Boomtown is back and already rearing to go for the 2026 festival season! With the loss of Glastonbury this year, Boomtown is looking to be a strong contender to replace the void for the festival-goers that enjoy the weird and wonderful of the south-east corner. With It's 'Radical Redesign' and immensely chaotic lineup, the festival is sure to steal the hearts (and funds) of us this year.
On the 28th of October, Boomtown revealed its first wave of their lineup, and it did not disappoint. The festivals commitment to variety and scale has not changed, with the likes of Madness, Scissor Sisters, Skrillex, Shaggy and even the controversial KNEECAP to headline. The festival even continues to please their heavily weighted proportion of drum and bass fans, with the iconic SHY FX and Kings of the Rollers also announced, both who've performed historical, iconic sets at Boomtown in previous years.
The festivals dedication to a 'Radical Redesign' comes controversially, with dedicated Boomtown fans claiming to feel disappointed in the festival’s introduction of more house-music-based sets last year at the Hydro stage, such as Chris Stussy and L.P Rhythm. Many took it to social media to complain, claiming the festival was losing its essence, and being infiltrated by the 'wrong crowd'.
Despite this, Boomtown cofounder Luke Mitchell shared in a statement that "While bass music has dominated in recent years and will always be at our core, we're making a conscious move to keep Boomtown musically diverse and unpredictable," and to "Expect more live bands and more cross-genre adventures. That's where Boomtown began, and it's what keeps us on the truest path forward."
While many may continue to complain, the 'Radical Redesign' seems to be an attempt to keep the essence of Boomtown going - a commitment to togetherness and creativity. An introduction of new genres, sounds and artists seems to be the perfect way to uphold this, and the festival is on the look to sell out very soon. While the festival continues to grow, attendees (including me) will always adore the sense of individuality and freedom Boomtown has created and will continue to do so for its 2026 run.