Full Metal Japan 2026
Oct 24, 2026 at 12:00pm ~ Oct 25, 2026 at 9:00pm
Wacken Open Air in Germany is one of the world’s biggest heavy metal festivals, drawing about 85,000 fans to a small village every summer. This October, its official partner festival comes to Japan for the first time.
Full Metal Japan 2026 runs October 24-25 at Pia Arena MM in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai district. The format is different from most festivals in Japan. There’s one stage, every seat is reserved, and the whole event is indoors. With no competing stages and no scramble for a spot, the organizers are pitching it as a festival for adults.
The Lineup
Day 1 is headlined by the Michael Schenker Group, led by the German guitarist whose riffs helped shape hard rock from the 1970s onward. Also on the bill are Finnish power metal band Stratovarius, Japanese all-female metal group Lovebites, and the pairing of Gus G. and Ronnie Romero. Vandenberg, led by Dutch guitarist Adrian Vandenberg, replaces Rage, who canceled after vocalist Peavy Wagner’s hip surgery.
Day 2 brings German metal band Powerwolf, playing their first show in Japan. Brazilian prog metal band Angra performs with former members Kiko Loureiro and Edu Falaschi, in what the promoter calls a one-time reunion. Japanese heavy metal veterans Loudness and Danish hard rockers Pretty Maids also play. Brazil’s Hibria rounds out the day with original members Iuri Sanson and Renato Osorio.
What to expect inside
The venue experience is modeled closely on the Wacken atmosphere. The lobby will serve German-style beer and festival food throughout both days, screens will show footage and artist messages during set changes, and a dedicated merchandise area will stock Full Metal Japan 2026 exclusives. Doors open at noon, with performances starting at 1pm on both days.
Tickets are available via Pia. Pia Arena MM is a short walk from Minato Mirai Station and Shin-Takashima Station on the Minatomirai Line.
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Information
Start: Oct 24th 2026 at 12:00pm
End: Oct 25th 2026 at 9:00pm
¥22,000 - ¥25,000
