Boomtown Fair 2026 explodes back into life in the rolling fields of the South Downs National Park near Winchester, transforming once again into the UK’s most imaginative, immersive festival city. A living, breathing playground of music, art, and storytelling, Boomtown isn’t just a festival — it’s an experience that defies convention, blending theatre, performance, and cutting-edge sound across its vast districts.

Since its creation in 2009, Boomtown has become legendary for its mind-bending creativity and boundless energy. Each year unfolds as a new chapter in the ongoing Boomtown story — part dystopian fairytale, part utopian dream — complete with new architecture, reimagined streets, and interactive worlds where festival-goers are not just spectators, but characters in the tale. The 2026 edition, titled “Chapter Five: Radical Redesign,” continues to evolve this grand narrative, promising a reimagined cityscape bursting with surprises, secret stages, and jaw-dropping stage builds.

The newly announced lineup reflects Boomtown’s unmatched diversity, bridging every corner of global music culture. Among the headliners are Skrillex, Scissor Sisters, Madness, Faithless, Scooter, Four Tet, Ashnikko, and Kneecap, alongside huge sets from Shy FX, Princess Nokia, Sampa the Great, 999999999 (AV Show), Camo & Krooked b2b Mefjus, Sherelle (AV Show), Groove Armada (DJ Set), Floating Points (Live), and Wilkinson. The lineup also dives deep into the underground, featuring the likes of Brutalismus 3000, Oguz, Marlon Hoffstadt, High Vis, L’Entourloop, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Alborosie & Shengen Clan, and even nostalgic throwbacks like Vengaboys and Less Than Jake — proof that Boomtown’s range is as wild as its imagination.

Beyond the music, Boomtown thrives as a city of stories. Its themed districts — from neon-lit downtown streets to woodland sanctuaries and industrial wastelands — host hundreds of live actors, installations, and secret experiences. Wander into a speakeasy hidden behind a launderette, discover an illegal jazz bar under the floorboards, or stumble into a 3 a.m. drum & bass rave in a forest clearing — no two journeys through Boomtown are ever the same.

What makes Boomtown truly special is its soul: a sense of collective creativity, sustainability, and radical inclusion. Alongside its enormous stages and world-class sound systems, expect wellness zones, eco-initiatives, craft workshops, and community-powered projects that celebrate both people and planet. It’s a place where basslines meet activism, and joy meets meaning.

With its groundbreaking design, visionary production, and a lineup that spans everything from reggae and punk to techno and drum & bass, Boomtown Fair 2026 stands as one of the boldest festivals on Earth — a vibrant, unpredictable, and utterly unforgettable world built for those who live to dance, dream, and create their own story.