🚨 The Great Escape Festival 2026: The Ultimate Calendar Preview
Brighton, UK | Wednesday 13th – Saturday 16th May 2026
Welcome to The Great Escape (TGE) 2026, Europe’s premier festival for new music! Spread across more than 35 walkable venues throughout the vibrant city of Brighton, this four-day extravaganza showcases over 450 emerging artists from the UK and across the globe. This is the essential destination for music lovers to discover the next generation of headliners in intimate settings before they break through to major festival stages. Beyond the hundreds of live sets, TGE also features an industry-leading conference with insightful panels and networking opportunities.
🌟 Spotlight Show: Kingfishr
Thursday 14th May – Brighton Dome
The festival’s signature Spotlight Show for 2026 features the sensational Irish indie-folk trio, Kingfishr. Known for their soaring soundscapes, emotive lyrics, and anthemic energy, Kingfishr has rapidly established themselves as one of Ireland’s most compelling new acts.
Hailing from Limerick, the band—comprising Eddie Keogh (vocals, guitar), Eoin “Fitz” Fitzgibbon (bass), and Eoghan “McGoo” McGrath (banjo)—blends their alternative folk sound with traditional instruments and powerful, cinematic depth. Their breakout track, “Killeagh,” is a heartfelt ode to their local hurling club and has achieved four-times platinum status, scoring a top-ten placement in the Irish charts.
This special performance at the Brighton Dome Concert Hall is one of the most highly anticipated shows of the weekend. Please note: The Kingfishr Spotlight Show is separately ticketed from the main festival wristband, though wristband holders may register for a free ticket giveaway.
🎤 The First Wave: Featured Artists by Genre & Origin
The Great Escape 2026 lineup, featuring the first wave of confirmed artists (the “First Fifty”), is a stunning display of genre diversity, spanning rock, pop, alternative, R&B, punk, and more. Below is a taste of the artists you can expect to see across the city’s venues:
🎸 Rock & Alternative Highlights
* Westside Cowboy: This Manchester outfit and Glastonbury Emerging Talent competition winner is poised for great things, delivering a joyful explosion of musical talent.
* MORN: Bringing furious Welsh art rock to the stages.
* The OBGMs: A heavy-hitting rock act known for intense live performances.
* PISS: Canadian noisniks known for their raw, high-energy sound.
* Meltt: Canadian psych-rockers known for their expansive dream pop and alternative sound.
* Clothesline from Hell: A Toronto multi-instrumentalist and songwriter known for their unique sound.
* SLAG: A UK act ready to make their mark on the rock scene.
* The Itch: An alternative band promising a memorable showcase.
* Teenage Joans: An Australian pop-punk duo bringing their infectious energy to the UK.
* Truman Sinclair: An alternative artist to watch.
🎧 Pop, R&B, and Electronic Sounds
* Ngaiire: The acclaimed alt-R&B artist joins the lineup, offering a sophisticated blend of contemporary R&B.
* Au/Ra: Known for her Pop sound, she is one of the acts kicking off the festival.
* Becky Sikasa: A Scottish breakthrough artist known for her pop/indie-pop sensibilities.
* Ava Joe: A talented pop and soul singer-songwriter.
* Annie-Dog: An Irish indie-pop producer bringing ’90s breakbeat Trip Hop vibes.
* Saint Clair: An artist contributing to the pop flavour of the festival.
* SISTRA: A sister electronic duo with a pop leaning.
* Lily Moore: An artist showcasing UK contemporary R&B.
* Yndling: Known for her pop/indie pop sound.
* Ain’t: Bringing an electronic/dance element to the showcases.
* big long sun: Another act set to deliver electronic/dance music.
🌍 International & Diverse Voices
* Tommy WÁ: An artist delivering an Afrobeat/Rock blend, whose live connection with the audience is highly praised.
* Tukki: Part of a Senegalese collective showcasing their unique sound.
* Tanzana: A Glasgow alt-rock five-piece.
* Isak Benjamin: A Swedish artist bringing a mix of Rock and Contemporary R&B.
* Wah Wah Wah: South Korean garage punks promising a high-octane thrash performance.
✍️ Spoken Word & Poetic Talent
* Sophia Thakur: The acclaimed spoken-word star is a key addition, offering a powerful non-musical element to the weekend.
* Sean Trelford: A bedroom pop poet bringing his unique storytelling style.
* Mustbejohn: An artist known for his genre-shifting music, blending spoken word with alternative sounds.
🗓️ Festival Overview and Essential Details
The Great Escape takes place from Wednesday 13th to Saturday 16th May 2026. The festival is famous for utilising over 35 walkable venues across central Brighton, making it easy to hop between intimate gigs at various clubs, bars, and pop-up venues. The event is primarily 18+, though some venues and the Brighton Dome Spotlight Show may admit ages 14+ with an accompanying adult.
This is your chance to see the full breadth of the emerging music landscape, from the infectious pop of Girl Group and Max Baby to the alt-rock stylings of Dermot Henry and the hip-hop influences of Carpetman. The diverse and global lineup ensures that every corner of Brighton will be buzzing with future stars.
Tickets are on sale now at the official festival website. Given the festival’s showcase format, early bird and saver tickets are often limited and run low quickly. Secure your wristband to gain access to over 450 performances and begin discovering your new favourite bands!
Would you like to know more details about a specific artist, such as Westside Cowboy or Ngaiire, or see if any other genres are represented in the lineup?