Arctangent Festival Reveals First Bands for 2026
Arctangent, the popular UK prog metal festival, has unveiled its initial lineup for the 2026 edition. The event, scheduled to take place from August 19 to 22 at Fernhill Farm in Bristol, has confirmed a total of 37 artists so far. Among the acts announced are French avant-garde musician Igorrr, experimental US group Chat Pile, blackgaze pioneers Alcest, and progressive rock outfit Agent Fresco.
In addition to these main acts, several performers have been revealed for the festival’s warm-up lineup on the Wednesday before the main event. This day typically showcases some of the best artists who have graced the Arctangent stage in previous years. Artists such as Svalbard, Dimscûa, Overhead The Albatross, and Lost In Kiev have all been added to the bill.
While headliners for the festival have yet to be disclosed, tickets for the weekend are already more than halfway sold out, indicating a high level of interest and excitement for the event. Weekend passes, as well as VIP packages, are currently available for purchase through the Arctangent website.
The 2026 lineup promises to feature several UK festival exclusives and special performances. Notable highlights include the reunion of heavy metal act Heck to commemorate the 10th anniversary of their Instructions album, the first performance in over a decade by sludge metal group Humanfly, and a live silent disco set by British rock band Amplifier.
Event organizer James Scarlett expressed his enthusiasm for the response to ticket sales, noting that over half of the tickets were sold within the first two weeks of availability. While the headliners are yet to be revealed, Scarlett teased the exciting lineup of exclusives, reunions, and unique sets that have been planned for the festival. With Early Bird tickets selling fast, he encouraged fans to secure their spots for what is shaping up to be another memorable edition of Arctangent.
Arctangent festival, which initially focused on math rock and post-rock when it debuted in 2013, has since evolved to encompass a broader range of genres, including metal, hardcore, and prog. Past editions of the festival have featured headliners such as Wardruna, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Karnivool, and Tesseract. As anticipation builds for the 2026 event, fans can expect a diverse and dynamic lineup that continues to push the boundaries of alternative and experimental music.