COUNTDOWN JAPAN 26/27 confirms 179 acts: LE SSERAFIM, ZICO and the five-day ticket details
LE SSERAFIM and ZICO join the festival’s completed 179-act lineup. The five Makuhari dates exclude December 28; the second ticket lottery closes November 2, with a separate front-area draw.
COUNTDOWN JAPAN 26/27 announced its complete lineup on October 28, confirming 179 acts in total. Reporting that day identified 82 newly announced performers, including LE SSERAFIM and Block B’s ZICO, following previously announced acts such as ENHYPEN. This lineup news was originally published October 28, rather than first announced October 29. The lineup and ticket arrangements should be read separately.
The festival takes place at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on December 26, 27, 29, 30 and 31, with no performance day on December 28. International visitors should check their ticket date and opening and ending times before arranging travel. The total of 179 does not mean every act appears on a single day, and unverified artist slots are not confirmed itineraries.
179 is the five-day total, not the daily bill
The organizer’s October 28 message confirms that this announcement and the first wave together total 179 acts. The 82 newly named acts are part of that total, not an extra group to add on top. The lineup includes Japanese and Korean performers; LE SSERAFIM, ZICO and the previously announced ENHYPEN provide several entry points for K-pop listeners.
Promotional portrait of ZICO in a dark shirt and necklace, not a photograph from this festival
The official artist page says performance times will be announced later and performers may change. A name on the lineup therefore differs from a confirmed stage and time. Anyone travelling for one artist should check official day assignments and the eventual timetable. The addition of several artists in one news report does not place them on the same day or stage.
December 28 is a break; New Year’s Eve ends the next morning
The venue generally includes Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Halls 1–11 and the Event Hall, but December 26 uses only Halls 1–11. Some food areas and the countdown shrine are unavailable that day. This is a first-day venue difference; facilities from other dates should not automatically be assumed available on December 26.
Lower official COUNTDOWN JAPAN poster listing December 29–31 acts and five-day venue details
December 26, 27, 29 and 30 are scheduled to open at 09:30, start at noon and end at 20:40. December 31 opens at 12:30 and starts at 15:40, with the listed ending time of 29:00 meaning 05:00 on January 1. All times are provisional and in Japan time. Include that overnight transition when booking accommodation or transport.
Ticket applications and front-area access are separate draws
The second advance ticket lottery accepts applications through the official J-Fes app from October 28 at 12:15 until November 2 at 16:00 Japan time. This is an application window, not a guarantee of obtaining tickets or the festival start date. The organizer’s references to previous sell-outs describe past experience, not proof that this year has already sold out.
Stage-front areas require a separate advance lottery and change audiences for each artist, with assigned standing positions. Advance-sale ticket purchasers are eligible to enter that process. A general admission ticket does not itself secure a front-area position. Consult the official site and app for complete current conditions; no lottery result, resale opportunity or special entry arrangement is guaranteed here.
Questions and answers
What are the five dates? Is there a December 28 show?
The dates are December 26, 27, 29, 30 and 31, 2026. December 28 is a break. The venue is Makuhari Messe, and December 26 excludes the Event Hall.
Should 82 new acts be added to the 179?
No. The 179 already includes the first wave and newly announced acts across five days; 82 is the latest addition within that total.
When does the ticket draw close, and does a ticket include the front area?
The second lottery closes November 2 at 16:00 Japan time through the J-Fes app. Stage-front positions require a separate advance draw; admission alone does not secure one.
