Dot To Dot Festival 2026: First Wave Lineup Brings Fresh Talent to Bristol and Nottingham This May

As the late May bank holiday weekend of 2026 approaches, the much-anticipated Dot To Dot Festival has sprung back into motion with its first wave of artist announcements, setting the tone for what promises to be another vibrant and boundary-pushing edition of one of the UK’s most beloved metropolitan music showcases. Returning to its familiar dual-city format, the festival will take over venues across Bristol on Saturday 23rd May and Nottingham on Sunday 24th May, offering music lovers an ever-expanding lineup of forward-thinking acts spanning indie, electronic, rock, pop and experimental sounds. Dot To Dot Festival+1

Celebrated for its role in championing emerging and genre-defying talent, Dot To Dot has carved out an enviable reputation in the UK festival calendar. Since its launch in 2005, it has been a proving ground for artists who have gone on to break out bigger and broader, while consistently nurturing the next generation of live performers. In 2025 the festival celebrated its 20th anniversary in style, and the enthusiasm from that milestone clearly carries into the 2026 edition. Dot To Dot Festival

At the forefront of the first wave of confirmed acts are Lambrini Girls, Fcukers and NewDad — artists whose distinct voices and live reputations make them perfect torchbearers for Dot To Dot’s ethos of discovery. Brighton’s Lambrini Girls bring high-octane punk energy and sharp lyrical punch, while Fcukers bridge London and New York nightlife with euphoric electronic beats that blend house, trip-hop and indie influences. Galway’s NewDad, meanwhile, channel indie-rock grit and introspective intensity, adding further depth to the early lineup. Dot To Dot Festival

But the first wave doesn’t stop there. Across Bristol and Nottingham’s multi-venue stages, audiences will get to experience a diverse roster of acts that underscore Dot To Dot’s commitment to variety and fresh voices. Murkage Dave is singled out for his eclectic artistry and fearless, social-commentary-driven songwriting, while Silver Gore deliver a genre-blending mix of indie-pop, folk and electronic textures. Canadian quartet Meltt and dance-punk outfit La Sécurité are poised to bring transatlantic dynamism to the bill, and Clothesline From Hell offers a raw, multi-instrumental flair rooted in expressive storytelling. Dot To Dot Festival

Fans of heavier, experimental sounds will appreciate Flooding, a slow-core noise-rock trio inspired by sonic architects from Sonic Youth to The B-52s, as well as Green Star, whose energy channels post-punk aggression and bold rhythmic hooks. London-based Alice Costelloe steps forward with shoegaze-tinged songwriting following her acclaimed tenure in Big Deal, while Cork’s art-rock outfit Pebbledash fuse dream-pop and noise to brilliant effect. Dot To Dot Festival

International flavours also pepper the lineup: Fool Nelson bring punchy indie-rock from Perth, Australia, and The Rions — another Aussie favorite — glide through bright, ear-catching indie-pop. Back on UK soil, Bristol’s own Grandmas House promise a blend of post-punk attitude and unfiltered grunge energy that’s tailor-made for Dot To Dot’s packed day parties and late-night takes. Dot To Dot Festival

Other notable names include DIY lo-fi auteur Pollyfromthedirt, genre-bending Bury St Edmunds-raised artist Pozzy, the sound-shifting Another Country $$$$ and euphoric hook-weavers Adult DVD. LAWN CHAIR bring seasoned intensity from their underground explorations, while Blossom Caldarone and Jessy Blakemore represent some of the most buzzed-about voices gaining momentum through radio support and standout live appearances. Dot To Dot Festival

With Super Early Bird and Early Bird tickets already sold out, Dot To Dot Festival has opened Second Release tickets at a very accessible price, signalling the appetite for this genre-spanning, community-driven celebration of new music. And with more names still to come in subsequent waves, 2026 is shaping up to be another standout chapter in Dot To Dot’s storied history — one where discovery, diversity and raw energy go hand in hand.

Lambrini Girls
Fcukers
NewDad
Adult DVD
Alice Costelloe
Another Country $$$$
AtticOmatic
Bleech 9:3
Blossom Caldarone
Clothesline From Hell
Eaves Wilder
Flooding
Fool Nelson
Grandmas House
green star
Hunny Buzz
Jessy Blakemore
La Sécurité
Lawn Chair
Marsy
Meltt
Murkage Dave
Pebbledash
Pollyfromthedirt
Pozzy
Prewn
Sarah Meth
Silver Gore
The Itch
The Rions

Various Venues
Saturday 24th May 2026
14+ (certain venues 18+ – please check listings)