The Great Escape 2026: More than 100 names added to 20th anniversary line-up
Ahead of celebrating their 20th anniversary in May, Brighton’s The Great Escape festival has added a bumper dose of over 100 more names to their 2026 lineup.
Since its launch in 2006, the showcase festival that happens down in Brighton has proved its power for finding the new rising stars time and time again. Across its history, names like Adele, Billie Eilish, Charli SCX, Sam Fender, Olivia Dean and many more have graced its line-up before reaching household name status.
Even in recent editions, acts like Fontaines DC and The Dare were playing to packed-out venues with a queue outside, which has become the festival’s ultimate sign of a key star on the rise.
For their 20th anniversary this year, the lineup keeps going from strength to strength, shaping up to be once again jam-packed with potential. In this latest announcement of names joining them by the sea from May 13 to May 16th, stand-out names include PVA, The Orchestra (For Now), World News, Aimee Fatale, Max Winter, Tom Rasmussen and manymore.
It’s not just up-and-comers that will be visiting Brighton either. Swim Deep have been added to the lineup, returning to the festival that once inspired their debut album hit, ‘The Sea’.
Alongside them, acts like Peaches, Lime Garden, Legsss and more are all hitting the festival as established names. Meanwhile, hometown act The Kooks are also billed to return home for a special spotlight show.
The international line-up also provides a rare chance to see worldwide talent who have generated buzz in their native regions, including Canadian’s Piss, who stole the show at 2025’s Left Of The Dial.
Closer to home, Brighton-based Lonnie Gunn will be bringing her 90s-inspired grunge sound, Elysia Biro will be playing a jazz-infused set, Girl In The Year Above will be sharing her Cornish folk-inspired sound, while Arxx will provide indie-punk rage.
Overwhelmingly, with this mass addition of countless new names, The Great Escape’s anniversary addition is proof of why the festival remains the ultimate place to catch the next generation of greatness before they boom as acts like The Itch, Silverwingkiller, Pixie McCann, Girl Group, and Ain’t take to the stage.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.