RADAR FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FIRST WAVE OF ACTS FOR 2026
Award-winning progressive music event RADAR Festival has unveiled the first wave of artists for its 2026 edition, set to take place at O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, from 31 July to 2 August.
Progressive metal giants Animals As Leaders will headline the event, returning after their unforgettable performance at the festival’s 2019 debut. Joining them are Northlane, along with The Pineapple Thief and Protest The Hero, both appearing for exclusive UK festival sets.
The first lineup announcement also features unpeople, Ten56., Siamese, Heart Of A Coward, Employed To Serve, Elwood Stray, Hacktivist, Black Gold, Cage Fight, Dali, Ihlo, Benthos, Seething Akira, Luna Kills, Eville, and Dacara, setting the tone for another boundary-pushing year of progressive sound and community energy.
Speaking about the new announcement, festival co-founder and co-organiser Catherine Jackson-Smith shares, “ANIMALS AS LEADERS return to headline RADAR Festival 2026, marking a full-circle moment after leading our very first event back in 2019. We’ve both grown since then and a UK Festival Exclusive performance showing how far we’ve both come feels apt.
Joining them, NORTHLANE – the most requested band in RADAR’s history – finally take the stage for a long-awaited appearance fans have demanded since day one. Progressive icons THE PINEAPPLE THIEF also join as a UK Festival Exclusive, while PROTEST THE HERO finally return to UK shores and bring their infectious energy to Manchester for us.
They’re backed by a stacked lineup of heavy talent and rising stars: unpeople, TEN56., SIAMESE, HEART OF A COWARD, EMPLOYED TO SERVE, ELWOOD STRAY, HACKTIVIST, BLACKGOLD, CAGE FIGHT, DALI, IHLO, BENTHOS, SEETHING AKIRA, LUNA KILLS, EVILLE, and Manchester locals, DACARA.
Beyond the stages? Masterclasses, a music and gaming market, a vinyl shop, art gallery, coffee shop, and our no-clash schedule that lets you see it all.”
Early-bird weekend tickets are now on sale with payment plan options available, more information here.
