Contemporary soul sensation Jalen Ngonda has been announced as the first headliner for Sound City 2026, returning to Liverpool to perform at the ornate Grand Central Hall next spring. The UK’s pioneering multi-venue festival of new music discovery returns to the internationally-renowned music city over Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 May 2026, with weekend and day tickets on sale now via www.soundcity.uk.com
The announcement marks an emotional homecoming for Ngonda, a former Liverpool resident who performed at Sound City twice in 2017 and 2018 during his journey to stardom. Having studied at the Paul McCartney-founded Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts after booking a one-way ticket to England from Maryland in 2014, the Motown-obsessed artist has spoken openly about how the city changed his life. His last Liverpool performance was in front of just 250 people at the now-closed Jimmy’s Bar in 2023, making his return to play Grand Central Hall’s stunning Dome to 3,500 people a landmark moment.
Early bird tickets for Sound City 2026 have already sold out, with weekend and day tickets now available. The festival, which has offered early-career showcases to the likes of The 1975, Charli XCX, Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and The xx over almost two decades, saw more than 150 artists take to its meticulously-curated stages at this year’s springtime weekend.
The Sound City+ Conference returns on Friday 1 May 2026, supported by key festival partner the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) alongside PRS, PPL, PRSF, AIM and UK Music. Building on 2025’s successes, which saw speeches from Warner Music’s Isabel Garvey and Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotherham, the conference provides a forum for leading music industry figures to share their knowledge and experience.
“Coming back to Liverpool is long overdue and to return and play such a beautiful venue as Grand Central Hall for Sound City will be a true highlight of next year,” Ngonda said. “I get to reconnect and pay tribute to the city and everyone I met there, all of whom are genuine music people. I found that out over my years living and studying there. So much has happened since the last time I played the festival in 2018, so I can’t wait to catch up and see how much we’ve grown since we were last together. It’ll be truly special.”
Sound City’s Managing Director Becky Ayres emphasised how Ngonda’s return embodies the festival’s mission. “Welcoming Jalen Ngonda back to Sound City as our 2026 headliner perfectly captures what our festival is all about: discovering and championing new artists, and giving them the platform to go on to achieve No. 1 records, sell-out tours, and global acclaim,” she said. “Jalen’s lush, soulful style first graced our stages back in 2017 and seeing him return as a true international success is a full-circle moment that embodies the Sound City spirit.”
The 2025 edition of Sound City welcomed thousands of music fans to Liverpool earlier this year, with talents including Arkayla, The Guest List, Brogeal and TTSSFU performing on intimate stages alongside headliners The Royston Club, Dylan John Thomas and Corella. The full 2026 line-up is yet to be confirmed.
Sound City will once again open Liverpool’s venue stages to grassroots artists through the Apply To Play system, powered by 2026 sponsor TuneCore and Amplead. The application opportunity for artists to be considered for a festival slot is set to open soon at www.soundcity.uk.com
The festival remains the UK’s lead event for Keychange, the global movement focused on restructuring the music industry to achieve gender equality. Sound City aims to achieve gender balance across all events and initiatives, with equal representation of women and diverse genders a determined feature of every festival weekend.
Sound City 2026 welcomes new partners including Leeds Conservatoire and the Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMA), alongside Off Axis, the not-for-profit gig swap and live music touring network. Principal Creative Education Partners SAE Institute and The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) return for 2026. SESAC also remains a valued contributor, with the festival’s stage at The Shipping Forecast venue named in honour of their influential Vice President John Sweeney, who passed away in June.
The festival is supported by Arts Council England, thanks to National Lottery players, with additional support from CAPLL. Ayres added: “The intersection of music and technology has never been more exciting. Every year at Sound City+, we empower every attendee to walk away with real, tangible skills to supercharge their careers. Whether you’re an artist, manager, or future industry leader, Sound City+ is where the future of music comes together.”
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