Kendal Calling has unveiled a massive line-up for its 2026 edition. Scottish rock titans Biffy Clyro and Mercury Prize winners Wolf Alice lead the charge to the Lake District. They are joined by indie-pop icons Two Door Cinema Club and The Kooks for what organisers are calling one of their “most essential” bills to date.
Returning to the picturesque Lowther Deer Park from Thursday 30th July to Sunday 2nd August 2026, the festival is on the brink of its twenty-first consecutive sell-out. In a testament to the event’s loyal following, over 95% of tickets were snapped up before a single act was announced. The final release of tickets will go on sale at 10:00am on Wednesday 17th December.
Biffy Clyro will top the bill, arriving in Cumbria off the back of their tenth studio album, Futique. It marks a major coup for the festival, with co-founder Ben Robinson admitting the team has been “courting them like blushing school kids for a decade.”
Joining them are Wolf Alice, who have graduated to major festival headliner status following the success of their latest album, The Clearing.
Nostalgia and indie anthems will be in ample supply across the weekend. Two Door Cinema Club are set to perform their seminal debut Tourist History in full, alongside a catalogue of hits. Meanwhile, Thursday night headliners The Kooks will kick off the festivities by celebrating 20 years of Inside In/Inside Out . They will be supported on the opening night by The Cribs and Vanessa Carlton.
Beyond the headline acts, the 2026 roster boasts impressive depth. The announcement includes pop icons Scissor Sisters and indie legends The Libertines in prominent slots. The “Special Guests” billing is equally stacked, featuring The Vaccines, Jamie Webster, The Lathums, Doves, and a DJ set from Groove Armada .
Other notable names heading to the fields include Circa Waves, Gabrielle, The Snuts, and Ash. The festival continues its tradition of championing new talent, with slots confirmed for rising stars such as Keo, Florence Road, and Ellur.
With the vast majority of tickets already allocated, competition for the final batch is expected to be fierce. Adult weekend camping tickets are priced at £255.95 for the final release. Teen weekend tickets (ages 11-15) are £118.95, while child weekend tickets (ages 6-10) are £41.50.
Those wishing to attend the Thursday opening party will need to purchase an additional add-on ticket. These are priced at £48.45 for adults and £33.00 for teens. All tickets will be sold through this page on See Tickets.
Ben Robinson, Co-founder of Kendal Calling, shared his excitement: “Selling 98% of the tickets before announcing a single artist is the biggest compliment we could ever receive, so here’s an early Christmas present to say thank you!”
“Like any classic movie it’s not all about the leading roles, as ever we’re welcoming a cast of hundreds of artists to our stages and I can’t wait for you all to dig into this incredible group of musicians,” he added.
Fans can also look forward to the return of festival staples including the Tim Peaks Diner (hosted by Tim Burgess), Lost Eden, and the Oktoberfest tent. Late-night entertainment will be provided by the likes of Dubtendo Allstars, Fleetmac Wood, and Crazy P .
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