Kendal Calling has expanded its massive 2026 line-up with the addition of over 50 new acts, led by Scottish rock legends Primal Scream, while also announcing a final ticket resale for the sold-out festival.
Bobby Gillespie’s iconic outfit will make their long-awaited return to the Lake District, joining previously announced headliners Two Door Cinema Club, Biffy Clyro, Wolf Alice, and The Kooks. Primal Scream previously headlined the festival’s breakout 2013 edition and were slated to return for the cancelled 2020 event, making their 2026 booking a highly anticipated homecoming for the alternative rock pioneers.
The 40,000-capacity festival takes over Lowther Deer Park from Thursday, 30th July to Sunday, 2nd August 2026. With 95% of tickets snapped up before a single band was even announced, Kendal Calling has confirmed a limited official resale for fans who missed out on the initial allocation.
A limited number of weekend tickets, Thursday add-ons, and upgraded camping options will be made available during the resale. The sale officially opens at 10:00 AM on Monday, 30th March, but fans must sign up via the official resale registration link before Sunday, 29th March to receive access.
Also joining the 2026 bill are Mersey mariachi favourites Red Rum Club, hotly tipped Manchester guitar band Arkayla, and YouTuber JaackMaate, who brings his Happy Hour Podcast spin to the festival’s iconic woodland Silent Disco.
Festival co-founder Ben Robinson expressed his excitement about the line-up, highlighting the historical significance of the latest headliner. “Starting with Primal Scream who are such an important band to us,” Robinson noted. “Their headline set in 2013 felt like a hugely significant moment in the festival’s history and with the 2020 set that never happened, we feel like we’re long overdue another amazing moment with them.”
Robinson also praised the return of the Chai Wallahs stage, which celebrates its 14th year at the festival. Bringing the party up from Bristol, Chai Wallahs will host a massive programme of musicians and DJs, including TC & The Groove Family, The Skinner Brothers, and DJ Hiphopapotamus.
As Kendal Calling continues its unprecedented 21-year run of sell-out festivals, attendees can expect further announcements covering comedy, live art, the illuminated Lost Eden woods, and the Kids Calling programme over the coming months.
Newly Announced Acts for Kendal Calling 2026:
- Main Additions: Primal Scream, Red Rum Club, Arkayla, Massive Wagons, Old Mervs, JaackMaate’s Happy Hour Silent Disco Takeover, Bleech 9:3, The Covasettes, Fletchr Fletchr, Lily Moore, My First Time, Miss Lilly, The North, Oversize, Tom Rowley, RoeParkin
- Chai Wallahs: Hyphen, Kongo Dia Ntotila, TC & The Groove Family, The Skinner Brothers, Omega Nebula, Soothsayers, Amy True, Aziza Jaye, Liam C, Carsick, Ruth Lyon, Sun Byrd, Karma Sheen, Mr Fitz, S.I.M.O x Hippo Sound System, Mista Trick Collective, The Big Band Of Boom, Spangled, Mixxlab DJs, Potter, Oswald Slain, Selecta Si Chai, Kymara, Mr Fitz & Limmz, Alice Kim, Ushti, Kotoa, Betty Lou, Dj Hiphopapotamus, Clara Pople
- Additional Acts & Tributes: UK Foo Fighters, Paramore-ish, Nontaines DC, LTWalto’s Alternative Anthems, Is There A Soul Out There?, DJ Shaolin Monkey’s Hip Hop Block Party, Matt Felix, XOX, Antiks, Nina Morton, Filthy Laugh
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