Sound City has unveiled the first wave of artists for its 2026 edition — and it’s one of the festival’s biggest announcements yet. The UK’s leading new music discovery festival returns to Liverpool City Centre from Saturday 2 to Sunday 3 May 2026, with its Sound City+ Conference launching the weekend on Friday 1 May.
Among the first names revealed are hype-heavy Manchester four-piece Westside Cowboy, nu-soul powerhouse Brooke Combe, hometown indie favourites Keyside, and explosive mod-rock siblings The Molotovs. They join an exciting and diverse selection of emerging talent, including Teenage Joans, Cherryholt, Saint Clair, Blossom Caldarone, MT Jones, SLAG, The Lilacs, Lynnie Snow, Jack Devlin, Finn Forster, ashnymph, and more.
With early bird tickets already selling out in record time, the 2026 line-up signals another stellar year for the festival renowned for spotting the next big breakthrough acts. This year also welcomes the return of two former Sound City small-stage artists — Keo and Jalen Ngonda — now elevated to headline status with huge shows planned at the iconic 3,500-capacity St George’s Hall.
The announcement arrives alongside the opening of Sound City’s Apply To Play portal, powered by TuneCore and Amplead, offering unsigned and emerging artists a unique chance to perform at one of the UK’s most influential music showcases. Previous Apply To Play success stories include Ed Sheeran, Grimes and Christine and the Queens, underlining the platform’s reputation for launching global careers.
Ranging from indie upstarts and alternative experimentalists to emotionally charged songwriters and TikTok-powered newcomers, the first drop of artists cements Sound City 2026 as a festival defined by discovery, diversity, and dynamic new sounds.
Sound City’s Managing Director, Becky Ayres, said: “We’re thrilled to share our first wave of acts for Sound City 2026! With Jalen Ngonda and Keo already set to headline, this year’s line-up promises a mix of rising stars, genre-defying talent, and the next generation of music’s biggest names. Sound City has always been about discovering tomorrow’s superstars today — this first wave gives a glimpse of the unforgettable experiences waiting for audiences in Liverpool, the world capital of music.”
Sound City 2026 will once again be supported by Arts Council England, with additional partnerships including BPI, PRS, PPL, PRSF, AIM, UK Music, SAE Institute, ICMP, Leeds Conservatoire and the Scottish Alternative Music Awards. SESAC will return with a special showcase, honouring their late Vice President John Sweeney with a dedicated stage at The Shipping Forecast.
Weekend and Day Tickets are on sale now at soundcity.uk.com, with more artist announcements to follow in the coming months.
