Our coverage of visual kei festival “MASKED 2026” begins here with a live report for DAY1!

The curtain rises on the visual kei festival “MASKED 2026” for its second year! This DAY1 report covers the event where 29 bands of varying backgrounds representing the scene clash head to head sending sparks flying!

MASKED is a project launched in 2025 to promote visual kei to the world. It began with the hugely successful inaugural circuit festival “MASKED 2025” and was followed by “MASKED HALLOWEEN” to help invigorate the modern Reiwa-era visual kei scene. The second circuit festival, “MASKED 2026” has evolved this year into a two-day event, gathering a wide range of bands and raising the number of performances from 29 to 57. To coincide with this announcement, the project also unveiled its original "MASKED" artist photos which generated immense buzz last year.

Photographer Susumu Miyawaki shot the vocalists of all 57 participating bands in a series of promotional artist photos for the event. Each portrait illustrates the band's unique artistry through their facial expressions, intense gazes, and elaborate hair and makeup styling. Ranging from dark aesthetics to high fashion, streetwear, and pop styles, no single photo is alike, conveying the artists' dedication to their visual aesthetic. To help hype up the festival, a behind the scenes documentary of the photoshoot and videos of the vocalists signing the camera were shared globally on social media platforms.

Tickets for both days instantly sold out and merch utilizing the original artist photos sold successfully at the ‘MASKED 2026 POPUP STORE' in SHIBUYA109 with other locations in China and America. “MASKED” generated quite the whirlwind, gaining more momentum than last year's event.

On May 22nd, crowds of passionate fans gathered outside the venue despite the day's unfortunate rainy weather, unbothered by the chilly temperatures. In addition to the main venues Spotify O-EAST, Spotify O-WEST, and duo MUSIC EXCHANGE, Shibuya REX hosted “MASKED mini” as well as the event afterparty and clubasia held a talk live event. Spanning two full days, the visual kei festival had begun.

As the show's teaser video played, the words “Visual kei: unbound, unlimited, free.” echoed like an oath, officially starting the show. Opener XANVALA took the stage as the first act to a fully packed audience. Just last year, the band performed in “MASKED 2025” at duo MUSIC EXCHANGE and have now successfully risen to Spotify O-EAST, a venue nearly twice the size. Dressed in black and brimming with determination, the band transformed the floor into a world of intensity and beauty with Sai (災), a track they released in April. The band went on to open “MASKED” with a diverse setlist which included the ballad “Koukai ni Saku Hana” (後悔に咲く花), enveloping the crowd with Tatsumi's (巽) alluring vocals.

As if to erase the lingering aroma of beauty and making the most of the rain, XAA-XAA (ザアザア) pulled the room deep into the darkness with a heavy, cynical performance. The third act, Amai Bouryoku (甘い暴力) , kicked off their show with a surprise as vocalist Saki (咲) made his entrance from the second floor balcony. With their energetic lyrics, they swept the entire audience along on a wild ride, while songs like “Kizukuchi” (傷口), which tenderly addresses real pain, and the poignant melody of their latest single, “Sakura,” (咲桜) firmly captured everyone's hearts.

Next up was CODOMO DRAGON (コドモドラゴン) who completely switched up the mood with their loud, EDM tracks “RIGHT EVIV” and “Shishi” (嗤死). The sight of the colorful ring lights glowing was refreshing, demonstrating that the true appeal of “MASKED” lies in how the atmosphere changes with each band. And while the bands hold respect for the festival and other performers, once the live starts pride takes over as if to say “We're the best” that sends sparks flying.

Having experience as organizers themselves with their “Bagusami” (バグサミ) event, BugLug is a band that truly understands the synergy of a festival. They opened with the Japanese horror styled “ENMA” followed by the fast-paced “BUKIMI” and danceable “Haisuikou de ikki shite” (排水溝で一気して), inviting the audience into their vibrantly colorful world. With Issei's passionate voice and striking visual effects on songs like “TIME MACHINE,” the band put on a grand-scale performance. Moving forward, there's no doubt the band will pick up speed as they approach “Bagusami 2026” (バグサミ 2026) to be held in the Tokyo-Nagoya-Osaka region for the first time.

Over at O-WEST, a diverse array of bands showcased their unique styles starting off with CHAQLA. , who dropped a fusion of hip-hop with groovy nu-metal. “Last year it was Duo, this year it's WEST, and next year it's EAST!” vocalist ANNIE A proclaimed in a freestyle rap, filling the venue with positive vibes. The second act, known as the “hype group” VIVARUSH (ビバラッシュ) added in their energy and turned the O-WEST stage into a bigger party.

Another highlight of the day at O-WEST was the lineup of solo projects. Mitsuki Sakai (酒井 参輝), guitarist for the band Kiryu (己龍), who are currently on hiatus, took the stage with fellow Kiryu drummer Junji Tokai (遠海准司) as a support member. Carrying the bond of their band with him, Sakai captivated the audience with his powerful vocals and dazzling guitar playing.

TAKERU (武尊) who continues his solo work following his time with the band SuG, took to the stage with his boldly defiant, drumless style. Showcasing a strong presence through his blend of diverse musicality and artistic expression, he sent a wave of excitement through the crowd when surprise guest guitarist Umi (海) from vistlip suddenly appeared on stage.

Next was Onigashima (鬼ヶ島), D=OUT (ダウト) vocalist Kouki's (幸樹) solo project. With his main band scheduled to perform the next day, Kouki appeared on stage dancing with a folding fan in hand, delivering a highly entertaining and uniquely Japanese rock performance that differed distinctly from his band. Kouki has made a remarkable name for himself as the enka and kayou singer “Hanamizakura Kouki” (花見桜こうき). One interesting aspect of the current visual kei scene is that while it upholds the traditional band aesthetic, styles unbound by those conventions are also flourishing with a newfound freedom.

Shifting venues, duo MUSIC EXCHANGE was the place to experience the constantly evolving visual kei scene right on the frontlines. This stage featured newcomers who fought their way through a four-round audition process and this is where the scene's next big wave of bands competed. From Kumori Nochi, (曇りのち、) transporting the audience to a retro world with the jazzy vibes of “B-men no Onna” (B面の女), to Rorschach.inc, where twin-tailed vocalist Rorschach 1-gou (ロールシャッハ1号) hyped the crowd with catchy choreography. The sounds and performances were incredibly diverse.

Taking the stage as the sixth act in a fiercely competitive lineup, DAMNED shook the venue with their heavy metalcore sound and vocalist Hitone's (一音) incredible vocal ability. The "Visual Kei x Metal" approach they champion has now become one of the scene's strongest pillars. Tangentially speaking, many fans were undoubtedly thrilled to see names in the second half of the O-WEST lineup such as DEXCORE , NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST , and DEATHGAZE . These bands have broken barriers with their innovative sounds and experience touring overseas, unleashing an intense chaos upon the MASKED stage.

Including veterans like DEATHGAZE, the presence of bands with careers spanning over two decades was a major highlight of “MASKED 2026.”

lynch. took to the stage for the second half of the day's performances at O-EAST, having recently celebrated their 20th anniversary last year. Starting with the first track, “GALLOWS,” they unleashed an ironclad ensemble, instantly building a sense of unity that feels climactic. Flashing his leather coat as he strode across the stage, vocalist HAZUKI (葉月) didn't just work up the crowd with his thunderous shouts but also boasted energetically during his MC, “I'm certain we'll give you a great time! EAST, let's tear it up!” They unleashed a relentless barrage of heavy and fast tracks like “MIRRORS” and “OBVIOUS,” leaving no room for a break. With every member's unwavering determination to keep pushing forward etched into the music, they brought the show to a majestic close with the killer tracks “PULSE_” and “ADORE.”

Carrying on that same passion was RAZOR , who will celebrate their 10th anniversary this year. Vocalist Ryoga (猟牙) openly declared himself a lynch. fan from the very beginning, and taking the role as the MASKED ambassador, his dedication to this stage was exceptionally strong. Ryoga appeared on stage in a skinhead bald cap identical to the one used in his “MASKED” artist photo, he blew the audience away by beating a wooden temple drum while chanting during the Heart Sutra-infused track "HUMAN ANALOGY." Delivering a dense lineup of tracks including the rolling guitar riffs of "BAD EVIDENCE" and the danceable "UNION," he even dove into the crowd during "DAMIAN FLY." It was a brilliant, wild display that felt like throwing down a gauntlet to the very visual kei scene he respects so deeply.

Next, MUCC ,the oldest band in the “MASKED” lineup, took the stage. As soon as YUKKE's bass kicked off “Daikirai” (大嫌い) the crowd erupted into a wild celebration complete with mosh pits and crowd surfing, just as vocalist Tatsuro (逹瑯) had urged: “Have fun and let loose!” From their indie-era classic “Shoufu” (娼婦) to “Fushichou” (不死鳥) from their latest album “1997”, they stirred everyone's emotions with tracks spanning all eras. Tatsurou, sporting the same ponytail seen in the “MASKED” promotional photos, laughed as he remarked, “I thought everyone would show up with the same hair and makeup as in the promo shots. If Ryoga hadn't been here, I would've ended up looking like some tryhard old guy・・・ (laughs).” Despite this lighthearted moment, the live performance was, of course, full-throttle. Right up until the finale, “Ranchuu,”(蘭鋳) they continued to overwhelm the crowd with a battle-hardened sound honed through countless festivals.

After a series of passionate performances, KIZU (キズ) took the stage as the headliner on the first day. Fresh off their nationwide tour “Hououenjun” (鳳凰焔巡) in April, they descended upon “MASKED 2026” in full concert mode. Vocalist Lime (来夢) bellowed, “Let's go, MASKED!!” as they dragged O-EAST into hell with their song “Jigoku.” (地獄) Their new song “Houou,” (鳳凰) released ahead of the tour, was a masterpiece, featuring a breathtaking four-piece groove and dramatic arrangement. The audience held their breath in tense anticipation right up until the very end, when Lime sang with from his soul, “Mitsuketekure tsumugi chiru kono inochi no kakera mo.” (魅つけてくれ 紡ぎ散る この命の欠片も) From there, spurred on by the band's aggressive barrage of “Heisei” (平成) and “Kizukoto,” (傷痕) the audience responded with headbanging and raised fists, reaching the peak of the day's excitement. As the energy continued to rise, the finale was “R/E/D/.” Lime knelt down, straining his voice to the limit, and sang and screamed the lyrics—which vividly etched his love-hate relationship with the scene—with every fiber of his being. Then, declaring, “This is the visual rock that lives today!” he stepped off the stage.

“MASKED 2026” wrapped up its first day with a level of energy that definitely surpassed last year's. Following the after-party featuring VIVARUSH (ビバラッシュ), this excitement carried over into the next day.