The Great Escape 2026: First Acts Announced for Brighton

It’s official: the first big wave of artists for The Great Escape 2026 has landed, and it’s shaping up to be another massive year for new music discovery right here in Brighton. If you’re planning your May calendar, mark down Wednesday, May 13, through Saturday, May 16, because that’s when the festival takes over the city. As always, we’re talking about over 450 emerging international and UK acts performing across more than 35 walkable venues, plus that iconic pop-up site down on Brighton Beach.

While the main festival wristband gets you into hundreds of gigs, the biggest buzz always surrounds the separately ticketed Spotlight Shows at the Brighton Dome Concert Hall. This year, two huge names are confirmed. On Thursday, May 14, the Irish indie folk trio Kingfishr will headline, bringing their soaring, anthemic sound to the stage. Then, on Friday, May 15, the legendary electroclash icon Peaches is set to deliver a show that will undoubtedly be unforgettable. If you’re keen on seeing Peaches, tickets for her show go on sale this Friday, February 6, so you’ll want to be quick.

The core of The Great Escape, of course, is finding your next favourite band before anyone else does. The initial 'FIRST FIFTY' artists have been fully revealed, and a huge subsequent wave of over 130 names has just been added, giving us plenty to dig into. From the first batch, look out for names like Westside Cowboy, Mustbejohn, Ngaiire, and the Australian punk-pop group Teenage Joans. The latest announcement adds even more variety, featuring acts like The Lottery Winners, Lord Apex, BIG WETT, and VILLANELLE.

For those of us who love supporting local talent, the lineup already includes some great Brighton acts, such as Big Long Sun, ladylike, Lily Moore, Lime Garden, and Amanzi. It’s always a highlight seeing our homegrown artists shine on an international stage.

Beyond the main venues, the festival is also a major industry event. This year, the parallel conference returns, offering panels and networking for music professionals. We also know that Billboard U.K. is returning to host its exclusive stage, the Billboard U.K. Live event, which will be headlined by rising rockers Keo. Plus, the festival has confirmed that New Zealand is the Principal Partner Country for 2026, meaning we’ll get a special showcase of artists from down under, including Office Dog, Ratbag, and Hemi Hemingway.

If you’re ready to commit, tickets are currently on sale, with 'TGE 2026 Saver Tickets' starting at £108. Just remember, this is strictly an 18+ event. With the lineup already this strong, May can’t come soon enough. It’s time to start planning your route between the venues and figuring out which emerging acts you absolutely need to catch.