Shindig Festival has confirmed that its 2026 event will go ahead as planned next week, with controversial punk duo Bob Vylan remaining firmly on the line-up. The boutique event is set to take place between 21st and 24th May at Charlton Park Estate in Wiltshire, with organisers successfully defeating a last-minute threat to their premises licence.
Last month, an application to review the festival’s licence was submitted to Wiltshire Council on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety. However, following a public consultation that ended on 6th May with an overwhelming number of supporters, the challenge has been overcome. Organisers confirmed that none of the relevant authorities have engaged with the review application, allowing the festival to proceed without issue.
The victory comes just a week before the festival gates open, with only two hundred tickets remaining for the Bank Holiday weekend event. The festival had previously announced it was its last in 2024 at its former Dillington Estate home, but after an outpouring of community support, it made a surprise return in 2025 in the Cotswolds. The 2026 edition continues to build on that momentum following the reveal of a massive 2026 line-up, maintaining strong sales despite an increasingly difficult climate for independent festivals facing rising operational costs and fuel prices without increasing ticket prices.
Festival Director Simon Clarke was defiant in the face of the licensing challenge, stating that the event was facing a David and Goliath situation. “We are facing censorship and standing our ground,” he stated. “We don’t want a precedent to be set whereby influential political lobbying groups can dictate who performs at our event or in the wider music industry. Safety has always been our absolute priority, and we are working closely with our production teams, advisers, the artist and relevant authorities to ensure robust measures are in place. We want to thank everyone who continues to support independent festivals and the Shindig community – it’s a lifeline in times like this.”
Bob Vylan also shared a statement regarding the situation, expressing their gratitude to the festival organisers. “We’re incredibly excited to be at Shindig this year and we look forward to sharing the same love, truth and energy that our live shows are known for,” the band said. “The threat to the festival’s licence is unwarranted and shameful but we are proud to take part in a festival with morals and ethics that places art, and freedom to express that art, at its forefront.”
Dubbed “a pint-sized version of Glastonbury” by Emily Eavis, Shindig boasts a strong 12-year track record as a safe, professionally run independent festival. It also holds the unique distinction of being the only UK music and arts festival held in an arboretum with a 4 am licence.
The full musical line-up for the weekend features a diverse mix of live acts and DJ sets:
- Bob Vylan
- Fat Dog
- Snapped Ankles
- WAR
- Chali 2NA
- Ishmael Ensemble
- Mungo’s Hi-Fi
- My Baby
- Coleen Cosmo Murphy
- Joshua Idehen
- Aroop Roy
Image credits:
In this article: Bob Vylan, Wiltshire, Wiltshire Council, Cotswolds, Glastonbury Festival, Emily Eavis, United Kingdom, Fat Dog, Snapped Ankles, Chali 2na, Ishmael Ensemble, Mungo’s Hi Fi, My Baby, Joshua Idehen. Generated by Wikidata Schema Link Builder.
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