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The Yokohama-born festival heads back to Zepp Kuala Lumpur this August with a stacked lineup celebrating the evolving sound of Japanese music
J-Pop fans can officially mark their calendars as Central Music Fest 2026 returns to Kuala Lumpur this August with an exciting lineup featuring some of Japan’s biggest rising and established acts.
Following its successful Malaysian debut last year, the Yokohama-born music festival is set to take over Zepp Kuala Lumpur on Aug 1 with performances by Kana-Boon, Tatsuya Kitani, ReoNa, Jo0ji and opening act Kiora.
Created with the ambition of bringing Japanese music to global audiences, the music festival continues its expansion across Asia, with Kuala Lumpur serving as one of its key stops alongside Yokohama and Taipei.
Anime fans will likely recognise Kana-Boon almost instantly. The Osaka rock band has built a massive global following through iconic anime openings, including Silhouette from Naruto: Shippuden, Starmarker from My Hero Academia and Song of the Dead from Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead. The band most recently released Supernova, the opening theme for the second season of Dr. Stone: Science Future.
Meanwhile, Tatsuya Kitani continues to dominate the anime music scene after the viral success of Where Our Blue Is, the opening theme for Jujutsu Kaisen Hidden Inventory / Premature Death arc. Beyond his solo career, he is also active as part of the music unit GEMN.
ReoNa, known for her emotionally charged vocals and strong ties to anime and gaming soundtracks, will also bring her signature melancholic sound to the festival. Since debuting through Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online, she has gone on to perform songs for major franchises, including Shangri-La Frontier and Arknights.
Rising singer-songwriter Jo0ji adds a fresh indie presence to the lineup. After gaining traction online and being selected for Spotify’s Radar: Early Noise 2024, the artiste has continued building momentum through festival performances and his first full-length album Aeka. He also recently contributed Yoake no uta as an ending theme for the upcoming Jujutsu Kaisen The Culling Game Part 1.
Opening the night is Kiora, a four-member girl group blending modern pop with a “Japanese Heritage” concept. The group first appeared earlier this year at Head in the Clouds Tokyo 2026, organised by 88rising.
Tickets go on sale beginning May 25 at 12pm via Fantopia.io, with prices starting from RM268.
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