Idolmaster IWSF2026 Day 2 Brings Vocal Powerhouses Together
The Idolmaster franchise celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special cross-brand xR live event titled THE IDOLM@STER 20th Anniversary MORE RE@LITY LIVE IDOL WORLD SUPER FESTIVAL 2026 (IWSF2026), held at Keio Arena Tokyo from July 24 to 26. Day 2 of the event, themed ZESSYOU (absolute singing), brought together vocal powerhouses from across the series’ various brands for a night of exceptional live performances. Backed by the IWSF Band’s live instrumentation and the IWSF Strings quartet, the show featured carefully curated collaborations that highlighted the vocal talents of participating idol characters, creating an unforgettable experience for attendees.
The concert opened with the IWSF Strings quartet performing a quiet intro before Mizuki Amai appeared in an elegant dress to sing Tonari ni… followed by Chihaya Kisaragi performing Saikyou in the same outfit she wore at her recent solo Budokan concert OathONE. Both songs featured string-only arrangements that highlighted the performers’ vocal clarity, earning thunderous applause. A subsequent surprise came when Chihaya and Haruka Amami’s duet CRIMSON LOVERS was covered by Madoka Higuchi and Luka Ikaruga from The Idolmaster Shiny Colors, drawing audible gasps from the audience. The unexpected song and performer combination set the tone for the evening’s creative cross-brand pairings.
Throughout the night, the setlist featured numerous cross-brand collaborations that brought together idols who rarely share a stage. Julia and Shizuka Mogami joined Retra for a rendition of Ryuseigun, while Chihaya made a surprise appearance during Temari Tsukimura’s Ivy, a song she had previously covered at her Budokan show. Other highlights included Chihaya, Shizuka, and Temari performing the Gakuen Idolmaster song ENDLESS DANCE as a trio representing the series’ Azure lineage. The IWSF Band received a special introduction during that same song, with each instrumentalist performing a solo that further energized the venue.
The evening concluded with all participating members gathering on stage to perform Alive Factor, a duet originally by Chihaya and Shizuka, whose lyrics fittingly matched the ZESSYOU theme. The staff roll song Ai NEED YOU was then sung by the entire audience as Chihaya had requested during the pre-show. The live demonstrated how vocal-centric cross-brand events can reveal new dimensions of familiar songs through unexpected harmonies and pairings. For fans of The Idolmaster series, this concert was a testament to the enduring strength of its vocal talent across every brand, and a reminder that even after 20 years, these characters continue to deliver breathtaking performances.
