Skrillex, Scissor Sisters and Kneecap among first names on Boomtown 2026 line-up

Boomtown has announced the first names on its 2026 line-up, returning to the Matterley Bowl, Hampshire, next August.

Next year's Boomtown line-up features a diverse range of boundary-pushing live acts, including Belfast rap trio Kneecap, hardcore punk rising stars High Vis, US pop-rap artist Ashnikko, and Mercury Prize-nominated producer Floating Points.

The 'Chapter 5' line-up also features a heavy dose of nostalgia, with legendary pop-dance outfit Scissor Sisters, Jamaican reggae purveyor Shaggy, German happy hardcore legends Scooter, seminal dance music group Faithless, and Eurodance band Vengaboys, all tapped to enrapture crowds at the South Downs-based event.

Boomtown attendees will still be able to catch a raucous range of electronic acts, with Groove Armada, Wilkinson, Skrillex, Four Tet, Brutalismus 3000, Marlon Hoffstadt and more locked in, while SHERELLE will perform an A/V show on the weekend.

Read this next: "Such a buzz": Behind the scenes of Boomtown Fair with My Nu Leng and Mall Grab

“Musically - while bass music has dominated in recent years and will always be at our core, we’re making a conscious move to keep Boomtown musically diverse and unpredictable," says Boomtown's co-founder Luke Mitchell. 

"Expect more live bands and more cross-genre adventures. That’s where Boomtown began, and it’s what keeps us on the truest path forward.”

Alongside its line-up announcement, organisers have also confirmed the theme of its next edition, which will centre around 'Radical Redesign'. A press statement alluded to "a new district, major site changes and an evolved creative direction" for 2026.

While next year's event will feature a "new blueprint", fans of Boomtown can expect the return of a number of beloved arenas, including the Lion's Den stage, which will return to the Temple Valley amphitheatre after "loud calls" from fans.

Hilltop will also return for 2026, while the Hydro Stage - which debuted last year in Downtown Boomtown - is expected to take on a new form as Hydro XL.

Mixmag clothing capsules: Check out the collection at mixmag.shop 

“Our 2026 event will encapsulate everything we love: intricate film-set worlds, twisting storylines, bouncing dancefloors, and diverse expressions of music and art," Mitchell adds. 

"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," he continues. 

For more info and tickets to Boomtown 2026, click here.

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter