TAKEDOWN FESTIVAL ANNOUNCE 2026 HEADLINERS: PRESIDENT AND PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS
Award-nominated independent rock and metal weekender Takedown Festival has today revealed the headline acts for its highly anticipated 2026 edition.
Returning to Portsmouth Guildhall on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th April 2026, the festival will once again deliver a packed weekend of heavy music on the south coast - bringing together rising stars, cult favourites, and legends of the genre.
Headlining Friday night, enigmatic masked collective PRESIDENT will take the top slot - marking their first ever festival headline performance. Known for their explosive live shows and air of mystery, PRESIDENT have quickly carved out a reputation as one of the most thrilling and unpredictable new acts in the heavy music scene. Takedown 2026 will see them step fully into the spotlight for what’s set to be a defining moment in their fast-rising career.
Saturday night will be closed out by none other than Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, whose blistering live sets and rock ‘n’ roll legacy make them a perfect fit for the festival’s biggest stage. The band will bring a very special Motörhead set, paying tribute to the legendary catalogue of Campbell’s former band and guaranteed to ignite the crowd with timeless riffs and hard-hitting energy.
Kai and Sarah Harris of Takedown Festival Ltd said: “We’re proud to officially launch Takedown Festival 2026,” said co-directors Sarah and Kai Harris. “This year’s event taps into a powerful moment in metal culture. With younger fans rediscovering the roots of heavy music—especially following the passing of icons like Ozzy Osbourne—we’re honoured to have Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons headline Friday 3rd April with a full Motörhead set. It’s a chance to celebrate a legacy that continues to inspire across generations.”
“On Saturday 4th April, we’re handing the reins to President, one of the most talked-about new acts in UK heavy music. Their April ‘Campaign Trail’ tour sold out instantly, and their debut EP King of Terrors has struck a chord with fans through its cinematic intensity. Their headline set will be a statement, and we’re excited to see them take the Takedown main stage in full force.”
“We’re excited to be able to showcase the evolution of heavy music from (to quote Lemmy) Motorhead’s rock n roll all the way through to cutting edge contemporary alternative metal”
Following an eight-year hiatus, Takedown Festival made a triumphant return in 2023 with a powerhouse lineup featuring Sleep Token and Skindred. Relocating from its long-time home at Southampton University to the larger and more dynamic Portsmouth Guildhall, the festival has firmly re-established itself as a key fixture on the UK rock and metal calendar.
The comeback year didn’t go unnoticed - Takedown Festival earned nominations for Best Small Festival, Best Metropolitan Festival, and the Grassroots Festival Award at the 2023 UK Festival Awards, solidifying its place among the UK’s most beloved independent music events.
With PRESIDENT and Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons now confirmed to headline 2026, Takedown is showing no signs of slowing down - bringing fans another unmissable weekend of heavy music and unforgettable moments.
