Boomtown has unveiled the first wave of artists for its 2026 edition, featuring what organisers are calling the most diverse lineup in the Hampshire festival’s history, with Belfast rap trio Kneecap, New York glam-pop icons Scissor Sisters, and ska legends Madness leading a genre-spanning bill of over 40 acts. The announcement comes as the festival launches Chapter 5: Radical Redesign, an ambitious expansion that will see new districts, major stage developments, and a reimagined site layout when it returns to Matterley Estate from 12th to 16th August 2026.
Today’s lineup announcement showcases Boomtown’s commitment to musical diversity, bringing together electronic heavyweights Skrillex and Four Tet alongside British dance pioneers Faithless, who will celebrate their 30th anniversary at the festival. German happy hardcore act Scooter will make their Boomtown debut, joined by Jamaican star Shaggy, US rapper Eve, and boundary-breaking artist Ashnikko fresh from releasing her second album ‘Smoochies’. The bill also features drum and bass titans Camo & Krooked B2B Mefjus, chart-topping producer Wilkinson, dance veterans Groove Armada, and electronic innovator Floating Points performing live.
Madness will return to Boomtown for the first time since their memorable 2016 performance on the Lion’s Den stage, marking a decade between appearances. Speaking about their return, the band said the crowd, costumes and atmosphere created “pure mayhem and magic,” expressing their excitement to return “nuttier than ever” to open proceedings in 2026. Scissor Sisters told fans they are “beyond jazzed” to finally bring their show to Boomtown, promising a “steamy summer night together,” while Kneecap declared the event “is going to be special”.
The festival has already sold a record-breaking 50% of tickets for 2026, with public transport tickets going on sale on 30th October and festival entry tickets available from 31st October. Boomtown co-founder Luke Mitchell explained the new musical direction, stating that while bass music will always remain at the festival’s core, they are “making a conscious move to keep Boomtown musically diverse and unpredictable” with more live bands and cross-genre programming.
Chapter 5: Radical Redesign will bring significant changes to the festival’s physical layout and infrastructure. The beloved Lion’s Den stage will return to its original home in the Temple Valley amphitheatre after four years away, a move that has been loudly requested by festivalgoers. Hilltop will reclaim its position as the festival’s creative core filled with live performance, theatre and spectacles, while Downtown will focus on dance music with the introduction of Hydro XL.
The Hydro XL stage represents a major technological advancement for the festival, doubling the size of the hydrogen-powered Hydro stage that successfully debuted in 2024 as the first of its kind at a major UK festival. The expanded stage will showcase a forward-thinking lineup of techno and 4×4 music, combining green innovation with cutting-edge production design. Mitchell described the redesign as creating “more space to breathe – more nature, more woodland, more hidden places everywhere,” exploring how nature, science and technology can work together.
The complete first wave lineup also includes heavy hitters Skindred, ska-punk favourites Less Than Jake, rising UK punk acts High Vis and Big Special, plus Manchester’s dancefloor poet Antony Szmierek. Dance music is represented by Berlin trance DJ Marlon Hoffstadt, techno disruptor Brutalismus 3000, rave innovator Sherelle presenting an AV show, and UK bass favourite Notion. Sound system culture features strongly with Mungo’s Hi Fi Allstars, Gentleman’s Dub Club & Friends, and reggae force Alborosie & Shengen Clan.
Hip-hop and rap moments will come from Havoc of Mobb Deep featuring Big Noyd and DJ L.E.S, Princess Nokia, and celebrated artist Sampa the Great, who expressed excitement about bringing “Nu Zamrock to a stage for the first time, live and in colour”. Party-starters Vengaboys and Elvis-Nirvana tribute act Elvana will deliver doses of unbridled fun and nostalgia. Faithless’s Sister Bliss said they are “beyond excited” to make their first Boomtown appearance to celebrate both their 30th anniversary and the festival’s Chapter 5.
Boomtown has won Best Festival Production at the UK Festival Awards for three consecutive years and is nominated again for 2025 alongside categories for Large Festival of the Year and Tech Innovation of the Year. The festival, which has been constantly evolving since 2009, is known for its elaborate world-building, immersive storylines, and spontaneous shows hidden throughout the site. Mitchell emphasised that the festival’s loyal community now spans generations, with the ambition to create dancefloors that “embrace all ages” for richer, more grounded energy aligned with their values of creativity, connection, celebration and respect.
Hundreds more artists are set to be revealed as the story of Chapter 5: Radical Redesign unfolds ahead of the five-day festival. Early access to tickets is available through the festival website at www.boomtownfair.co.uk/tickets.
Boomtown 2026 line-up so far:
- Kneecap
- Scissor Sisters
- Madness
- Skrillex
- Four Tet
- Faithless
- Scooter
- Ashnikko
- Shaggy
- Eve
- 999999999 – AV Show
- Alborosie & Shengen Clan
- Antony Szmierek
- Bad Manners
- Big Special
- Brutalismus 3000
- Camo & Krooked B2B Mefjus
- Diffrent
- Elvana
- Floating Points – Live
- Gentleman’s Dub Club & Friends
- Groove Armada
- High Vis
- KiIimanjaro B2B Oppidan
- Kings of the Rollers: Present Royal Rumble
- Less Than Jake
- L’Entourloop
- Havoc of Mobb Deep w/ Big Noyd + DJ L.E.S
- Marlon Hoffstadt
- Mungo’s Hi Fi Allstars
- Nimino – Live
- Notion
- Oguz
- Princess Nokia
- Sampa the Great
- Sherelle – AV Show
- Shy FX
- Skindred
- Vengaboys
- Wilkinson
