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.