6 Amazing Headliners

FORWARDS Festival Reveals Six Headliners and Its Most Diverse Lineup Yet for 2026

Summer 2026, FORWARDS Festival returns to Bristol with its most ambitious and musically expansive programme to date. Taking place at Clifton Downs on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August 2026, the festival celebrates its fifth anniversary with a powerful lineup of global stars, genre-spanning artists, and boundary-pushing performances.

Across two days of music, culture and conversation, FORWARDS continues its mission to spotlight both internationally acclaimed acts and emerging voices — a formula that has helped it become one of the UK’s most forward-thinking festivals.

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PRE SALE 10AM TUES 17 MARCH, GENERAL SALE 10AM WEDS 18 MARCH

Six Headliners Lead the 2026 Lineup

The 2026 edition features six co-headliners, bringing together some of the most exciting names in contemporary music.

Saturday’s lineup is led by an all-female trio of headliners. Grammy Award-winning Nigerian superstar Tems will make her Bristol headline debut, bringing her soulful, globally influential take on R&B to the Downs. She will be joined by British pop powerhouse Self Esteem, known for her bold, theatrical performances and outspoken lyricism, and indie favourites Wet Leg, whose sharp wit and infectious energy have made them one of the UK’s most exciting bands of recent years.

On Sunday, the festival shifts gears with another genre-spanning headline bill. Little Simz, the Mercury Prize-winning rapper widely regarded as one of the most important voices in British hip-hop, takes top billing alongside Australian punk firebrands Amyl & The Sniffers and acclaimed American singer-songwriter Dijon, who will also be performing in Bristol for the first time.

Together, the six headliners represent the festival’s broadest musical spectrum yet, spanning R&B, hip-hop, indie, punk and alternative pop.

A Weekend Packed with Standout Performances

Beyond the headliners, the 2026 lineup promises standout moments across the entire weekend.

Saturday 29th August

Tems

Self Esteem

Wet Leg

Joy Crookes

Tricky

Goldie (Live)

Paraorchestra presents Kraftwerk Re:Werk with Charles Hazlewood

Special Guests: Maribou State

Sunday 30th August

Little Simz

Amyl & The Sniffers

Dijon

Viagra Boys

Oklou

Jim Legxacy

Princess Nokia

Jean Dawson

Gena ft. Liv.e & Karriem Riggins

Anaiis

The eclectic bill highlights FORWARDS’ commitment to bringing together artists from across genres and continents, creating a two-day celebration of music and culture over the August bank holiday weekend.

More Than a Music Festival

Since launching in 2022, FORWARDS has established itself as more than just a music event. Alongside the performances, the festival’s “The Information” stage will return in 2026, offering discussions, debates and talks that explore major cultural and social issues.

The programme brings together grassroots organisations, activists, and cultural leaders, making FORWARDS one of the few festivals that actively blends live music with meaningful conversation.

 

Celebrating Five Years of FORWARDS

Now entering its fifth year, the festival continues to evolve while staying rooted in the creative and independent spirit of Bristol.

Tom Paine, co-founder of Team Love, said:

“Reaching five years of FORWARDS feels like a major milestone. From the beginning, our aim has been to build a festival that reflects Bristol’s community action, creativity and diversity, whilst bringing global music artists to the city each summer.
Our 2026 lineup feels like the perfect way to celebrate this journey together, with incredible artists returning to FORWARDS now as headliners alongside first-time headliners — making it our most broad and diverse music offering to date.”

Tickets and Further Announcements

More artists are expected to be announced later in the year, adding further excitement to what is already shaping up to be a landmark fifth edition of the festival.

Pre-sale tickets: 10:00 GMT, Tuesday 17 March 2026

General sale: 10:00 GMT, Wednesday 18 March 2026

Tickets and additional information are available here

With an expansive lineup, a focus on culture and conversation, and a milestone anniversary to celebrate, FORWARDS Festival 2026 is set to close out the summer in Bristol in spectacular fashion.