| The most ambitious version of Boomtown ever created is set to take place in August 2026. Today, a wide array of 40+ live and electronic artists have been revealed for the line-up alongside detailed expansion plans, as one of the world’s leading festival experiences ushers in a bold new era, Chapter 5: Radical Redesign. Today’s announcement brings together legends and trailblazers across genres and generations, with Belfast’s politically charged trio Kneecap alongside New York’s Scissor Sisters, icons of glam-pop and drag performance. Madness are set to bring their own house of fun to the middle of Boomtown again following their memorable set on Lion’s Den in 2016. The true genre-defying maximalist producer Skrillex will be joined on the line-up by the visionary Four Tet – responsible for some of the most groundbreaking electronic music releases in the past decade, as British dance pioneers Faithless celebrate their 30th anniversary at the festival next year. None other than Scooter, the one of a kind German happy hardcore ravers will make an anticipated debut at Boomtown, alongside the unapologetic Jamaican showman Shaggy. The fearless boundary-breaking force Ashnikko joins the bill off the back releasing her thrilling second album ‘Smoochies’, next to fellow US rap innovator Eve, known for era-defining hits ‘Who’s That Girl’ and ‘Let Me Blow Ya Mind’. Elsewhere, Boomtown unites some of the most influential forces on the dance floor, with drum & bass titans Camo & Krooked B2B Mefjus, chart-topping powerhouse Wilkinson, euphoric Berlin trance DJ Marlon Hoffstadt, explosive UKG and bass duo Kilimanjaro B2B Oppidan, German rising star Diffrent, hard-hitting techno disruptor Brutalismus 3000, and high-speed rave innovator Sherelle – AV Show. They’re joined by dance floor veterans Groove Armada, forward-thinking electronic master Floating Points – Live, UK bass favourite Notion, and boundary pushing newcomer Nimino – Live, plus Boomtown royalty Shy FX, marking a true homecoming moment for the festival. The line-up also spans everything from iconic hip-hop and rap moments with Havoc of Mobb Deep featuring BIG NOYD + DJ L.E.S, Princess Nokia and the celebrated Sampa the Great. Another vital new voice in a league of their own is Manchester’s dancefloor poet Antony Szmierek. Boomtown also turns up the volume with more incredible live bands, from heavy hitters Skindred, ska heroes Bad Manners and American ska-punk favourites Less Than Jake, to rising UK punk powerhouses High Vis and Big Special. Completing today massive first reveal is heavyweight sound system favourites Mungo’s Hi Fi Allstars, Gentleman’s Dub Club & Friends, and global reggae force Alborosie & Shengen Clan and more. Adding to those unforgettable festival moments will be the undeniable party-starters Vengaboys and Elvana, serving the biggest hits of unbridled fun and nostalgia. Boomtown has always championed the unexpected, and never before has its sheer diversity of sound and style felt so audacious and so convincing. Speaking about the new direction in the festival’s booking, Boomtown’s Co-Founder Luke Mitchell said: “Musically – While bass music has dominated in recent years and will always be at our core, we’re making a conscious move to keep Boomtown musically diverse and unpredictable. Expect more live bands and more cross-genre adventures. That’s where Boomtown began, and it’s what keeps us on the truest path forward” |
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| Not just making a statement with the line-up, Boomtown is gearing up for major updates to how the city will be built next summer – finding harmony with its home in the South Downs National Park. Introducing Boomtown’s new blueprint, and the purpose behind these changes, Luke Mitchell said: “Our 2026 event will encapsulate everything we love: intricate film-set worlds, twisting storylines, bouncing dancefloors, and diverse expressions of music and art. This time with more space to breathe – more nature, more woodland, more hidden places everywhere. Inspired by our surroundings, we are exploring how nature, science and technology can work together to improve our collective futures. Fragmentation isn’t destruction, it’s transformation. By breaking what we know, we uncover new ways of being.” Following four incredible years rooted in the Downtown area, 2026 will see Boomtown expand and flourish, rebuilding the city once again with more wisdom and boundless creativity. With a new district, major site changes, and an evolved creative direction, this chapter promises to be the most imaginative yet. Opening up the landscape, the much loved Lion’s Den Stage finally returns to its fabled home in the Temple Valley amphitheatre. Long regarded as one of Boomtown’s most famous stages for dancehall, dub and jungle, its comeback has been loudly called for by the citizens and will stand as a beacon of this new era. Hilltop will reclaim its role as the festival’s creative core filled with live performance, theatre, and breathtaking spectacles, while Downtown plunges deeper into the wild, sweaty euphoria of dance music with Hydro XL – a groundbreaking development of the Hydro Stage, which successfully debuted last year as the first hydrogen-powered stage at a major festival. In 2026, Hydro XL will be double the size, taking green innovation and production design to a whole new level, whilst redefining one of the flagship sounds of the festival with a forward-thinking line-up showcasing techno and 4×4. Constantly evolving since its inception in 2009, Boomtown’s loyal community now spans generations, returning each year to more deeply explore the truly transformational event. Boomtown’s Luke Mitchell adds: “When dancefloors embrace all ages, the energy becomes richer, more grounded, that’s the spirit we want to keep building in line with our fundamental values of creativity, connection, celebration and respect.” Off the back of a sensational summer with highlights sets from Maribou State, Overmono, Sex Pistols ft. Frank Carter, Sean Paul, Jyoty, Nia Archives, Honey Dijon, Spice, Boney M, Nova Twins, Hybrid Minds, Pa Salieu and many more, Boomtown has already sold a record-setting 50% of tickets for 2026. Tickets will go back on sale this week, with public transport tickets available from 30th October, and festival entry tickets back on sale from 31st October. Boomtown is a living, breathing world of its own – a place where creativity thrives and boundaries blur between the stage and arena. With its elaborate world-building, immersive storylines, and spontaneous shows hidden in unexpected corners, it’s no wonder Boomtown has claimed ‘Best Festival Production’ at the UK Festival Awards three years running and is once again nominated for 2025, alongside two other major categories ‘Large Festival of the Year’ and ‘Tech Innovation of the Year’. With over hundreds of artists to be revealed around the unfolding story of Chapter 5: Radical Redesign, Boomtown’s ever-progressing universe steps into a vibrant and unpredictable cross-genre adventure. Boomtown takes place at Matterley Bowl in Hampshire from Wednesday 12th August to Sunday 16th August 2026. Public transport tickets go on sale 30th October, with Festival entry tickets on sale 31st October. Sign up for early access: www.boomtownfair.co.uk/tickets Artist Quotes Kneecap said: “If anyone knows of ‘a better way to live’ it’s the sound citizens of Boomtown…This one’s going to be special, see yis all there!” Scissor Sisters said: “Citizens of Boomtown, your Scissors Sisters are beyond jazzed to finally be bringing our circus to your town. We’re already dreaming of our steamy summer night together – you bring the Filthy and we’ll provide the Gorgeous. See you next summer!” Madness said: “Get ready people as we are welcomed back to the Lion’s Den. It will be the 10th anniversary since we first and last played Boomtown in 2016… the crowd, the costumes, the madness was pure mayhem and magic. We are thrilled to be returning to open proceedings in 2026. Nuttier than ever!” Faithless’ Sister Bliss said: “We are beyond excited to make our very first appearance at Boomtown to celebrate both our 30th anniversary and Chapter 5 of Boomtown’s extraordinary immersive world in 2026!” Antony Szmierek said: “Our live show has always been about escaping the real world for an hour, and combining that with a town purpose-built for this can only be a good thing. We’ve wanted to play here for a long, long time.” Sampa the Great said: “Excited to bring Nu Zamrock to a stage for the first time, live and in colour at Boomtown!! Finally back with new music and continuing the Legacy of Zamrock” First Wave Line-up Announced Today Kneecap, Scissor Sisters, Madness, Skrillex, Four Tet, Faithless, Scooter, Ashnikko, Shaggy, EVE, 999999999 – AV Show, Alborosie & Shengen Clan, Antony Szmierek, Bad Manners, Big Special, Brutalismus 3000, Camo & Krooked B2B Mefjus, Diffrent, Elvana, Floating Points – Live, Gentleman’s Dub Club & Friends, Groove Armada, High Vis, KiIimanjaro B2B Oppidan, Kings of the Rollers: Present Royal Rumble, Less Than Jake, L’Entourloop, HAVOC of MOBB DEEP w/ BIG NOYD + DJ L.E.S, Marlon Hoffstadt, Mungo’s Hi Fi Allstars, Nimino – Live, Notion, Oguz, Princess Nokia, Sampa the Great, Sherelle – AV Show, Shy FX, Skindred, Vengaboys, Wilkinson |