What Can We Expect from Boomtown 2026

Boomtown is back, and if the latest lineup announcement is anything to go by, the 17th edition of the now Hampshire festival is shaping up to be its most ambitious yet. Taking place at Matterley Estate in the South Downs National Park from Wednesday 12th to Sunday 16th August 2026, Chapter 5: Radical Redesign promises a festival experience unlike anything that has come before it.

With over 90% of tickets already sold out, demand for this year’s edition is breaking records in Boomtown’s history, and it’s not hard to see why. The headline billing alone is a statement of intent, with Skrillex, Four Tet, Faithless, Madness, Kneecap, Scissor Sisters and Shaggy all confirmed, spanning decades of dancefloor culture and live energy in one sweeping, genre-defying package.

The second wave of additions only deepens the excitement. Kae Tempest brings their acclaimed spoken word power to the South Downs, while Folamour, DJ EZ and SBTRKT (DJ set) represent the finest of UK and European electronic music. Bass music fans are exceptionally well catered for, with Alix Perez, Ivy Lab, S.P.Y and Kasra B2B Samurai Breaks delivering the full spectrum of drum & bass past and present. Peaches, Lynks and Henge promise some of the weekend’s most spectacular and unpredictable moments, while rising stars Rose Gray, currently on the BRIT Awards Critics’ Choice shortlist, and Dublin noise rockers Gurriers represent the next wave of live talent making their mark.

The takeovers this year are particularly special. 20 Years of Rupture celebrates the rich history of jungle music, while Fantazia Into The Woods revives the spirit of 90s UK rave culture for a new generation. David Rodigan presents Ram Jam featuring D Double E, Irah and Hollie Cook, a celebration of sound system culture and Caribbean influence, and High Focus Allstars bring hip hop representation that underlines just how broad Boomtown’s musical vision truly is.

Running through every element of the 2026 experience is the festival’s overarching theme. Creative Director Mair Morel describes Radical Redesign as “an invitation to rethink how we live, connect and create,” rooted in reconnection, community and collective joy. It’s a philosophy that feels particularly resonant right now, and one that Boomtown has always embodied better than most. The elaborate world-building, immersive storylines and spontaneous performances hidden in unexpected corners of the site are all set to evolve further this year, following the festival’s double win at the UK Festival Awards 2025, taking home both Large Festival of the Year and Tech Innovation of the Year.

With hundreds more artists still to be announced and the site itself undergoing significant expansion, Boomtown 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark moment for UK festival culture. If you’re yet to secure a ticket, remaining options are available now at boomtownfair.co.uk/tickets — but don’t hang around.

Boomtown Festival, Matterley Estate, Hampshire — Wednesday 12th to Sunday 16th August 2026