Shambala Festival has announced the first wave of artists for its 2026 edition, promising its “biggest and boldest” line-up to date. Leading the roster are punk-grime powerhouse Bob Vylan, reggae star Hollie Cook, and Swedish psych-rock legends Goat. The announcement coincides with the release of Tier 3 tickets, following the sell-out of the first two allocation tiers.
The initial lineup reflects the Northamptonshire festival’s reputation for eclectic curation, spanning genres from jazz and electronica to punk and spoken word. Bob Vylan returns to the festival following a popular set in 2024, embodying the event’s activist spirit. They are joined on the bill by Mercury Prize-nominated jazz innovator Emma-Jean Thackray, the genre-defying Penguin Cafe, and 2 Tone trailblazers The Selecter. In a significant non-music announcement, MP and activist Zarah Sultana has been confirmed as one of the first speakers for the festival’s political programming.
Tickets for the 2026 event are currently available, though demand appears high with Tier 1 and Tier 2 already sold out. Prospective attendees can purchase Tier 3 passes through the official ticketing partner, Humanitix. The festival is set to return to the grounds of Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens in August, continuing its 26-year history as a fiercely independent gathering.
Beyond the headline music acts, the festival has confirmed a wide array of talent including dream pop group Night Tapes, acclaimed poet-performer Joshua Idehen, and South African collective BCUC. The organisers have emphasised that this announcement represents only a fraction of the full programme, which will eventually populate over 30 distinct stages and venues. Returning creative hubs for 2026 include the main Solasta stage, the Roots Corner for global sounds, the activist-focused Rebel Soul, and The Data Mine for immersive electronics.
Sidarth Sharma, Creative Director of Shambala, commented on the curation strategy: “At Shambala, our creative vision has always been about more than simply curating a soundtrack for the festival. It’s about opening a doorway to extraordinary artists and musicians who are tirelessly honing their craft. In a world overflowing with music – where algorithms can so easily obscure the true gems – our role is to cut through the noise and ensure our audience experiences those rare, beautiful sonic surprises that make Shambala unforgettable.”
The festival continues to maintain its strict sustainability protocols, for which it has received multiple industry accolades. Shambala operates on 100% renewable energy, maintains a meat and fish-free food policy, and has eliminated single-use plastics. These efforts have resulted in shortlistings for five UK Festival Awards this year, including Independent Festival of the Year and the Green Award.
Alongside the musical lineup, Shambala is expanding its spoken word and political offerings. Joining Zarah Sultana MP on the bill are performer and activist Kate Ireland, poet Georgie Jones, and the team behind BBC Child. Further artists, immersive experiences, and late-night entertainment announcements are expected in the coming months.
Shambala 2026 Lineup Poster A-Z
- An Danssa Dub
- Aries
- BBC Child
- BCUC
- Benny Page & Doktor
- Big Band of Boom
- Big Sleep
- Bob Vylan
- The Breath
- Charlotte Devaney & The Narni Shakers
- CLADA
- Daraa Tribes
- Decolonise Fest Takeover
- The Destroyers
- Dr Meaker
- Emma-Jean Thackray
- Georgie Jones (poetry)
- Goat
- Grace Petrie
- Hollie Cook
- Holysseus Fly
- Home Counties
- James Shinra
- JayaHadADream
- Joshua Idehen
- Kate Ireland (poetry)
- Kaya Fyah
- Kings of The Rave (2 Bad Mice, Ellis Dee & Mark XTC)
- The Menstrual Cramps
- Mr. Williamz & Ignition High Power backed by Friendly Fire Band
- Nadeem Din-Gabisi
- Night Tapes
- Oreglo
- Penguin Cafe
- Porij
- Queerky
- The Selecter
- Slamboree Sound System
- Somatic
- Y
- Zarah Sultana MP (interview)
Image credits:
Ania Shrimpton
Sian Herbert
Disclosures: TheFestivals is funded through advertising and sometimes earns a commission on purchases made through links on this website, including in this article: None
Add as a preferred source