Boomtown announces expansion of “world-first” hydrogen-powered stage for 2026

Boomtown's HYDRO Stage will make its return to this year's festival as a "world-first" hydrogen-powered arena.

Renamed HYRO XL, the fan-favourite stage's capacity will be expanded by 150% to hold 20,000 people - up from 8,000 in 2025 - and will move to the heart of Downtown, taking over the space formerly held by the Origin Stage.

Described as a "groundbreaking" stage which has been "re-engineered at scale", HYDRO XL is also one of the first festival stages in the world to run entirely on green hydrogen.

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The zero-carbon stage is powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology, and is said to deliver "emission-free energy" while also upholding the festival’s high production standard.

The full line-up for the newly-expanded stage has just been revealed, and includes the likes of Skrillex, Brutalismus 3000, Faster Horses, DJ EZ, SHERELLE, Azyr, VTSS, NOTION and Marlon Hoffstadt.

Elsewhere, back-to-back performances from Eats Everything b2b TSHA, KILIMANJARO b2b Oppidan, Rossi. B2B Silva Bumpa, Ross From Friends b2b Effy, and a special live set from Four Tet and Floating Points will take place at HYDRO XL throughout the weekend.

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Speaking on the stage’s expansion, Boomtown's co-founder Luke Mitchell explains: "Seeing the smaller HYDRO stage in action last year at Boomtown was incredible. Personally, I spent a lot of time behind the stage as it was fascinating to see."

"Where you would normally hear diesel generators, there was just silence, with nothing but water vapour as the by-product, and the water was so pure you could drink it," he adds. "It inspired us to take the leap and develop the idea into one of our main stages this year."

The 17th edition of Boomtown (taking place from August 12 - 16) is now sold out. Resale tickets are available here. Check out the completed line-up for HYDRO XL below.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Associate Digital Editor, follow her on X