The Great Estate Festival has confirmed its 2026 line-up, and with Glastonbury taking a fallow year, the boutique Cornish weekender is making a serious play for the title of the UK’s must-attend summer event. Running from 29–31 May 2026 at the stunning 400-acre grounds of Scorrier Estate, near Redruth, the festival brings together an extraordinary slate of headliners and one-off exclusives that would turn heads at any event, let alone a boutique garden fête.
The headline billing is a genuine statement of intent. Rock icons Skunk Anansie, fronted by the incomparable Skin, will headline Sunday night in what marks the band’s very first performance in Cornwall. Kaiser Chiefs and pop-disco queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor are also confirmed as headliners, while Chevy Metal, featuring Shane Hawkins, will make one of their only UK appearances since the Taylor Hawkins tribute show in a UK festival exclusive. Rounding out the jaw-dropping extras is a high-energy DJ set from none other than actor and comedian Simon Pegg.
The intimacy of The Great Estate makes these bookings feel even more special. Fans will be able to get closer than ever to the artists through the festival’s Talks at Teatime sessions, including an appearance from Skin herself and a special drum clinic and Q&A with Shane Hawkins and Miles Elze. These sessions promise honest conversation, audience questions and a behind-the-scenes look at the craft behind the music.
The Great Estate has consistently attracted some brilliant alternative acts to its Cornish stage, with past headliners including Primal Scream, Manic Street Preachers, Supergrass, Leftfield, Echo and the Bunnymen and The Charlatans. The 2026 edition feels like the boldest line-up the festival has put together in its eight-year history, and organisers are leaning into the opportunity that Glastonbury’s absence creates.
New for 2026, Clunk Magazine will take over the woods, curating a hand-picked selection of cutting-edge and emerging artists and transforming the space into a destination for musical discovery. It joins a growing roster of new additions, including the Great British Beard Off, a competition seeking the biggest, fanciest and most extreme beards on the site.
Beyond the music, The Great Estate lives up to its reputation as a genuinely all-ages event. Included in the ticket price is an enormous programme of free activities, ranging from the Viking Encampment and Dark Cornwall folklore experiences to Hip Hop Karaoke, kids’ raves, a magical vintage fairground, Victorian Sports Day and the Piskie Trail. The Sanctuary Wellness Workshop Tent covers everything from yoga and Tai Chi Qi Gong to fermentation classes, while the Secret Gin Garden promises hidden cocktails and late-night revelry. When the headline sets wrap up, the party moves into the Supersized Silent Disco for the rest of the night.
Glamping upgrades are available for those wanting to go all out, with boutique options through The Octopus Garden and access to Scorrier House’s private pool and sauna experience. The estate itself is a remarkable setting, originally built in 1780 and set within 400 acres of private parkland, the historic home of the Williams family.
Festival director Ben Hall said: “Our vision has always been to create something completely different and stand out for all ages and interests. With this year’s diverse line-up and immersive activities, we’re raising the bar again for what a family festival can be. In a year without Glastonbury, we’re proud to offer a completely different, spellbinding festival that’s imaginative, welcoming, and rooted in Cornwall – with unforgettable experiences. And in true Great Estate style, the unexpected is set to be everywhere, with secret performances, roaming characters and surreal spectacles hidden across the whole estate.”
The Great Estate has previously won Gold at the Cornwall Tourism Awards in 2024 (also taking Silver in 2019 and 2022), cementing its reputation as one of the county’s most important cultural events. With attendance exceeding 10,000 in previous years and tickets already selling faster than ever, organisers are warning that the next tier price rise is imminent. Tickets are on sale now at www.greatestatefestival.co.uk.
Image credits: The Great Escape
In this article: Skunk Anansie, Skin, Kaiser Chiefs, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Simon Pegg, Primal Scream, Manic Street Preachers, Supergrass, Leftfield, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Charlatans, Cornwall, Redruth, Scorrier House. Generated by Wikidata Schema Link Builder.
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