| With just one week to go, Boomtown is preparing to welcome 77,000 citizens to Matterley Estate in the South Downs National Park for Chapter Five: Radical Redesign, taking place from Wednesday 12th to Sunday 16th August 2026. Following a record-breaking sell-out, the festival’s 17th edition will introduce the most significant transformation of the city in its history, with a completely redesigned layout, expanded districts, groundbreaking new stages and hundreds of performances spanning music, theatre, art, science and collective participation. The brand-new 2026 map and full programme can now be explored through the official Boomtown app, where citizens can build their own schedules, favourite artists, navigate the city and uncover experiences hidden across its streets and venues. Bringing together 12 main stages, more than 50 hidden venues and thousands of performers, Boomtown is far more than a music festival. The city is designed as a living experiment in creativity, connection and collective change, encouraging everyone who enters to consider new ways of living together and take those ideas beyond the festival gates. Here are 12 essential things to know before entering Boomtown 2026. A RADICALLY REDESIGNED CITY Chapter Five marks the beginning of a new era for Boomtown, with the city significantly reconfigured around six distinct districts exploring social, cultural and environmental themes. The legendary Lion’s Den returns to Temple Valley, while Hilltop becomes the creative heart of the city and Downtown expands its focus on electronic music and late-night culture. New and transformed stages, streets, venues and public spaces will reshape how citizens move through and experience Boomtown. The new map is now live exclusively through the official Boomtown app, allowing festival-goers to familiarise themselves with the redesigned city before arriving. The changes are guided by the central theme of Radical Redesign, which asks what must be rethought, revisited, reconnected and rebalanced to create a better future. KNEECAP, SKRILLEX, FOUR TET, MADNESS, FAITHLESS AND MORE Boomtown’s broadest music programme to date moves between electronic music, live bands, hip hop, punk, reggae, pop and sounds from across the global underground. Skrillex, Four Tet, Faithless, Madness, Kneecap, Scissor Sisters, Scooter, Shaggy, Ashnikko, Eve, Groove Armada, Floating Points – Live, Brutalismus 3000, Sherelle – AV Show, Shy FX, DJ EZ, SBTRKT, Kae Tempest, Peaches, Rose Gray, Hak Baker and Folamour are among the leading names heading to the city. They will be joined by a vast programme of established pioneers, emerging artists, collectives, takeovers and grassroots talent across the city’s main stages, streets and hidden venues. The complete programme and personalised scheduling tools are available through the Boomtown app and online here https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/lineup |
 |
| BOOMTOWN UNBOXED When the gates close, the Boomtown story isn’t over… With Unboxed, everyone can relive the magical moments through a personal cinematic wrap-up of everything experienced. Boomtown Unboxed will transform the stages each person visits, the districts they explore and the moments that define their festival into an individual film. With 77,000 individual videos created, no two versions will be the same, because no two journeys through Boomtown are identical. Every citizen will receive an Unboxed film simply by attending, but the experience will become more personal as they explore the city, tap their wristband when entering participating venues, favourite artists in the app and complete quests. The project encourages citizens to move beyond the familiar, follow unexpected paths and engage more deeply with Boomtown’s music, theatre and storytelling. Find out more online https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/news/boomtown-unboxed THE CHANGEMAKER CARDS New for 2026: The Changemaker Cards, a participatory research experiment exploring peer-to-peer influence and prosocial behaviour. Digitally tracked cards will be passed from one citizen to another whenever a good deed is recognised. By following each card’s journey, the project will reveal how far positive actions can travel and how closely connected Boomtown’s temporary population becomes over five days. The project is the result of a research challenge run through the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Digital Media Inclusion. It brings together Boomtown, technology partners Amplify and Monks, the University of Surrey and Royal Holloway, University of London. The Changemaker Cards demonstrate Boomtown’s wider ambition to use the festival as a testing ground for ideas capable of inspiring conscious change beyond the event itself. |
 |
| HYDRO XL: THE FIRST GREEN HYDROGEN-POWERED MAIN STAGE Following the debut of HYDRO in 2025, the stage returns significantly expanded as HYDRO XL, increasing from an 8,000-capacity venue to a 20,000-capacity flagship stage in the heart of Downtown. Powered entirely by green hydrogen fuel-cell technology, HYDRO XL will generate emission-free energy, with water vapour as its only direct by-product, while delivering the full sound, lighting and production expected from one of Boomtown’s biggest stages. Its line up includes Skrillex, Four Tet, Floating Points – Live, Groove Armada, Brutalismus 3000, 999999999, VTSS, Azyr, DJ EZ, Eats Everything B2B TSHA, Sherelle – AV Show and more. The stage forms part of Boomtown’s wider commitment to demonstrating how large-scale events can introduce cleaner infrastructure without compromising their creative ambition. Read the full press release here. AGENTS OF CHANGE, THE REPAIRIUM AND THE CLOAK OF HOPE Boomtown’s environmental commitments extend throughout the city and campsites, asking citizens to respect the land the festival temporarily occupies. The Agents of Change programme invites attendees to make ten commitments, including leaving campsites as they found them, correctly recycling, using public transport or car sharing, bringing reusable water bottles, reducing meat consumption and reclaiming their Eco Bonds. More info: https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/news/agents-of-change-have-you-got-what-it-takes The popular Boomtown Repairium also returns to Pepperpot Market, with volunteers helping to repair broken camping equipment and clothing free of charge before those items become waste. More info: https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/news/the-boomtown-repairium-the-festivals-first-pop-up-repair-hub-that-fixed-more-than-just-broken-gear The long-term Cloak of Hope project will also continue at the festival. Citizens will be invited to create and stitch patches expressing their hopes for a more sustainable future, contributing to a growing collective garment that will appear at Boomtown 2027. More info: https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/news/cloak-of-hope THE OBSERVATORY: THE WOMEN-LED LIVE SCIENCE RESEARCH FACILITY The Observatory is a new women-led academic research hub embedded within the city, bringing live scientific studies, workshops, talks and panel discussions directly into the festival experience. Led by Dr Martha Newson, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Greenwich and leader of the Changing Lives Lab at the University of Oxford, the programme will explore identity, collective behaviour, emotional regulation, neurodivergence, social connection, creativity, beliefs and human relationships with the environment. Researchers from more than ten UK universities will invite festival-goers to take part in live studies taking place outside a traditional laboratory and within Boomtown’s temporary population of 77,000 people. The Observatory will examine what festivals can teach wider society about belonging, wellbeing, identity and transformation, with findings intended to be published and shared beyond the event. See full press release here and the introduction videos here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DaShTcYAGZy/?hl=en |
 |
| THE WORLD’S LARGEST INTERACTIVE THEATRE Alongside the music, Boomtown presents an enormous interactive theatrical world, with storylines unfolding across six districts, hundreds of characters, hidden rooms, street performances and spontaneous encounters. The 2026 storyline begins after The Collector handed leadership of the city to The Network. As they attempt to radically redesign Boomtown, disgraced corporate figures Mr Biga and Aurora Venturestone have merged BIGACORP™ and BETTERCORP™ to create BBXL™, declaring Earth a “single-use planet” and launching a resource-draining space programme. Citizens will be invited to decide whether The Network can return power to the people or whether another force must intervene. The story explores consumption, corporate power, environmental damage and collective responsibility, while Boomtown’s Saturday costume theme, ‘100 Years From Now’, asks citizens to imagine a future in which everything went right. Through participation rather than passive observation, Boomtown aims to encourage new ways of thinking and being, connecting and acting that can continue long after the festival ends. |
 |
| SAFETY, WELFARE AND THE BOOMTOWN VIBE CHECK Boomtown’s Vibe Check returns as a festival-wide pledge to party smarter and look out for your crew. It’s all about staying switched on and making sure everyone gets the most out of the Boomtown experience. More than 15,000 people took the pledge in 2025. For 2026, it asks citizens to stay crew-conscious, learn the locations of medical, welfare, Safer Spaces and drug education services, eat proper meals, drink water, rest, pace themselves and experience at least one performance each day completely sober. Take the Vibe Check pledge here: https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/news/take-the-vibe-check-pledge-2 New for this year, Bristol’s pioneering alcohol-free venue The Arc will open in Thrutopia, creating an inclusive space centred on music, art, connection and wellbeing without alcohol. More info: https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/news/vibe-check—recovery-rave The festival will also continue supporting its local charity partner, Winchester Hospice, with citizens able to make donations through Boomtown’s cash-free wristband system. Donate to Winchester Hospice here: https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/news/donate-to-winchester-hospice More info on safety and welfare facilities, support and guidance at Boomtown: https://www.instagram.com/p/DbjAlJtgEGp/ |
 |
| ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Boomtown Chapter Five: Radical Redesign takes place at Matterley Estate, South Downs National Park, Hampshire, SO21 1HW, from Wednesday 12th to Sunday 16th August 2026. Gate opening times are: Wednesday 12th August: 2pm-9.30pm Thursday 13th August: 12pm-9.30pm Friday 14th to Sunday 16th August: 10am-9.30pm There is no re-entry after 9.30pm. All festival-goers must leave the site by 12pm on Monday 17th August. Music runs from 2pm-11pm on Wednesday, 12pm-midnight on Thursday, 12pm-4am on Friday and Saturday, and 12pm-midnight on Sunday. The Boomtown Chapter Five Essential Guide, including travel, entry, camping, accessibility, prohibited items and departure information, is available here: https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/news/boomtown-chapter-five-radical-redesign-essential-guide Cash-Free Wristbands Boomtown is a cash-free festival, with food, drinks, merchandise and charitable donations paid for through RFID wristbands. Citizens are encouraged to create and top up their accounts before arriving, although top-up facilities will also be available on-site. Travel National Express coaches travel directly to the festival from more than 50 UK locations, while shuttle buses will operate between Winchester railway station and the festival’s West Gate. Anyone holding a Public Transport Entry ticket must arrive using the transport method selected when booking for the festival ticket to be validated. SIGN UP FOR BOOMTOWN 2027 With Chapter Five completely sold out, everyone can now register for information and first access to Boomtown 2027 through the festival website: https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/news/sign-up-for-boomtown-2027 |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
| MAIN-STAGES DAY SPLITS AND SET TIMES The full programme, including every stage, venue, theatre performance, workshop and activity, is available through the official Boomtown app. FRIDAY 14TH AUGUST THE LION’S DEN 12:00-12:30 – Opening Ceremony 12:30-13:50 – Madness 14:05-15:30 – Shy FX ft. Rage 15:30-16:30 – Sub Focus 17:00-18:00 – Alborosie & Shengen Clan 18:30-20:00 – Gentleman’s Dub Club & Friends 20:30-21:30 – Ren 22:00-23:15 – Kneecap 23:15-00:30 – Wilkinson ft. MC AD-APT 00:30-02:00 – Camo & Krooked B2B Mefjus ft. Daxta HYDRO XL 12:00-12:30 – Opening Ceremony 12:30-14:00 – Groove Armada – DJ Set 14:00-15:30 – DJ EZ 15:30-17:00 – Notion 17:00-18:30 – Diffrent 18:30-20:00 – Faster Horses B2B Y U QT 20:00-21:30 – Eats Everything B2B TSHA 21:30-23:00 – Effy B2B Ross From Friends 23:00-00:30 – 999999999 – AV Show 00:30-02:00 – Oguz 02:00-03:00 – [IVY] vs [SAFYRE] GRAND CENTRAL 12:30-14:00 – Dutty Moonshine Big Band 14:30-15:30 – Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn 16:00-17:00 – Havoc of Mobb Deep w/ Big Noyd + DJ L.E.S 17:30-18:30 – Big Special 19:00-20:00 – Kae Tempest 20:30-21:30 – High Vis 22:00-23:00 – L’Entourloop SATURDAY 15TH AUGUST THE LION’S DEN 13:00-14:00 – Crossy B2B Gray B2B Harriet Jaxxon ft. Spyda [Royal Rumble] 14:00-15:00 – Benny L B2B Break B2B Skeptical ft. MC GQ & MC Det [Royal Rumble] 15:00-16:00 – Kings of the Rollers Present: Royal Rumble 16:00-17:00 – Brockie B2B Micky Finn B2B Ray Keith ft. Jolie P & Shabba D [Royal Rumble] 17:00-19:00 – Mungo’s Hi Fi Allstars ft. Aziza Jaye, Charlie P, Eva Lazarus, Flowdan, Gardna, Killa P, Magugu & Solo Banton 19:30-20:30 – Shaggy 21:00-22:10 – Scooter 22:30-00:00 – Alix Perez ft. SP 00:00-02:00 – Andy C Presents: Nightlife 02:00-03:00 – A.M.C ft. Phantom HYDRO XL 17:00-18:30 – Melé B2B Olive F 18:30-20:00 – Folamour 20:00-21:15 – Rossi. B2B Silva Bumpa 21:25-22:25 – Floating Points – Live 22:35-00:05 – Four Tet 00:15-01:30 – Brutalismus 3000 01:40-03:00 – Azyr GRAND CENTRAL 13:00-14:00 – Hak Baker 14:30-15:30 – Rose Gray 16:00-17:00 – Antony Szmierek 17:30-18:30 – Songer 19:00-20:00 – Sampa The Great 20:30-21:30 – Princess Nokia 22:00-23:00 – Ashnikko 23:30-00:30 – Peaches SUNDAY 16TH AUGUST THE LION’S DEN 14:30-15:45 – David Rodigan Presents: Ram Jam ft. D Double E, Hollie Cook & Irah 16:00-16:50 – Vengaboys 17:10-18:10 – Eve 18:40-19:40 – FCUKERS 20:10-21:40 – Scissor Sisters 22:15-23:45 – Faithless 23:50-00:00 – Closing Ceremony HYDRO XL 15:00-16:20 – nimino – Live 16:30-18:00 – KILIMANJARO B2B Oppidan 18:00-19:30 – VTSS 19:30-21:00 – Marlon Hoffstadt 21:00-22:30 – SHERELLE – AV Show 22:30-23:50 – Skrillex 23:50-00:00 – Closing Ceremony GRAND CENTRAL 14:00-15:00 – Dub Pistols 15:30-16:30 – Beans on Toast 17:00-18:00 – Elvana 18:30-19:30 – Dr Meaker – Live 20:00-21:00 – Less Than Jake 21:30-22:30 – Skindred See full lineup across The Lion’s Den, Hydro XL, Grand Central, Hidden Woods, Tangled Roots, Anara Forest, Tribe of Frog, Nexus stages and more: https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/lineup Boomtown Chapter Five: Radical Redesign takes place at Matterley Estate, Hampshire, from Wednesday 12th to Sunday 16th August 2026. For the full Essential Guide visit: https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/news/boomtown-chapter-five-radical-redesign-essential-guide Download the Boomtown app: https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/app |