Postavke privatnosti

Buy tickets for festival GMO Sonic - 17.01.2026., Makuhari Event Hall, Chiba, Japan Buy tickets for festival GMO Sonic - 17.01.2026., Makuhari Event Hall, Chiba, Japan

FESTIVAL

GMO Sonic

Makuhari Event Hall, Chiba, JP
17. January 2026. 16:00h
2026
17
January
Photo by: Domagoj Skledar/ arhiva (vlastita)
CHECK AVAILABLE TICKETS
BOOK ACCOMMODATION NEARBY

Tickets for GMO Sonic 2026 at Makuhari Event Hall in Chiba, Japan – buy seats for the winter EDM festival

Buy tickets for GMO Sonic 2026 and experience a huge winter EDM festival at Makuhari Event Hall in Chiba, where Marshmello, Afrojack, Steve Aoki and Japanese stars turn the arena into a massive dance floor. This page focuses on ticket sales and planning your full festival trip to Japan, from travel to hotel
CHECK AVAILABLE TICKETS
BOOK ACCOMMODATION NEARBY

GMO Sonic 2026 turns Makuhari into a giant winter dance floor

A winter weekend in January in Japan takes on a completely new meaning this year thanks to GMO Sonic 2026, which on January 17 from 16:00 transforms Makuhari Event Hall in Chiba into a huge indoor dance floor filled with light, lasers, and powerful bass. It’s a two-day electronic dance music festival, but this ticket is valid for one day only, so visitors coming on Saturday will need to plan smartly to absorb the maximum atmosphere, performances, and experiences in a single day. Makuhari Event Hall, part of the well-known Makuhari Messe complex in the coastal Mihama-ku district of Chiba, is known for accommodating up to about 9,000 visitors, so at major events like this festival it creates a more compact yet extremely intense atmosphere compared to the vast open fields of classic summer festivals. GMO Sonic is conceived as a winter answer to the world’s biggest EDM festivals, with top-tier production, a laser show, and a crowd that follows DJ sets and live performances nonstop from early afternoon until late evening. If you’re already thinking about a winter trip to Japan or an extended weekend in Tokyo, Saturday, January 17, 2026 is the perfect moment to tie your plans to this festival and secure your tickets to enter Makuhari Event Hall in time. Secure your tickets for this event now and take advantage of the unique opportunity to experience GMO Sonic 2026 from the front row – buy tickets via the button below as soon as you decide on your trip.

GMO Sonic – the new winter festival that conquered Japan in just a few years

Although GMO Sonic may seem like a relatively new name compared to long-running summer festivals, it has quickly become an important part of Japan’s festival scene. The first edition was held in 2023, and the concept was clear from the start – bring world-famous electronic music names as well as popular Asian artists to a major winter event in Japan, with production that, in terms of lighting, LED screens, and special effects, can rival the biggest arenas in the USA and Europe. Even then, the audience recognized that this was a festival that stands out from classic arena concerts: instead of one main act and perhaps a supporting performance or two, GMO Sonic offers an all-day and all-evening program with multiple headliners and a series of DJ sets, which is why tickets for this event very quickly become a sought-after commodity among EDM and pop fans. From edition to edition the lineup changes, but it retains a combination of global stars, Japanese and Korean acts, and new names from urban genres, making the festival appealing to younger audiences as well as seasoned electronic music fans. The January winter slot also plays a major role, because GMO Sonic takes place in a period when it’s natural for Japanese people and international visitors to plan a short winter getaway with city walks, shopping, and a top concert experience under a roof, without worrying about rain or summer heat. It is precisely this combination of a reliable indoor environment, a star-studded lineup, and a strong visual identity that is why tickets for GMO Sonic are increasingly planned and purchased months in advance as the central part of a winter trip to Japan.

Day 1 lineup: a mix of global headliners and Japanese stars

A ticket valid for January 17, 2026 takes you to the first day of GMO Sonic 2026, a day during which Makuhari Event Hall will be taken over by some of the best-known names in today’s electronic and urban music. According to the published lineup, that day the audience can expect performances by artists such as MARSHMELLO, AFROJACK, STEVE AOKI, rapper GloRilla, idol group JO1, charismatic collective æ–°ă—ă„ć­Šæ ĄăźăƒȘăƒŒăƒ€ăƒŒă‚ș (Atarashii Gakko!), as well as Nakajin and ShioriyBradshaw, plus several additional names that will further boost the program. Although the festival lasts two days, the first day alone has enough power to justify a trip to Chiba, so many visitors prefer one-day tickets and focus on the single set of artists that appeals to them most. The combination of EDM titans like Marshmello and Afrojack with pop sensations such as JO1 or Atarashii Gakko! creates an interesting contrast: in one evening you experience both spectacular DJ sets with huge drops and singalong choruses, and energetic choreography and vocal performances that recall the best moments of J-pop and K-pop. Precisely because of this lineup diversity, GMO Sonic tickets attract not only “pure” electronic music fans, but also a wider audience who may be seeing some of these performers live for the first time and want a festival that looks like an awards show or TV special, but is happening right in front of them in a hall in Makuhari. If this mix of genres and performances feels like the ideal way to start the year, tickets for Day 1 of GMO Sonic 2026 will be your entry to an unforgettable festival night.
CHECK AVAILABLE TICKETS
BOOK ACCOMMODATION NEARBY

Marshmello, Afrojack and Steve Aoki – world DJ stars within reach

One of the main reasons why tickets for GMO Sonic 2026 are so in demand lies in the fact that the festival brings three DJ names that can fill arenas on their own into the same night: Marshmello, Afrojack, and Steve Aoki. Marshmello is globally known for his signature white helmet and hits that cross genre boundaries, from collaborations with pop stars to big festival anthems, so his GMO Sonic set promises a combination of singalong moments and powerful drops that get the entire hall on its feet. Afrojack, a Dutch veteran of the EDM scene, brings a recognizable big-room sound and experience working on numerous global hits, which is why his sets almost always turn a venue into a unified wave of hands in the air and loud chorus singing. Steve Aoki, meanwhile, is synonymous with explosive energy, fast mixes, and onstage surprises, and GMO Sonic gives him an ideal platform to deliver his chaotic yet precisely directed show in a Japanese hall accustomed to spectacular productions. For visitors considering buying tickets, it is especially important that all three DJs will perform on the same day, which means a single one-day ticket delivers an experience that in some other circumstances would require three separate major concerts. If you want to feel firsthand what it’s like when three EDM giants trade places on the same festival stage, buying tickets for Day 1 of GMO Sonic 2026 is a logical step already at the trip-planning stage.

Japanese and Asian stars that fire up the home crowd

GMO Sonic 2026 isn’t just a parade of world DJ stars, but also a big stage for Japanese and Asian artists who bring their loyal fans from across the country to Makuhari Event Hall. Idol group JO1 has been filling venues across Japan for years, and performing at a festival like this further highlights their status as a bridge between K-pop aesthetics and the local J-pop scene, which means the hall will be packed with fans holding light sticks, banners, and choreography they know by heart. The collective æ–°ă—ă„ć­Šæ ĄăźăƒȘăƒŒăƒ€ăƒŒă‚ș, internationally known as Atarashii Gakko!, brings its unique blend of modern dance, punk energy, and nostalgic Japanese school-uniform aesthetics to Makuhari, which is why their shows are always visually striking and perfect for festival videos and short clips for social media. Alongside them, names like Nakajin and ShioriyBradshaw further enrich Day 1 with shifts in style – from modern J-pop to house and bass sounds – allowing every visitor to find something to their taste without leaving the hall. This mix of domestic and international performers means GMO Sonic tickets attract both local fans and tourists who want to see Japanese pop culture in one place, in an environment that is both festival-like and highly organized. When you add the fact that a one-day ticket includes all these performances in one night, it’s clear why it’s smart to buy tickets early, before Day 1 receives the “sold out” label.

Makuhari Event Hall – a domed arena made for major music spectacles

Makuhari Event Hall is part of the larger Makuhari Messe complex, one of Japan’s largest convention and exhibition centers, located in the coastal part of Mihama-ku in Chiba City, east of Tokyo. The hall has a domed shape and is intended for various types of events – from sports competitions and ceremonies to concerts and festivals – and can accommodate up to approximately 9,000 visitors, depending on the configuration of the stage and stands. This flexibility allows GMO Sonic organizers to set up a stage that combines a massive central LED screen, side visuals, and a complex lighting and laser system, while the crowd spreads across both the floor and the stands, creating the feeling of an arena that “breathes” to the rhythm of the music. Since the festival takes place in January, a huge plus is that the entire event is fully under a roof, so there’s no worry about rain, wind, or cold – it’s enough to check the weather forecast for arrival and departure, while the atmosphere inside will be hot regardless of the temperature outside. For guests planning a multi-day stay, it’s also important that numerous hotels, shopping centers, and restaurants are located in the immediate vicinity of the complex, and you can easily connect that information with accommodation near the venue to make your trip as comfortable as possible. With proper planning of tickets, transport, and accommodation, GMO Sonic 2026 at Makuhari Event Hall can become the centerpiece experience of an entire winter trip to Japan.
CHECK AVAILABLE TICKETS
BOOK ACCOMMODATION NEARBY

Makuhari and Chiba – a modern coastal district in Tokyo’s shadow

Makuhari is part of the Mihama-ku district in Chiba City, created on reclaimed land along Tokyo Bay and developed as a modern business and residential district with an emphasis on convention tourism, sport, and major public events. This area is home not only to Makuhari Messe, but also to many offices of major Japanese corporations, shops, outlet centers, and stadiums, which is why on weekends and during major events the city is flooded with visitors from across Japan and abroad. The area around the hall offers a mix of wide avenues, green spaces, and coastal promenades, so many GMO Sonic visitors like to start the day with an easy walk by the sea or a break in nearby Makuhari Seaside Park before heading to the hall for soundcheck and the first DJ sets. Shopping enthusiasts are drawn to centers such as Mitsui Outlet Park or Aeon Mall Makuhari New City, where it’s easy to spend several hours between shopping, lunch, and a short coffee break, turning the whole festival experience into a mini city getaway. If you’re coming from another part of Japan or from abroad, planning accommodation near the hall is a logical choice, and you can study the offer in detail via accommodation for event visitors, where you’ll find different hotel categories within walking distance of the Makuhari Messe complex. A one-day GMO Sonic ticket thus becomes the center of a broader experience – a combination of urban exploration, shopping, seaside walks, and an evening music spectacle.

How to get to Makuhari Event Hall – by train from Tokyo or directly from the airport

One of the big advantages of GMO Sonic 2026 is the excellent transport connectivity of the Makuhari Messe complex, which greatly simplifies ticket purchases for visitors arriving from outside Japan as well. The simplest route from central Tokyo goes via Kaihin-Makuhari Station on the JR Keiyo Line: the ride from Tokyo Station takes about 30 minutes, and from the station you’re about a 5 to 10 minute pleasant walk through a modern pedestrian corridor from Makuhari Event Hall. For those arriving by plane, direct limousine bus lines are also available from Narita and Haneda airports to stops near Makuhari Messe, making arrival possible even if you don’t want to complicate things with transfers in central Tokyo. Travelers combining trains and local buses can rely on convenient IC cards like Suica or Pasmo, which make public transport quick and easy, and it’s also good to check the timetable in advance to align your arrival with the opening of the hall doors. Since the ticket is valid for one day, it’s advisable to arrive a bit earlier, pick up your wristband or verify your QR code, walk around the area near the hall, and take a spot closer to the stage in time, instead of spending part of the performances in lines. Tickets for this concert sell out quickly, so buy your tickets in time and plan your route from Tokyo or from the airport at the same time so the entire festival experience goes smoothly without unnecessary stress.

Planning your festival day – from cloakroom to food and accommodation

Although GMO Sonic 2026 is held in an indoor venue, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s a winter event and that daytime and evening temperatures in Chiba will be low, especially near the sea. It’s advisable to dress in layers – a warmer jacket will come in handy for arrival and departure, while for the time inside the hall it’s more practical to have lighter clothing that lets you move freely and dance for several hours in a row. Makuhari Event Hall and surrounding parts of the complex usually offer cloakrooms and rest areas, but at large festivals lines can be long, so it pays to arrive early and handle all logistical details before the biggest stars’ performances begin. Inside and around the hall there are various food and drink options – from quick bites to more substantial meals – but during peak festival moments crowds are unavoidable, so a good tactic is to combine an earlier meal in one of the nearby shopping centers and later light snacks between sets. If you plan to stay longer in Chiba or combine the festival with sightseeing in Tokyo, it’s practical to review accommodation offers in the host city in advance and choose a hotel within walking distance of the hall, which will help you avoid late-night rides and return unhurried after the final performance. With a well-planned arrival, cloakroom, meals, and accommodation, GMO Sonic tickets turn from an ordinary QR code into the key to a perfectly organized festival without unpleasant surprises.
CHECK AVAILABLE TICKETS
BOOK ACCOMMODATION NEARBY

One-day tickets, a two-day experience – how to get the most out of GMO Sonic 2026

Although your ticket is valid for one festival day, GMO Sonic 2026 is designed so visitors experience a full festival day – from earlier performances to late-night sets by the most in-demand DJ stars. Day 1 focuses on Marshmello, Afrojack, Steve Aoki, GloRilla, JO1 and other performers, while Day 2 in the same space brings new names such as Swedish House Mafie, TiĂ«sta, Dom Dolle and Meduze, so the most dedicated fans can consider buying an additional one-day ticket for the second day if they want a double music marathon. For most visitors coming to Makuhari for the first time, one day is a perfect balance between an intense music experience and time for sightseeing, shopping, and seaside walks, especially if you book an extra day or two in Tokyo before or after the festival. It’s smart to study the approximate performance schedule in advance and decide which performers you don’t want to be late for, so you can coordinate breaks for food, rest, and short trips out for fresh air between sets. Since this is a popular event with strong interest from both local and international audiences, buying tickets in advance is the best way to avoid disappointment in case Day 1 sells out, especially if you’re traveling from another country and planning other activities alongside the festival. If you want GMO Sonic 2026 to be the highlight of your winter trip to Japan, secure your tickets for this event now and at the same time book accommodation for festival visitors, so the whole experience is complete from the first to the last moment.

Who GMO Sonic 2026 is the perfect festival for

GMO Sonic 2026 is an ideal festival for everyone who loves powerful bass, spectacular production, and the energy of big arenas, while also appreciating the comfort of a well-organized indoor event. EDM lovers will get the chance to hear Marshmello, Afrojack, and Steve Aoki live, while fans of modern pop, hip-hop, and idol scenes will get their fill with JO1, GloRilla, and Atarashii Gakko!, meaning different music subcultures meet in one place that otherwise rarely share the same stage. The festival is also attractive to travelers coming to Japan for the first time, because it offers a strong but controlled music experience in a hall with clear rules, security protocols, and infrastructure tailored to large international events, all at a location that’s relatively quick to reach from Tokyo by train or bus. Thanks to the rich selection of hotels, shopping centers, and restaurants nearby, a visit to GMO Sonic can easily fit into a broader itinerary that includes sightseeing in Tokyo, visits to theme parks, museums, or trips along the coast, with Makuhari remaining the base from which all of that is easily organized. If you’re looking for a festival experience that combines world-class festival production, Japanese organization, and a practical one-day ticket that gives you access to top performers without needing to camp or worry about weather conditions, GMO Sonic 2026 at Makuhari Event Hall is probably the right choice for you. Buy tickets via the button below, plan your trip, and get ready for a night in which Makuhari becomes the center of global electronic music.

Sources:
- GMO Sonic 2026 – official festival website with dates, location, and lineup (Makuhari Messe, January 17–18, 2026.)
- Secret Tokyo – editorial piece on GMO Sonic 2026 with an overview of main performers and basic festival information
- Jasumo – overview of the GMO Sonic 2026 festival, description of genres, timing, and the basic concept of the event
- Music Festival Wizard – festival guide with general information about GMO Sonic 2026 and a short description of the Makuhari Messe location
- Makuhari Messe / Makuhari Event Hall – official venue pages with data on capacity, purpose, and address
- Chiba City and Mihama-ku – tourism and informational pages about the Makuhari area, transport connections, and nearby attractions
- Kaihin-Makuhari Station and access to Makuhari Messe – guides for public transport and walking routes between the station and the complex

Everything you need to know about tickets for festival GMO Sonic

+ Where to find tickets for festival GMO Sonic?

+ How to choose the best spot to enjoy the GMO Sonic festival

+ When is the best time to buy tickets for the GMO Sonic festival

+ Can tickets for festival GMO Sonic be delivered electronically?

+ Are tickets for festival GMO Sonic purchased through partners safe?

+ Are there tickets for festival GMO Sonic in family sections?

+ What to do if tickets for festival GMO Sonic are sold out?

+ Can I buy tickets for festival GMO Sonic at the last minute?

+ What information do I need to buy tickets for the GMO Sonic festival

+ How to find tickets for specific sections at the GMO Sonic festival

CHECK AVAILABLE TICKETS
2 hours ago, Author: Culture & events desk

Find accommodation nearby

You may be interested

GMO Sonic

Chiba
Sunday 18.01. 2026 11:00
Makuhari Event Hall, 2 Chome Nakase, Mihama Ward

Culture & events desk

The editorial team for arts, music and events brings together journalists and volunteers who have spent years living alongside stages, clubs, festivals and all those spaces where art and audience meet. Our writing comes from long-standing journalistic experience and genuine involvement in cultural life: from endless evenings in concert halls, from conversations with musicians before and after performances, from improvised press corners at festivals, from premieres that end with long discussions in theatre corridors, but also from small, intimate events that attract only a handful of curious people yet remain engraved in their memory for a lifetime.

In our newsroom write people who know what a stage looks like when the lights go out, how the audience breathes while waiting for the first note, and what happens behind the curtain while instruments or microphones are still being adjusted. Many of us have spent years standing on stage ourselves, participating in programme organisation, volunteering at festivals or helping artist friends present their projects. This experience from both sides of the stage gives us the ability to view events not merely as items in a calendar, but as living encounters between creators and audiences.

Our stories do not stop at who performed and how many people attended. We are interested in the processes that precede every appearance before the public: how the idea for a concert or festival is born, what it takes for a comedy to reach its audience, how much time is spent preparing an exhibition or a multimedia project. In our texts we try to convey the atmosphere of the space, the energy of the performers and the mood of the audience, as well as the context in which all this happens – why a certain performance is important, how it fits into the broader music or art scene, and what remains after the venue empties.

The editorial team for arts, music and events builds its credibility on persistence and long-term work. Behind us are decades of writing, editing, talking with artists and observing how scenes change, how some styles come to the forefront while others retreat into the background. This experience helps us distinguish fleeting hype from events that truly push boundaries and leave a mark. When we give something space, we strive to explain why we believe it deserves attention, and when we are critical, we explain our reasons, aware of the effort behind every project.

Our task is simple and demanding at the same time: to be reliable witnesses of cultural and entertainment life, to write honestly toward the audience and honestly toward performers. We do not deal in generic praise; we aim to precisely describe what we see and hear, knowing that every text may be someone’s first encounter with a certain band, festival, comedian or artist. The editorial team for arts, music and events therefore exists as a place where all these encounters are recorded, interpreted and passed on – humanly, clearly and with respect for the very reason it exists at all: the live, real event in front of a real audience.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
This article is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or approved by any sports, cultural, entertainment, music, or other organization, association, federation, or institution mentioned in the content.
Names of events, organizations, competitions, festivals, concerts, and similar entities are used solely for accurate public information purposes, in accordance with Articles 3 and 5 of the Media Act of the Republic of Croatia, and Article 5 of Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.
The content is informational in nature and does not imply any official affiliation with the mentioned organizations or events.
NOTE FOR OUR READERS
Karlobag.eu provides news, analyses and information on global events and topics of interest to readers worldwide. All published information is for informational purposes only.
We emphasize that we are not experts in scientific, medical, financial or legal fields. Therefore, before making any decisions based on the information from our portal, we recommend that you consult with qualified experts.
Karlobag.eu may contain links to external third-party sites, including affiliate links and sponsored content. If you purchase a product or service through these links, we may earn a commission. We have no control over the content or policies of these sites and assume no responsibility for their accuracy, availability or any transactions conducted through them.
If we publish information about events or ticket sales, please note that we do not sell tickets either directly or via intermediaries. Our portal solely informs readers about events and purchasing opportunities through external sales platforms. We connect readers with partners offering ticket sales services, but do not guarantee their availability, prices or purchase conditions. All ticket information is obtained from third parties and may be subject to change without prior notice. We recommend that you thoroughly check the sales conditions with the selected partner before any purchase, as the Karlobag.eu portal does not assume responsibility for transactions or ticket sale conditions.
All information on our portal is subject to change without prior notice. By using this portal, you agree to read the content at your own risk.