Lake District music festival Kendal Calling has announced its 2026 line-up.
Main stage headliners will include Two Door Cinema Club, Biffy Clyro, Wolf Alice and The Kooks.
The event, which has been running for twenty years, will take place at Lowther Deer Park from Thursday 30th July until Sunday 2nd of August.
During the weekend, the 40,000 capacity site is turned into the equivalent of the third biggest town in Cumbria.
Who are the headliners?
Organisers say Biffy Clyro will become one of the festival’s “biggest ever headliners”.
The Scottish rockers will take to the stage following the success of their tenth studio album, Futique, whch debuted at number 1 in the UK.
Irish indue pop group Two Door Cinema Club will perform their critically acclaimed debut album Tourist History, alongside fan favourites.
Wolf Alice, who won the 2018 Mercury Music Prize with their second album, Visions of a Life, will also join them at the top.
The Kooks will bring the festival’s opening night to a close, celebrating twenty years of their debut album Inside In/Inside Out, which features anthems such as ‘She Moves In Her Own Way’ and ‘Naïve’.
One hundred and twenty acts have been announced in total – with other performers including The Cribs, Scissors Sisters, Gabrielle, Groove Armada, ‘A Thousand Miles’ icon Vannesa Carlton, The Vaccines, Jamie Webster, The Lathums, The Snuts, The Libertines, Doves – as well as some special guests.
During the weekend the site will be transformed into the third largest town in Cumbria. Credit: ITV Border
Ben Robinson, Kendal Calling co-founder, said: “I’m so excited to reveal next year’s line-up! Our brilliant team has secured a line-up worthy of the jaw dropping faith the Kendal Calling family put in us each year. Selling 98% of the tickets before announcing a single artist is the biggest compliment we could ever receive, so here’s an early Christmas present to say thank you!”
“It’s been a long time coming booking Biffy Clyro, we’ve been courting them like blushing school kids for a decade, it will be a true highlight. As will Wolf Alice as they bring a big smile to the Cumbrian hills. Like any classic movie, it’s not all about the leading roles, as ever we’re welcoming a cast of hundreds of artists to our stages and I can’t wait for you all to dig into this incredible group of musicians.”
As well as the big names, the festival prides itself on supporting new artists – and next year’s festival sees hotly-tipped alt-rock quartet Keo, BBC Sound of 2026 longlisted Irish four-piece Florence Road, West Yorkshire riser Ellur, Falkirk folk-punks Brógeal, much-hyped Black Country duo GANS, Merseyside singer-songwriter Ruby Duff and many more take to the stage at the Deer Park.
Kendal Calling will reveal more of 2026’s programme, including comedy, live art, installations, the illuminated wonderland of Lost Eden, Kids Calling, parties, talks, films, Tim Peak’s, food & drink, themes, parades and so much more over the coming months.
Organisers say 95% of tickets have already been sold – and they believe the festival will once again sell out.
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