Shambala Festival has announced its return for 2026, with next year’s event set to take place from Thursday, 27th to Sunday, 30th August. The confirmation comes as organisers wrap up a landmark sold-out 25th-anniversary edition in Northamptonshire.
This year’s event was marked by a UK festival exclusive from Grammy-winning jazz rap pioneers Digable Planets. In a significant sustainability milestone, Shambala also became the first UK festival to cook and heat entirely on biogas, reinforcing its reputation as a leader in green event management. The weekend also featured performances from Romare, Moonchild Sanelly, and Fat Dog.
Shambala co-founder and Managing Director Chris Johnson said: “This year was an unforgettable milestone – another vibrant, sold-out edition of Shambala buzzing with so much joy, creativity and connection after 25 years was a proud moment for everyone involved. Our community has always believed festivals can be a force for good. Not just for celebration, but for change. We can’t wait to continue this wonderful journey.”
Read the official press release in full below:
Shambala Festival has wrapped up its sold-out 25th anniversary edition with four days of music, mischief and shared moments that reaffirmed its status as one of the UK’s most beloved and pioneering independent festivals.
Across more than 40 stages, this year’s music programme spanned genres and generations. A UK festival exclusive from Grammy-winning jazz rap pioneers Digable Planets on the new main stage Solasta had crowds united in a celebratory groove. Romare brought soulful electronica to The Next Stage, while Moonchild Sanelly’s explosive ‘future ghetto funk’ set infused the Solasta stage with soulful groove. Nubiyan Twist Soundsystem kept spirits soaring with brass-fuelled party energy at the Phantom Laundry, while Manga Saint Hilare brought his sharp, distinctive grime flow to an ecstatic crowd at Phantom Laundry. Rising electro-dance-punks Fat Dog drew one of the wildest audiences of the weekend with a chaotic, sweat-drenched set.
Elsewhere, festival-goers – known collectively as ‘Shambalans’ – revelled in boundary-pushing performances from Lady Shaka, DJ Yoda, Grace Petrie, Hak Baker, and Asian Dub Foundation, ensuring every corner of the site pulsed with energy and invention.
As ever, Shambala was as much about community antics as the music. The much-loved Shambolympics returned, with contestants dancing, leaping and laughing their way through surreal takes on Olympic sports. While on Friday, the entire festival turned green with thousands of verdant outfits on show, as well as the legendary Big Phat Green Wedding, which once again saw hundreds gather for a riotously daft, not-legally-binding group ceremony celebrating self-love. The Shambala Carnival also saw thousands marching and dancing through the site, bringing this year’s fan-voted theme of ‘Pun Intended’ to life with clever, whimsical and often absurd pun-inspired costumes.
Shambala’s rich tapestry of talks, workshops and creative encounters gave attendees the chance to dive into everything from tai chi and shamanic drumming to disco dodgeball, sea shanty singalongs, craft classes, flashmobs, wellness rituals and much more.
Highlights included poetry from Lemn Sissay and Vanessa Kisuule, sharp political satire from Led By Donkeys, and a rousing cabaret hosted by Jess Thom (aka Touretteshero).
Shambala has been setting the bar for festival sustainability for years. This year in its most groundbreaking achievement yet, it became the first UK festival to cook and heat entirely on biogas, setting a bold new benchmark for what a truly regenerative large-scale cultural event can be.
Shambala co-founder and Managing Director Chris Johnson said: “This year was an unforgettable milestone -another vibrant, sold-out edition of Shambala buzzing with so much joy, creativity and connection after 25 years was a proud moment for everyone involved. Our community has always believed festivals can be a force for good. Not just for celebration, but for change. We can’t wait to continue this wonderful journey.”
From its beginnings in 2000 as a DIY gathering of friends to this year’s sold-out quarter-century celebration, Shambala has remained fiercely independent, radically creative, and uncompromising in its vision of what festivals can be.
Next year’s Shambala will take place from 27-30 August 2026. Check out www.shambalafestival.org for more info and to keep up with the latest updates for the next edition.
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