Award-winning Lake District music & arts festival Kendal Calling have added over 50 artists to their massive 2026 line-up with the iconic Primal Scream amongst new names joining previously announced headliners Two Door Cinema Club, Biffy Clyro, Wolf Alice and The Kooks on an incredible bill of musical legends and risings stars alike.
Taking over the beautiful Lake District’s Lowther Deer Park from Thursday 30th July to Sunday 2nd of August, the 40,000-capacity festival will transform the park into the third biggest town in Cumbria for the weekend as Kendal Calling continues its unprecedented 21-year run of sell out festivals.
Leading today’s announcement are Scottish rock legends Primal Scream. Bobby Gillespie’s inimitable and amorphous electronic psych-rock outfit were an integral part of the UK’s emergent indie and shoegaze scenes in the ‘80s and have been a touchstone for alternative music ever since. The band have a long history withKendal Calling; headlining the festival’s breakout 2013 edition and then slated for the 2020 edition that wasn’t to be. Their latest release, 2024’s Come Ahead, was Primal Scream’s 12th studio album and their first in 8 years. Its ‘70s Philly Soul sound and gospel choir embellishment marked yet another new direction for the band with two subsequent remix albums reiterating the innovation, reimagination and outsider creativity that has fuelled Primal Scream for over 40 years.
Also announced today are acclaimed ‘Mersey Mariachi’ favourites Red Rum Club who will head to Lowther Deer Park before undertaking a highly anticipated Headline UK Tour throughout October; hotly tipped Manchester four piece celebrating their city’s guitar band Golden Age Arkayla and YouTuber, podcaster and comedian JaackMaate, whose Happy Hour Podcast consistently tops Spotify’s Most Listened, is once again bringing his special spin on Kendal Calling’s iconic woodland Silent Disco.
Joining them will be Massive Wagons, Old Mervs, Bleach 9:3, The Covasettes, Fletchr Fletchr, Lily Moore, My First Time, Miss Lilly, The North, Oversize, Tom Rowl, RoeParkin, Matt Felix, UK Foo Fighters, Paramore-ish, Nontaines DC, LTWalto’s Alternative Anthems, Is There A Soul Out There?, DJ Shaolin Monkey’s Hip Hop Block Party, XOX, Antiks, Nina Morton and Filthy Laugh.
Chai Wallahs are once again bringing the party up from Bristol with their massive lineup including Hyphen, Kongo Dia Ntotila, TC & The Groove Family, The Skinner Brothers, Omega Nebula, Soothsayers, Amy True, Aziza Jaye, Liam C, Carsick, Ruth Lyon, Sun Byrd, Karma Sheen, Mr Fitz, S.I.M.O x Hippo Sound System, Mista Trick Collective, The Big Band of Doom, Spangled, Mixxlab DJs, Potter, Oswald Slain, Selecta Si Chai, Kymara, Mr Fitz & Limmz, Alice Kim, Ushti, Kotoa, Betty Lou, DJ Hiphopapotamus and Clara Pople
All of these artists will be joining previously announced acts including epic Scottish art-rockers Biffy Clyro, Mercury Award-winning area-filling fourpiece Wolf Alice, Irish synth-pop indie heroes Two Door Cinema Club playing their beloved debut Tourist History in its entirety and, on Thursday night, The Kooks performing their landmark debut album Inside/Out in full as well as many, many more artists and acts throughout the weekend.
As one of the UK’s most in-demand festivals, with 95% of tickets sold before a band is announced, Kendal Calling have revealed fans’ last chance to grab tickets to this year’s sold out event as they launch their official re-sale. Opening on 30th March at 10AM with a limited number of Weekend, Thursday add-ons & upgraded camping options going on-sale, links will be sent out to people who register before Sunday 29th March.
Founded in 2006, the inaugural Kendal Calling was a two-day, 900-capacity gathering headlined by an eclectic combination of Australian electro-rock stadium fillers Pendulum and Kendal’s own British Sea Power (now Sea Power). The festival sold out in advance, as has every iteration since; including this year’s four-day, 40,000-cap 20th anniversary special where Kendal Calling invited friends new and old to reflect on two decades that have seen the award-winning festival grow into one of the most in-demand events of its kind in the UK.
Over the years, Kendal Calling has spiralled into a complete other-worldly experience with joy and discovery to be found in all four corners of its picturesque site. Embodying the idea of a true festival escape – Kendal Calling has become as much about the art and the experience as it has the amazing music that soundtracks the weekend each year. From the illuminated woodland of Lost Eden, to the Sunday teatime carnival to the attention to detail on crafting immersive venues across site – the Deer Park becomes a complete feast for the senses at the end of July.
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.
With unparalleled music lineups, surprises at every turn and an inimitable sense of community & character, Kendal Calling invites visitors to explore even further as they create a unique wonderland in the ancient parks of the Lake District, for just one weekend a year.
Ben Robinson – Co-founder Kendal Calling said:
“We’re so excited to reveal more of this incredible line-up with everyone! Starting with Primal Scream who are such an important band to us. Their headline set in 2013 felt like a hugely significant moment in the festival’s history and with the 2020 set that never happened, we feel like we’re long overdue another amazing moment with them.”
“Elsewhere Chai Wallahs is once again shaping up to be one of the summer’s highlights as they for their 14th year of Kendal Calling with an amazing programme of musicians, parties and more of the mind blowing creativity that only they can deliver. We’ve so much else to share with you, but until then, best of luck to everyone joining the re-sale on Monday, see you in the fields!”
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Announced today:
Primal Scream, Red Rum Club, Arkayla, Massive Wagons, Old Mervs, JaackMaate’s Happy Hour Silent Disco Takeover, Bleech 9:3, The Covasettes, Fletchr Fletchr, Lily Moore, My First Time, Miss Lilly, The North, Oversize, Tom Rowley, RoeParkin, The North
Chai Wallahs
Hyphen, Kongo Dia Ntotila, TC & The Groove Family, The Skinner Brothers, Omega Nebula, Soothsayers, Amy True, Aziza Jaye, Liam C, Carsick, Ruth Lyon, Sun Byrd, Karma Sheen, Mr Fitz, S.I.M.O x Hippo Sound System, Mista Trick Collective, The Big Band Of Boom, Spangled, Mixxlab DJs, Potter, Oswald Slain, Selecta Si Chai, Kymara, Mr Fitz & Limmz, Alice Kim, Ushti, Kotoa, Betty Lou, Dj Hiphopapotamus, Clara Pople,
Plus
UK Foo Fighters, Paramore-ish, Nontaines DC, LTWalto’s Alternative Anthems, Is There A Soul Out There?, DJ Shaolin Monkey’s Hip Hop Block Party, Matt Felix, XOX, Antiks, Nina Morton, Filthy Laugh
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MUSIC LINE-UP:
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB • BIFFY CLYRO • WOLF ALICE • THE KOOKS*
SCISSOR SISTERS • THE LIBERTINES • PRIMAL SCREAM
THE VACCINES • JAMIE WEBSTER • THE LATHUMS • DOVES • GABRIELLE • THE SNUTS • GROOVE ARMADA DJ SET • THE KOKOS • CIRCA WAVES • RED RUM CLUB • THE CRIBS* • ASH • DYLAN JOHN THOMAS • THE CORAL • HARD-FI • KEO • THE HUNNA • DEAF HAVANA • THE TWANG • WE ARE SCIENTISTS • VANESSA CARLTON* • FLORENCE ROAD • THE LILACS • ARKAYLA • FREDDIE HALKON • THE FUTUREHEADS • DIVORCE • VISTAS • BLACK HONEY • RIANNE DOWNEY • MASSIVE WAGONS • TIM BURGESS
DUTTY MOONSHINE BIG BAND • THE MOONLANDINGZ • ISSEY CROSS • LLOYD COLE* OLD MERVS • JAACKMAATE’S HAPPY HOUR’S • BLEECH 9:3 • THE LANCASHIRE HOTPOTS • DUBTENDO ALLSTARS • FLEETMAC WOOD • IN PARALLEL • SH** INDIE DISCO & MORE • GARDNA LIVE • K-KLASS LIVE • THE COVASETTES* • BEARDYMAN • BROGEAL • DICK & DOM• THE ROSADOCS • PENTIRE • THE ORIELLES BEAUX • NELL MESCAL • DEA MATRONA • ELLUR • WITCH FEVER • PASTEL • LIANG LAWRENCE • TOM ROWLEY • SLAMBOREE • GANS • KEYSIDE SON MIEUX • LILY MOORE • THE UNTOLD ORCHESTRA PRESENTS MOVIE ANTHEMS • TC & THE GROOVE FAMILY • LEVI ROOTS’ CARNIVAL PARTY FLETCHR FLETCHR • THE SKINNER BROTHERS • OMEGA NEBULA • MONKA • LIAM C• DAVE HASLAM • OVERSIZE • MUSTBEJOHN • BIS* SOFIA & THE ANTOINETTES • THE NORTH • HELLO COSMOS • GIRL IN THE YEAR ABOVE • BROOKI • HYPHEN • CHRIS HAWKINS DJ • AZIZA JAYE THE OGRETONES • REVIVALRY • RUBY DUFF • CREEPING JEAN • CHERRYHOLT • BEX • ROEPARKIN• DAVE HASLAM • MY FIRST TIME • MISS LILLY LEAZES • VACANT WEEKEND* • SCRATCHCARD WEDNESDAY • SOOTHSAYERS• KONGO DIA NTOTLIA • AMY TRUE • CARSICK • RUTH LYON • MATT FELIX • SUNBYRD • KARMA SHEEN • MR FITZ • S.I.M.O. X HIPPO SOUND SYSTEM • MISTA TRICK COLLECTIVE • THE BIG BAND OF BOOM • SPANGLED MIXXLAB DJS • POTTER • OSWALD SLAIN • SELECTA SI CHAI • KYMARA • ALICE KIM • USHTI • KOTO • BETTY LOU • DJ HIPHOPPAPOTAMUS CLARA POPLE • UK FOO FIGHTERS • ARCTIC NUMPTIES • NONTAINES D.C • PARAMORE-ISH • THE THINGUMAJIGS • LTWALTO’S ALT. ANTHEMS • NADIA KADEK
MARK GARDENER PRESENTS… LAURIE MCMAHON • HELICON • MAGIC SEAS • TWO HEADED HORSE • TULPA • THE CORDS GIFTHORSE • JON DASILVA & ANDY ROBINSON • MICH DULCE & HER MIDNIGHT CALLERS • DJ SHAOLIN MONKEY’S HIP HOP BLOCK PARTY • XOX STARSHAPED DJs • MOOD HOOVER • LUCIGENIC • THE MADDOCKS • MILLTOWN BROTHERS • NAOMI KALU • K-ESTATE • BEC O’MALLEY • CROSSFIRE TINY TIM PEAKS • TIM PEAKS FM WITH CHRIS HAWKINS • THE SLY • BLACK BORDELLO • VOODOO RADIO • BAGGY MONDAYS • NINA MORTON • ANTIKS BLACK POWDER MERCHANTS • TWISTED TIME MACHINE • JORDAN VILLA • RUN REMEDY • HOWLING RHYTHM • KARL YATES • FILTHY LAUGH PLUS LOST EDEN, RANCH 76, THE PICTUREHOUSE, THE STAGGER INN, CHAI WALLAHS DESERT ISLAND DISCO, CARNIVAL, OKTOBERFEST, THE TOWN HALL
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MANCHESTER PULSE 