Belladrum announces legendary pop acts – and a homecoming favourite – as headliners for summer 2026
Organisers of the Highlands’ leading music festival have announced a thrilling first wave of artists for next summer’s event – with two legendary British pop groups joining a ‘homecoming’ hero.
James, The Human League and Scots artist Callum Beattie are the big names ready to headline the Belladrum Tartan Hearts Festival 2026.
Further acts will be announced throughout the year.
Belladrum 2026 poster.
Belladrum is now Scotland’s biggest family camping festival with a track record of wowing audiences with artists from all genres.
James, one of the most in-demand acts in Bella history, are returning to the Belladrum main stage for the first time since 2013.
Consistently ranked in the top three most-requested acts by fans in the festival’s post-event surveys, James will celebrate their 40th birthday with a set laden with hits, spanning four decades.
James.
Favourites including Sit Down, Laid and Getting Away With It are sure to feature.
Also celebrating a significant birthday – their 45th – British synth-pop pioneers The Human League are set to bring their unmistakable sound to the Highlands for the very first time.
Careering to success in 1980 with the legendary album Dare, the group have had an incredible six top 20 albums and 13 top 20 singles in the UK, selling more than 20 million records worldwide by 2010.
The original line-up – Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley – helped shape the sound of electronic pop through the decades and continue to reach a new generation of audiences through the innovative sounds and the songs they created in the 1980s.
The Human League.
Timeless anthems like Don’t You Want Me, (Keep Feeling) Fascination, Love Action (I Believe in Love) and Mirror Man are likely to feature in their live set.
Callum Beattie steps into his first-ever major festival headline slot, a moment deeply-rooted in his connection to the Highlands and Belladrum.
Belladrum 2025. Photo: Paul Campbell
A Bella favourite since his debut in an unassuming afternoon Garden Stage slot in 2022, Beattie’s rise has been phenomenal with a sold-out Hydro show in Glasgow last weekend and a reputation for heartfelt performances.
Belladrum has a proud tradition of supporting artists on their journey from early-stage slots to headline moments and Callum’s return to close the Thursday night is seen as a full-circle story the festival is proud of.
Callum Beattie.
The pop brilliance of MIKA, as special guests supporting the headliners, promises one of the most colourful and fun performances Belladrum has ever seen.
Festival goers can look forward to singalongs to many of his massive hits including, ‘Relax –Take it Easy’, ‘Grace Kelly’, ‘Lollipop’, ‘Love Today’, ‘Happy Ending’ and many more.
Festival organiser Dougie Brown said: “We’re excited to share the first wave of artists for Belladrum 2026.
“We’ve curated a line-up that celebrates everything Bella stands for, great live music, discovery, and a strong sense of community.
“Having James back feels like welcoming old friends back home, and bringing Callum to his first-ever major headline festival slot really sums up what we’re about, growing together and being part of incredible artists journeys.
“With lots more announcements to come over the next few months we are looking forward to another incredible festival with the best audience in the world!”
Next year’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival will take place from Thursday, July 30 to Saturday, August 1 2026 in the beautiful surroundings of Belladrum Estate, near Beauly.
Belladrum 2025. Photo: Paul Campbell
Also joining the line-up are one of the biggest indie bands of their generation Razorlight, 90s indie-psychedelic band Kula Shaker, the euphoric dance experience of Symphonic Ibiza who will bring an unforgettable fusion of iconic Ibiza dance anthems, live vocals, a sensational DJ.
There will also be: an exhilarating live Orchestra; firm festival favourites Scouting For Girls, and rising Scottish soul artist Brooke Combe.
Other performers include:
For fans of trad, folk, and Celtic fusion, 2026 will deliver in abundance with winners of live act of the year at the 2023 Trad Awards Trail West, and the Highland’s very own Celtic-rockers Torridon and electronic Celtic-fusion duo Valtos in the mix.
God of Hellfire, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, will be in attendance. His much-anticipated 2025 performance was postponed at the last minute due to illness, but his appearance next summer will be worth the wait.
Rounding out the first announcement are crowd favourites and rising stars including Irish country music superstar Nathan Carter, Cammy Barnes who initially appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in 2023, quickly amassing half a million TikTok fans and over 4 million likes.
Buzz act Getdown Services
Iconic singer-songwriter Lloyd Cole
Party-starters Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5
High Fade
Kezia Gill
The Molotovs
Rising country music group First Time Flyers
An Dannsa Dub
Elias Alexander
Beth Malcolm
The Eves
Rob Heron & The Teapad Orchestra
Rhythmnreel
Festival favourites, The Dangleberries
Scott C Park
Lacuna
Scotstown Dance Band
Bad Actress
Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail
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The diverse musical line-up will sit alongside a packed three-day programme, including over 100 free family activities from wrestling shows, arts and crafts, wellbeing, theatre shows, circus skills and storytelling.
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