Southern Island Star Festival 2026

About this event

Held on Ishigaki Island over 9 days from Saturday, August 15 to Sunday, August 23, 2026, the "Southern Island Star Festival 2026" is one of the largest starry sky events in Okinawa Prefecture. In the main program, the "Evening Cool Live Performance & Stargazing Party", artists such as Rimi Natsukawa, Skoop On Somebody, RYOEI, and Shizuku will perform; after the live performances, an island-wide lights-off call will be made across Ishigaki Island to enjoy the star-filled sky. Furthermore, in the "Starry Sky Guide Symposium" commemorating the 25th anniversary, speakers including Wataru Arimatsu, Director of the Ishigaki-jima Astronomical Observatory of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), and Kenji Fujioka, Section Chief of the Tourism and Exchange Division of the Construction and Economy Department of Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture, will take the stage to discuss branding starry sky resources and improving guide quality. In addition, various star- and astronomy-related events are scheduled, including a special public opening of the VERA Ishigaki Island Station, astronomical observation sessions and facility tours at the Ishigaki-jima Astronomical Observatory, special planetarium screenings, and starry sky photography workshops for beginners, offering an opportunity to thoroughly enjoy the beautiful starry sky unique to the Yaeyama region located at the southernmost tip of Japan.

Venue

NAOJ VERA Ishigaki Island Station / Radio Telescope

2389-1 Tonoshiro, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0004