NHK announced 41 competing acts for the 77th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen (第77回NHK紅白歌合戦) on November 13, with 20 performers on the Red Team and 21 on the White Team. Seven acts will participate for the first time, alongside several artists making their first appearance in decades. A further special performance brings the announced total to 42 acts.
Seven debuting acts
This year's newcomers cover different corners of the Japanese music scene. The Red Team welcomes =LOVE and CUTIE STREET, while the White Team introduces Ayumu Imazu, Aぇ! group, EBiDAN, Macaroni Empitsu (マカロニえんぴつ) and Monaki (モナキ). The selection ranges from idol pop to the guitar-led sound of Macaroni Empitsu.
Returns across generations
Among the longest-awaited comebacks, Mizue Takada (高田みづえ) returns after 42 years, TM NETWORK after 38 years, and ANRI (杏里) after 30 years. Ryoko Moriyama (森山良子) and Misato Watanabe (渡辺美里) both return after 21 years, while L'Arc-en-Ciel makes its first appearance in 15 years. T.M.Revolution also returns after a 12-year absence.
The contrast is central to this year's lineup: performers whose careers began in earlier eras of Japanese popular music share the bill with acts emerging from today's idol, rock and pop scenes.
Koshi Inaba's special performance
Koshi Inaba (稲葉浩志) of B'z will appear outside the Red and White Team competition, making his first solo appearance at Kohaku. He is scheduled to perform his cover of “Touch”, originally released by Yoshimi Iwasaki (岩崎良美) in 1985. The song was also featured in connection with the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Read J-POP streaming's separate article on Koshi Inaba's performance.
Complete Kohaku 2026 lineup
The list below follows NHK's November 13 announcement. Numbers indicate total Kohaku appearances; ★ indicates a debut.
Red Team (20 acts)
- ILLIT · 3
- Ado · 2
- ANRI (杏里) · 4
- =LOVE · ★
- Sayuri Ishikawa (石川さゆり) · 49
- AKB48 · 14
- Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ) · 4
- CUTIE STREET · ★
- Fuyumi Sakamoto (坂本冬美) · 38
- Mizue Takada (高田みづえ) · 8
- Chanmina (ちゃんみな) · 2
- Yoshimi Tendo (天童よしみ) · 31
- Nogizaka46 (乃木坂46) · 12
- HANA · 2
- FRUITS ZIPPER · 2
- MISIA · 11
- Kaori Mizumori (水森かおり) · 24
- Ryoko Moriyama (森山良子) · 11
- YOASOBI · 4
- Misato Watanabe (渡辺美里) · 2
White Team (21 acts)
- Ayumu Imazu · ★
- Aぇ! group · ★
- EBiDAN · ★
- &TEAM · 2
- King & Prince · 7
- sakanaction (サカナクション) · 3
- Junretsu (純烈) · 9
- Masayuki Suzuki (鈴木雅之) · 7
- SixTONES · 5
- TM NETWORK · 2
- T.M.Revolution · 6
- Leon Niihama (新浜レオン) · 3
- Vaundy · 4
- BE:FIRST · 5
- Masaharu Fukuyama (福山雅治) · 19
- Macaroni Empitsu (マカロニえんぴつ) · ★
- Mrs. GREEN APPLE · 4
- M!LK · 2
- Monaki (モナキ) · ★
- Yuzu (ゆず) · 15
- L'Arc-en-Ciel · 6
Special performance
- Koshi Inaba (稲葉浩志) · ★ (solo debut; outside the competition)
When and where to watch
The 77th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen will air on December 31, 2026, from 7:20 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. JST, with an interruption for news. NHK plans live and catch-up streaming on NHK ONE. The full set list and running order have not yet been announced.
Sources: NHK's official Kohaku website, Oricon's November 13 lineup announcement and Daily Sports on the returning performers.