POP YOURS 2026, Japan's premier hip-hop festival, wrapped up its biggest year yet. Held April 3-5 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, the event drew approximately 45,000 attendees—up from 35,000 the previous year—and accumulated 2.3 million YouTube views across all performances.

The festival's expansion to a full three-day run brought substantial changes. Organizers added Terminal 6 STAGE as a new venue, allowing the event to accommodate 120 total artists, nearly double the typical lineup. This scaling-up reflects growing momentum in Japan's hip-hop scene five years after the festival's initial launch.

A major focus was the "NEW COMER SHOT LIVE" segment, which introduced nine emerging rappers: Siero, X 1ark, AOTO, Sad Kid Yaz, Rama Pantera, YELLASOMA, Kianna, 11, and HARKA. Each artist had just five minutes to impress, creating high-stakes performances that ranged from hard-hitting to melodic. Siero, a 20-year-old from Tokyo's underground scene, stood out by taking time to engage the crowd before launching into his signature track "Nikonico." Sad Kid Yaz declared "next year's headliner has to be me," while YELLASOMA triggered crowd singalongs with his hit "BoroBoro." A surprise collaboration occurred on day two when Kianna, HARKA, AOTO, and Siero performed the festival-exclusive track "STARLIGHT" together.

Four first-time performers received headlining slots: Litty, Worldwide Skippa, Manaka, and Jellyyabashi. Litty, recently signed to EMPIRE, delivered dynamic staging with choreography and vocal contributions. Worldwide Skippa capitalized on his viral hit "don't stop freestyle" to command the crowd's attention. Manaka impressed with polished vocals and pop sensibility on tracks like "Look At Me Now," signaling major potential. Jellyyabashi, representing the underground crew YOKOSQUAD from Yokohama, brought crew members onstage to showcase US-influenced production and street credibility.

The festival's evolution signals a maturing Japanese hip-hop ecosystem. By combining proven acts with rising talent and expanding infrastructure, POP YOURS continues positioning itself as essential for tracking the scene's current state and emerging stars.