The Bristol-based festival has always pitched itself as a city festival with a conscience, pairing heavyweight headliners with conversations about culture, community and social change. Early signs suggest 2026 will be no different, with the first wave of names balancing chart‑storming success and genre diversity.

For Little Simz, Forwards 2026 appears to be a victory lap. Having already collected a Mercury Prize and BRIT Awards for her generational run of records, Simz has evolved into one of British rap’s most commanding live performers, known for staging that folds orchestral heft into razor‑sharp lyricism. A late‑August headline in Bristol should find her in full control of a catalogue that runs from the widescreen ambition of ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert‘ to the steely minimalism of more recent work.

Wet Leg’s inclusion brings festival‑tailored chaos back to the Downs. The Isle of Wight duo have graduated from viral beginnings to bona fide indie heavyweights, surfing deadpan humour with jagged guitars. They’ve since landed BRIT‑red‑carpet notoriety. With their second album maturing their sound without sanding off their edginess, a Forwards slot promises the kind of mass sing‑along that turns a hillside into a chorus.

On the other end of the spectrum, Australian punks Amyl and the Sniffers are poised to deliver the most feral set of the weekend. Fronted by the endlessly charismatic Amy Taylor, the band’s shows are notorious for ascending into mosh‑pit mayhem, powered by hard-hitting riffs and shout‑along hooks. Their presence fits in perfectly with Forwards’ legacy of loud, physical, cathartic performances that still carry a political charge.

Beyond the marquee names, Forwards has made a habit of threading rising talent and global voices through its lineups, previously hosting everyone from LCD Soundsystem and Loyle Carner to Olivia Dean and Barry Can’t Swim.

Further 2026 headliners announced include Tems and Dijon, who will join Wet Leg as the Friday headliners, marking a tone that swerves from alt‑R&B elegance to intimate indie songwriting. Self Esteem joins Amyl and the Sniffers and Little Simz on Saturday, promising a closing run that stitches together sharp pop theatre alongside punk-rock and heavyweight hip‑hop, making for one of the most exciting closing stretches the Downs has seen yet. Other major names on the latest line-up include Kraftwerk, Goldie, Viagra Boys, Oklou, and Tricky. See the full line-up so far here.

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Since its beginning back in 2005, Dot To Dot has built a formidable reputation as a launchpad for emerging artists, with past alumni including The 1975, Squid, Sports Team, and Yard Act, each of whom graced its tightly packed city-centre stages long before their breakout moments. The 2026 line-up continues that legacy, once again curating a vivid variation of scenes spanning punk, indie, pop, and electronic experimentalism.

Fronting this year’s billing, Lambrini Girls bring their uncompromising queer punk energy to the festival, fresh off a year that’s seen them take their anti-establishment message across Europe. Known for their chaotic live sets and powerful tracks challenging misogyny and right-wing politics, their appearance promises one of the weekend’s most cathartic moments, merging activism with pure adrenaline release.

Joining them are Fcuckers, a high-energy quartet who’ve surged in 2025 following their blistering 2024 EP Baggy$$. Unboxed by genre, expect a wonderful mesh of sound including house, trip-hop, jungle and electro-indie alongside a lively crowd. Their show is set to be one of Dot To Dot’s absolute highlights.

Galway’s NewDad add balance to the chaos with their shimmering dream-pop, anchored by vocalist Julie Dawson’s melancholic delivery and the band’s lush, echoing guitars. After releasing their critically acclaimed debut MADRA, they propelled from Irish indie icons to an international touring act. Their Dot To Dot appearance marks a welcome return to the UK’s smaller venues following a run of major festival bookings.

Beyond the headliners, Dot To Dot’s first wave also features a selection of emerging names sitting at the intersection of pop experimentation and underground grit. Early confirmations include London’s dream-pop, lounge-jazz singer-songwriter Sarah Meth, Brighton’s post-punk, electro-folk band AtticOmatic, and Bristol’s beloved post-punk quartet Grandma’s House, adding genre diversity to an already wide-ranging bill.

Taking over Bristol’s city centre on Saturday, May 24, before heading north to Nottingham on Sunday, May 25, Dot To Dot will again transform small venues, bars, and converted spaces into a labyrinth of live music. For many fans, part of the magic lies in the festival’s format as a multi-venue crawl where stumbling upon an underground, prospective star in a 200-cap room is all part of the thrill.

Tickets are on sale now via the festival’s official website, with more artists expected to be announced in early 2026.

Featured image credits: Dot To Dot Festival Instagram