The Great Escape UK Announces Full 20th Anniversary Schedule

The Great Escape will celebrate its 20th anniversary May 13-16, 2026, in Brighton, UK. The full Great Escape Conference 2026 schedule is now live.

The full festival schedule for this year’s edition can be accessed via the official The Great Escape mobile app, which also helps navigate the mammoth line-up of 450-plus artists performing across Brighton’s iconic grassroots music venues.

The full conference schedule features a host of newly announced sessions. Highlights include a keynote conversation between artist Peaches and Trans Voices co-founder ILĀ, presented by The Independent, alongside new panels from PPL, PRS and AWAL. T

Speed networking sessions return in 2026, offering delegates the opportunity to connect with global festival bookers, live agents, music supervisors and promoters. The conference part of The Great Escape takes place from May 15–17.

The Great Escape also reveals its 2026 stage hosts including media partners Billboard UK, BBC Introducing, Clash, DIY, Dork, Kerrang!, NME, Notion, So Young, The Independent, The Line of Best, Ticketmaster New Music, live agencies ITB, ROAM, WME, management company Raw Power, and independent record labels Bella Union, Hospital Records, Rough Trade, Transgressive Records, Third Man Records, among many more. Pollstar is also a TGE media partner once again in 2026.

A further 43 artists have joined the 2026 lineup since the last update. Among the latest additions are fast-rising neo-soul voice Nectar Woode, boundary-pushing experimental outfit Mandy, Indiana, and the electrifying Working Men’s Club, whose fusion of post-punk and electronic influences has earned widespread acclaim. They are joined by a diverse wave of emerging and established names including Gabriella Cilmi, Walt Disco, Lizzie Esau, Rafferty, and Oumy, alongside international artists such as La Plata, Tian Qiyi, showmore, and BANSHIMOKU, reflecting the festival’s broad and forward-thinking musical scope.

Playing host to over 450 up-and-coming artists and hotly tipped talent across 35+ walkable venues, alongside the music industry-led TGE conference, the festival will kick off the 2026 season in Brighton, England.

Tickets for The Great Escape are on sale, with a four-day festival ticket available for £120 ($163). A conference-only ticket costs £215 ($291), a full delegate pass £315 ($427).

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