Miku Expo 2026 Quick Thoughts
Another two years, another Miku Expo. Let's keep it going~!!
Some quick thoughts on the top of my dome:
I think the setlist this time around is absolutely electric. Honestly I think my favorite setlist out of all the Miku Expos next to Miku Expo 2014 which is basically the Project Diva F show. 2016 started branching out with the song contest, Anamanaguchi tagging along, and just more popularity and accessibility of Miku and Vocaloid in general. On this setlist though, I felt it had more for everybody this time around, from the Vocaboomers to the people who have never listened to Vocaloid ever. For me personally, seeing Teo, World's End Dancehall, Sweet Magic, shake it!, Catch the Wave, Patchwork Staccato, and my favorite of the night drop pop candy all being performed live was such an amazing treat. The instrumentals and the band themselves did such a fantastic job. The added guitar part for Patchwork Staccato was an amazing touch, and the instrumental break starting with the bass solo on shake it! was super cool. As always, shout-outs to the drummer (same one as last year) for just keeping it going throughout the night.
A personal tierlist from me out of all the Miku Expos I've watch: 2014 (the OG concert, the vibe in the audience was so electric, and hearing the English version of Just Be Friends was such an amazing suprise), 2026 (reasons above, love the setlist and the band), 2016 (Anamanaguchi opening the show, setlist was great and introduced more EN songs/artists), 2018 (good setlist, Melt as an encore and getting to hear it live was my highlight), 2020 (canceled but good theme), 2024 (I like Highlight). No further comments at this time, please.
I love community efforts and events, from all the freebies and just general greetings to helping your neighbors. For example, my friends were telling me how there were some younger fans around where they were sitting, and as they were watching they didn't really know what to do, so the people next to them let them borrow their extra glowsticks. A friend in cosplay was also approached by the sweetest kid with a Garfield Teto shirt and gave her some candy. Of course, she gave him a bunch of free stickers. Seeing bracelets being passed around was also super cool.
Miku Expo will always be an inspiration to me as a musician, and I want to keep working hard to create music that will reach out to someone. So much talent and love and passion in this community, I would love to help contribute to that too.
Overall, this was a really fun Miku Expo. One day I would love to see an overseas one. Until then, I'll be eagerly waiting for Miku Expo 2028.
And now, the completed panorama of all the Miku Expos I have been to:
