Harry Styles has revealed the first wave of artists for his curation of Meltdown Festival, running June 11 to 21, 2026 at London’s Southbank Centre as part of the festival’s 75th anniversary year. The lineup is a genuinely personal and wide-ranging one, spanning Warpaint (their only show of 2026), Kamasi Washington presenting two distinct Royal Festival Hall performances, Mulatu Astatke bringing his pioneering Ethio-jazz sound, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Nilüfer Yanya, Yussef Dayes, bar italia, Foushée, Erika de Casier, and a late-night Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer set from James Murphy. Jon Hopkins joins the bill alongside Maddie Ashman and Leo Abrahams for special improvised performances, and the Devonté Hynes Ensemble rounds out the final weekend. Styles himself headlines the Royal Festival Hall on June 16th, with full details still to come.
Meltdown has been running since 1993, with past curators including Little Simz, Chaka Khan, Grace Jones, David Bowie, and Patti Smith. Styles is the 31st curator, and the lineup reflects exactly the kind of taste you’d hope for. “It’s a true honour to host legends who have paved the way for the generations that follow them, as well as new acts that have inspired me to push my creative boundaries,” Styles says. Tickets are on sale now for general public via the Southbank Centre. Further lineup announcements, including details on Styles’ own headline show, are coming soon.
Meltdown Festival 2026 Schedule:
June 11 – Royal Festival Hall – Warpaint
June 12 – Purcell Room – Stephen Fretwell
June 12 – Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer – Ninajirachi
June 12 – Queen Elizabeth Hall – Shabaka Hutchings and special guests
June 13 – Queen Elizabeth Hall – Erika de Casier
June 13 – Queen Elizabeth Hall – Foushée
June 14 – Royal Festival Hall – Kamasi Washington (Jazz Legends Reimagined / Fearless Movement Live)
June 14 – Queen Elizabeth Hall – Nilüfer Yanya
June 16 – Purcell Room – Getdown Services
June 16 – Royal Festival Hall – Harry Styles
June 17 – Royal Festival Hall – Mulatu Astatke
June 18 – Royal Festival Hall – Beverly Glenn-Copeland
June 18 – Queen Elizabeth Hall – bar italia
June 19 – Queen Elizabeth Hall – Orlando Weeks
June 19 – Royal Festival Hall – Devonté Hynes Ensemble
June 20 – Royal Festival Hall – Yussef Dayes
June 20 – Queen Elizabeth Hall – Jon Hopkins with Maddie Ashman and Leo Abrahams
June 20 – Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer – James Murphy