TAKEDOWN FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES MORE ACTS FOR 2026
The award-nominated independent rock and metal event Takedown Festival has today unveiled a new wave of bands for its 2026 edition.
Returning to Portsmouth Guildhall on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th April 2026, the festival once again promises two days packed with heavy music on the south coast.
Newly announced acts include As It Is, whose 2025 return was a major highlight for the alternative scene, and WARGASM, the chaotic, genre-bending duo whose electrifying fusion of electro, punk, and metal has cemented them as one of the UK’s most incendiary live forces. Both will perform on Saturday, joined by Vower, Saint Agnes, Bex, Profiler, and Tropic Gold. Friday’s additions include Gnome, Devere, Gurt, and The Fear.
Headlining the 2026 edition are PRESIDENT, marking the masked collective’s first-ever festival headline appearance. Having rapidly emerged as one of heavy music’s most compelling and unpredictable newcomers, their Takedown performance is set to be a defining moment in their ascent.
Also topping the bill are Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, bringing decades of hard-rock firepower with a special Motörhead-focused set.
Kai and Sarah Harris of Takedown Festival Ltd comment: “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”
Tickets for Takedown Festival 2026 are on sale now via the official website.
After an eight-year hiatus, the legendary event made its triumphant return in 2023 with headliners Sleep Token and Skindred. Having relocated from its Southampton University roots to the larger Portsmouth Guildhall, Takedown has firmly re-established itself as one of the UK rock scene’s key annual fixtures.
Closing out its comeback year on a high, Takedown Festival earned nominations for Best Small Festival, Best Metropolitan Festival, and the Grassroots Festival Award at the 2023 UK Festival Awards.
