Slam Dunk Festival announce first wave of bands for 2026
Slam Dunk Festival have announced the first wave of bands for next year’s event!
Following a blockbuster 2025, set to take place in May next year, the UK’s biggest independent alt festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary with its biggest edition yet. The festival returns to Hatfield Park on Saturday, May 23rd and Leeds Temple Newsam on Sunday, May 24th, 2026.
Headlining the festival are GOOD CHARLOTTE, flying in for their only European appearance and returning to Slam Dunk for the first time since 2018. Speaking about their return, the band says, “we are excited to come back and play the UK for the first time in seven years and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Slam Dunk will be a great time. Kicking off this next chapter of GC in the UK this way will be a lot of fun and a great precursor for what is still to come! Some of our fav shows in our career have been in the UK and this will be no exception!”
Also joining the bill are SUBLIME, who will make their first-ever UK appearance at Slam Dunk 2026. With Jakob Nowell stepping up to carry his father Bradley’s legacy, the Californian legends will bring their iconic ska-punk-reggae fusion to UK soil for the very first time.
The first wave of the line-up also includes:
A, ALLISTER, BROADSIDE, BURY TOMORROW, CANCER BATS, CARTEL (celebrating 20 years of Chroma), DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL, DRIVEWAYS, GOLDFINGER, HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS, MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK, PRESIDENT, SET YOUR GOALS, STAND ATLANTIC, TAKING BACK SUNDAY (celebrating 20 years of Louder Now), THE HOME TEAM, THE MENZINGERS, THE SUICIDE MACHINES, TONIGHT ALIVE, UNPEOPLE, and ZEBRAHEAD.
Speaking about the first announcement, festival founder Ben Ray says, “when I started the festival 20 years ago, I had no idea it would get to the milestone of 20 years, let alone be the size that it has grown to. I am overwhelmed by the continued support for the event, both from the dedicated fan base who come every single year, to all the bands that keep coming back to play! A massive thank you to all!”
SDF South will take place on Saturday May 23rd 2026 at Hatfield Park, Hatfield and SDF North will take place on Sunday May 24th 2026 at Temple Newsam, Leeds. Tickets will be available from Saturday, September 27th and can be purchased here.
For more information on the festival like their official page on Facebook.
