Sendai festivals, month by month
What recurs in Sendai every year, and what the organisers actually commit to. Two of these festivals publish a fixed date rule, one publishes only the month, and the rest announce each edition on their own schedule. This page says which is which instead of guessing.
8 annual festivals tracked. 7 have a confirmed edition for 2026 or later.
May
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Sendai Aoba Matsuri
仙台・青葉まつりFixed date rule
The third Sunday in May and the day before it
5月の第3日曜日とその前日を開催日とする — the organiser's own wording
Schedule-pattern source checked on 10 August 2026.
Nishi Park, Jozenji-dori and Higashi-nibancho
Two days: the eve festival on Saturday and the main procession on Sunday. The 2026 edition was the 42nd, held 16-17 May.
The 2026 edition is confirmed.
August
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Sendai Tanabata Fireworks
仙台七夕花火祭Announced year by year
Held as the eve event before Tanabata proper. The organiser publishes each year's date on its own; it states no standing rule, so the date is not assumed here.
Schedule-pattern source checked on 10 August 2026.
Aobayama Park area and the Hirose river
Run by a different organisation from Tanabata itself and held in a different part of the city, so plan it as its own outing. The 2026 edition was the 57th, on 5 August.
The 2026 edition is confirmed.
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Sendai Tanabata Matsuri
仙台七夕まつりFixed date rule
6-8 August, every year
毎年8月6日～8月8日 — the organiser's own wording
Schedule-pattern source checked on 10 August 2026.
Sendai Station front, Chuo-dori and the Ichibancho arcades
The only Sendai festival with a published fixed date. Enormous paper streamers hang from the arcade ceilings, so it works in rain.
The 2026 edition is confirmed.
September
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Jozenji Street Jazz Festival
定禅寺ストリートジャズフェスティバルMonth published, day varies
A weekend in September. The organiser publishes no day-of-month rule, and its own history shows the weekend moves: the 2024 edition fell on the first weekend, 2025 and 2026 on the second.
以来、毎年9月に開催を重ね — the organiser's own wording
Schedule-pattern source checked on 10 August 2026.
Fifty locations across central Sendai, Aobayama and the station area
Free in principle, spread across the city rather than one site. The 2026 edition is the 35th and is scheduled across 50 locations, its largest announced venue count so far.
The 2026 edition is confirmed.
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Sendai Oktoberfest
仙台オクトーバーフェストAnnounced year by year
Nishikicho Park
German and Japanese beer with a live stage, run over about two and a half weeks. Despite the name it starts in September.
The 2026 edition is confirmed.
October
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Michinoku YOSAKOI Festival
仙台みちのくYOSAKOIまつりAnnounced year by year
Seven venues across Sendai
Dance teams are scheduled across six stage venues and one parade route. The 2026 edition is the 29th, with the Jozenji-dori parade scheduled on the second day only.
The 2026 edition is confirmed.
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Sendai Classical Festival
仙台クラシックフェスティバルAnnounced year by year
Three halls on the subway network
Short concerts, 45 or 60 minutes each, priced per performance rather than per festival. The 2026 edition is the 20th, with 77 concerts scheduled over three days.
The 2026 edition is confirmed.
December
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SENDAI Pageant of Starlight
SENDAI光のページェントAnnounced year by year
A December illumination along Jozenji-dori. The organiser publishes no standing rule; the 2025 edition ran 5-28 December, and the next edition's dates had not been announced when this was checked.
Schedule-pattern source checked on 10 August 2026.
Jozenji-dori, between Sendai Mitsukoshi and the Jozenji Garden Hills
The zelkova trees along Jozenji-dori are lit for about three weeks. Free to walk through, and the closest thing Sendai has to a winter headline event.
Last confirmed edition: 2025. The next one has not been announced.