Solo Fes! 2026 Returns After 5 Years, Featuring New Fan Vote for MVP!

The highly anticipated Hello! Project fan event, "Solo Fes!", has announced its return as "Solo Fes! 2026" on CS Asahi Channel, scheduled for Saturday, February 28, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM JST. The announcement sparked a wave of excitement on social media, with fans exclaiming "It's Solo Fes!!!!" and "Yessssssss!ヽ(´▽`)/!", leading to the event trending online.

"Solo Fes!" is a serious competition where members from all Hello! Project groups perform their best solo acts, vying for their own dedicated TV program. This time, a new rule has been introduced where viewer votes from CS Asahi Channel will be reflected in the "MVP" selection for the first time, further boosting fan anticipation.

With this being the first event in five years, out of the current 65 Hello! Project members, only about 40%, or 27 members, have previous Solo Fes experience. This means it will be the debut Solo Fes for members of newer groups like OCHA NORMA and Rosy, leading to excitement for the blossoming of new talent, with fans commenting, "Is it OCHA and Rosy's first Solo Fes?? So excited✨✨". Fans are already vocalizing their anticipation for performances, with remarks like "There are too many songs I want Ichika-chan to sing at Solo Fes" and "It's fun to search for my favorite member's name and see other otaku's song choices," fueling speculation about the upcoming acts.

On the other hand, some comments regarding viewing access have surfaced, such as "I just canceled CS, but now Solo Fes! is happening at this timing, I want to watch it!!!" and "Solo Fes, please stream it even if you charge money." However, many fans who subscribe to Sky Perfect TV (for CS Asahi Channel only) are eagerly awaiting the broadcast, stating, "I'm subscribed to Sky Perfect (Asahi Ch only), so I can watch it directly 🤗." This reflects a mix of strong anticipation for the event, amplified by the five-year hiatus.

The return of "Solo Fes!", which has produced numerous memorable performances, is a huge joy for Hello! Project fans, and the introduction of new rules is set to write a new page in its history. The broadcast on February 28th is highly anticipated.

The context

Hello! Project (ハロプロ): A prominent Japanese idol collective and agency founded by music producer Tsunku. It manages several idol groups and solo artists, known for their distinct musical style and rigorous training. The members often move between groups or debut as new units within the project.

Solo Fes! (ソロフェス！): An annual or semi-regular event within Hello! Project where individual members from various groups perform solo. It's a significant opportunity for members to showcase their unique talents and gain individual recognition. The stakes are often high, with prizes like dedicated TV programs for the winners.

CS Asahi Channel: A Japanese satellite television channel. Many idol-related programs, including exclusive content and live broadcasts, are often aired on CS (Communication Satellite) channels, which require a separate subscription beyond standard terrestrial or cable TV.

OCHA NORMA and Rosy: These are relatively newer idol groups within Hello! Project. Their members would not have had the opportunity to participate in the previous Solo Fes event five years ago, making this their debut on the Solo Fes stage.

MVP (Most Valuable Performer): A common award in entertainment. The key new development here is the introduction of fan voting from CS Asahi Channel viewers to determine the MVP, which was not a feature in previous iterations of Solo Fes!.