After more than a decade away, Sónar Tokyo officially returns in 2026, joining forces with the multidisciplinary NU Festival for a three-day event in one of Tokyo’s most ambitious new urban developments: Takanawa Gateway City.

Taking place from June 26 to 28, the collaboration marks a new chapter for Sónar in Asia, integrating its two core identities — Sónar Sound and Sónar+D — into a broader program dedicated to innovation, music and digital culture.

Sónar Sound: a curated electronic lineup

As part of the NU Live program, Sónar presents a specially designed lineup combining live shows and DJ sets from global and local pioneers:

Actress
Actress & Suzanne Ciani (Concrète Waves)
DJ Krush
Grandbrothers (live)
Nathan Fake (live)
William Basinski (Passing the Cup of Sorrows)
Two Shell
Meitei (live)
Daito Manabe (live)
COLA REN, Kyomi and Minna-no-Kimochi (Downtempo Set)

The lineup reflects Sónar’s signature balance between experimental electronics, ambient soundscapes and forward-thinking club music.

Sónar+D meets NU Art

Beyond music, the collaboration extends into the NU Art program, developed together with Sónar+D. Activities will take place at the newly opened MoN Takanawa: Museum of Narratives, a space entirely dedicated to digital art and culture.

While the full program is yet to be revealed, it promises immersive installations, audiovisual works and technological experimentation from artists across Japan, Europe and beyond.

A new urban playground for electronic culture

The event will unfold across Takanawa Gateway City, a futuristic district built around a major transport hub and designed as a hybrid space for culture, technology and everyday life. This setting aligns perfectly with Sónar’s philosophy of exploring the intersection between city, innovation and creativity.

The beginning of a long-term return

Rather than a one-off event, Sónar’s presence at NU Festival represents the first step in a broader project to re-establish the festival in Tokyo in the coming years.

After its last edition in Japan in 2013, this return signals renewed ambition: bringing Sónar’s global vision of electronic music and digital culture back to one of the world’s most forward-thinking cities.

This June, Tokyo won’t just host a festival — it will host a glimpse of Sónar’s future in Asia.

Sónar lands in Tokyo on June 26–28 as part of NU Festival, blending electronic music, digital art and cutting-edge technology.