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Boomtown festival's 2026 line-up announced

Katie WapleSouth of England
Getty Images Aerial view of the festival at night in lightsGetty Images
Boomtown takes place near Winchester in August

Kneecap, Madness and Scissor Sisters are among the acts announced for next year's Boomtown festival.

Faithless, The Vengaboys and Groove Armada will also be taking to the event's 12 stages at the Matterley Estate in Hampshire between 12 and 16 August.

Organisers said the line-up "brings together legends and trailblazers across genres and generations".

Tickets will go on sale on Friday.

PA Media A picture of the members of the group. They are looking at the camera while standing in front of a red background. PA Media
Irish hip hop trio Kneecap are among the acts set to feature

Alongside the main stages that host major acts, organisers said there would be more than 50 hidden venues within the festival's themed districts.

Belfast rap group Kneecap, who perform in both Irish and English, said: "If anyone knows of 'a better way to live' it's the sound citizens of Boomtown…This one's going to be special, see yis all there!"

Sister Bliss from Faithless said: "We are beyond excited to make our very first appearance at Boomtown to celebrate both our 30th anniversary and Chapter 5 of Boomtown's extraordinary immersive world in 2026."

And Madness also released a statement, which said: "Get ready people as we are welcomed back to the Lion's Den. It will be the 10th anniversary since we first and last played Boomtown in 2016… the crowd, the costumes, the madness was pure mayhem and magic.

"We are thrilled to be returning to open proceedings in 2026. Nuttier than ever!"

Image of four band members from the group Madness, wearing jeans and cardigans and performing on the street outside a pub. One band member is playing a ukulele, a second plays a saxophone and the lead singer Suggs has a microphone and tambourine. The other has no instrument but is standing, smiling.
Madness can be expected to play hits such as It Must Be Love and House of Fun during the festival

Organisers said Boomtown was "gearing up for major updates to how the city will be built next summer - finding harmony with its home in the South Downs National Park".

Luke Mitchell, co-founder of the festival, said: "Our 2026 event will encapsulate everything we love: intricate film-set worlds, twisting storylines, bouncing dancefloors, and diverse expressions of music and art.

"This time with more space to breathe – more nature, more woodland, more hidden places everywhere.

"Inspired by our surroundings, we are exploring how nature, science and technology can work together to improve our collective futures. Fragmentation isn't destruction, it's transformation.

"By breaking what we know, we uncover new ways of being."

The full line-up can be found on the Boomtown website.

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