Kneecap, Scissor Sisters, Skrillex & Four Tet to Headline 2026 Boomtown Festival

Boomtown Festival in Hampshire has published the first tranche of performers for its 2026 edition, assembling a wide-ranging bill that spans electronic, hip-hop, indie and classic pop.

The festival returns to the Matterley Estate from August 12 to August 16, 2026, and will centre around its new narrative theme, Chapter 5: “Radical Redesign,” which will be expressed through large-scale installations, theatrical programming and immersive on-site experiences.

Headliners and highlights

Leading the initial announcements are Kneecap, Scissor Sisters, Skrillex, Four Tet, Ashnikko, Faithless, Scooter and Shaggy. Ska legends Madness and rapper Eve are also among the marquee names confirmed so far.

Additional confirmed artists include Antony Szmierek, Bad Manners, Big Special, Brutalismus 3000, Groove Armada, High Vis, Princess Nokia, Sampa the Great, Shy FX, Skindred, Vengaboys and Wilkinson, with further acts to be revealed in the coming months.

Tickets & transport

Public-transport tickets will be available starting on October 30, 2025, and general admission tickets go on sale the following day, October 31, 2025. Organisers say more details about theatre programmes and immersive art will be announced ahead of the festival.

Context and past editions

Boomtown has grown around a chapter-based storytelling format since its launch in 2009. Past lineups have included Maribou State, Overmono, The Prodigy, Peaches, Gorillaz and Ezra Collective.

Boomtown cofounder Luke Mitchell explained the event’s evolving musical direction, noting that while bass and drum & bass remain central, the festival is intentionally broadening its scope to include more live bands and genre-crossing acts to keep the programme unpredictable and adventurous.

Artist snapshots

Kneecap released their debut album Fine Art in 2024 on Heavenly Recordings and have since appeared at major festivals including Glastonbury and Coachella. On September 18, 2024, the trio headlined Wembley Arena, where they were joined by Massive Attack.

Scissor Sisters are in the middle of a comeback cycle that has seen them perform arenas across the U.K. and Ireland; they also toured North America this past summer as co-headliners with Kesha.

See the initial 2026 lineup above and expect additional announcements across Boomtown’s stages and immersive spaces in the months ahead.

Billboard’s Live Music Summit will take place in Los Angeles on November 3, 2025. For tickets and more information, visit the event website.

Billboard Live Music Summit — official site

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