. On 27 September, they will perform a headliner show in the Italian city of Bologna.
This month, singer-songwriter LiSA will tour Europe to celebrate the 15th anniversary of her solo debut. The tour comprises four shows in Italy, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. More information about the tour can be found in this article.
Visual kei musician Sana Takizawa has been touring here and there in Europe in the last few months. In July, he performed at the Belgian convention Atsusacon and continued to stay in Italy for a number of shows. In September he has another list of shows planned in Italy, including performances at Pescara Comix & Games and Chiavari in Cosplay.
For the fifth time in a row, rock musician Yutaro Ogida is heading back to Europe for a tour. The singer-songwriter will perform in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Switzerland. In 2024, AVO Magazine published an interview with Yutaro Ogida, in which he spoke about his musical journey.
Steampunk metal band FATE GEAR will return to Europe this month for a couple of shows in Germany and their first-ever show in Italy, as part of the Frozen Abyss Tour. But before they kick off the tour, Captain Mina and Hime Hashimura will perform two special shows at Connichi 2026.
The three-piece collective Maya Ongaku have planned their biggest European tour to date, comprising 23 shows across 8 countries. A number of festival appearances are scheduled, including the Leffingeleuren Festival in Leffinge and Kronkelfest in Amsterdam. The trio is known for their blend of traditional Japanese folk and psychedelic music. Meer informatie is te vinden op hun Instagrampagina.
Shamisen singer Yuzu has been touring Ukraine during the summer and performed at the Turkish convention KimiCon, in September the singer-songwriter has confirmed a couple of shows in Spain and Poland. Details for one of the dates are not yet available, but will be announced later on Yuzu’s Instagram page. In the last few years, the musician has been touring over the world sharing a combination of traditional and modern music. At the start of this year, she released a new album, titled Kawaii Sensation, showing this combination off.
Still on tour in September 2026
The European tour of melodic hardcore and skate punk band STONE LEEK is almost done; they have been touring Europe for most of August. In September, they have five more shows to go, in France, Switzerland and Germany. After they have finished this tour, they can look back at more than 25 shows in 9 countries. More information about the European tour can be found here.
Hibushibire’s European tour has been underway for almost two weeks now; so far, the psychedelic rock band has only performed in the United Kingdom, but the tour is not over yet. In September, they will be performing on the mainland of Europe, including France, Czechia, Hungary, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Their brand-new album, titled Phantom Fuzzy Exotica, is just out. More information about the tour can be found here.
Merzbow has been performing regularly across Europe this year, and will continue to do so in September. Masami Akita’s noise project has a number of festival appearances lined up, including the Contemporary Music Festival in Oslo and the Conflux Festival in Rotterdam. He will also be performing in Greece, Bulgaria and Italy. All the details are clearly listed on Merzbow’s official website.
The dark industrial gothic project of idol Yuffie Sakimura, Garuda, just finished the first few days of her tour in Europe, where she shared the stage with another underground musician, the self-dubbed most passionate idol, Yurapico. In September, she will be in Sweden for a handful of performances with punk rock idol Mad Jamie. The tour will end up at the Italian-based event Wondercon in Napoli, where she will be seen performing on both days.
Punk rock idol Mad Jamie was in Europe last month for a gig at RakuCon and two shows in Poland, including a performance at Hikari Festiwal. A number of gigs are planned for September in Sweden, as well as the final show in Italy, as part of the Hyper Natural European tour. As mentioned above, she will be sharing the stage with Garuda at various shows.
The self-proclaimed sound alchemist Kenta Hayashi has been in Europe since June, performing at various festivals and on an extensive tour of Italy. Last month, he performed in Serbia, Italy, Germany and, last but not least, the Netherlands, where he is currently still located to wrap up his tour. More updates can be found on his social media.
Japanese music at events
The German event Connichi will take place over the first weekend of September, featuring a packed programme of panels, talks, workshops, competitions and a music programme. Among others, Captain Mina and Hime Hashimura from FATE GEAR will be giving special performances, and the vocalist and guitarist Upiko will also be performing.
From 24 to 27 September, the multidisciplinary arts festival Conflux will take place in Rotterdam. The festival focuses on multisensory experiences, current themes, contemporary art and experimental music. One of the artists due to perform is Masami Akita’s noise project, Merzbow. The performance is scheduled for Saturday at the Brutus art centre.
Japan Weekend returns with a new edition in Madrid on 26 and 27 September. They have invited a number of Japanese musical artists to this edition, including the idol group Liella!, singer May’n, and singer and voice actress Machico. The guest list is much longer, with the addition of VTuber Ironmouse, cosplayers Lorraine, Shiroki and Shirak, mangaka and illustrator Yoshitoshi ABe, voice actor Katsuyuki Konishi, composer Shoji Meguro, video game writer nyalra and screenwriter Chiaki J. Konaka.
CAMERA JAPAN is an annual film festival held at two venues in the cities Rotterdam and Amsterdam. This year, CAMERA JAPAN will take place from 23 to 27 September in Rotterdam and from 1 to 4 October in Amsterdam. The organisers have just announced their full programme, featuring a large number of films that will have their Dutch premieres at this festival. In addition to the film programme, CAMERA JAPAN also offers a side programme, including a number of exhibitions, the market, workshops, a lecture, musical interventions and an exclusive performance by Tomo Katsurada (ex-Kikagaku Moyo) and Jonny Nash.
Have you seen an announcement that hasn’t been featured on the website yet? Send us a message. If you’re an event organiser, feel free to send us a press release. All the contact information can be found on this page. Want to contribute to AVO Magazine? We are currently looking for writers and translators.
