Keo Announced as Sound City 2026 Headliners After Breakout Year
Mega-hyped London alt-rock quartet Keo have been unveiled as the latest headliners for Sound City 2026, marking a meteoric rise from their packed 200-capacity showcase at last year’s festival to a prime slot on the main stage at Liverpool’s historic Grand Central Hall.
The announcement comes amid surging excitement around the band, whose critically acclaimed summertime EP Siren saw them tipped as “about to be a very big deal indeed,” according to DORK. Comparisons to Wunderhorse and Fontaines D.C. have fuelled the hype, with their gritty, anthemic single I Lied, Amber surpassing one million Spotify streams.
Keo will headline Sound City on Saturday 2 May 2026, performing to 3,500 fans inside the ornate Grand Central Hall — a huge leap from their sweat-drenched, underground EBGBs set in 2025, curated by The Rock Revival.
Sound City Managing Director Becky Ayres said: “After their unforgettable performance at Sound City 2025, where fans were spilling out onto the street, it was clear Keo were destined for the main stage. Keo represent everything Sound City stands for — vision, authenticity, and a powerful connection with audiences. Their headline set will be one of those electric moments people talk about for years.”
A Festival With a Track Record for Spotting Future Stars
Sound City, the UK’s leading inner-city new music discovery festival, returns to Liverpool from Saturday 2 – Sunday 3 May 2026, with its industry-leading Sound City+ conference opening the weekend on Friday 1 May.
This year’s lineup continues to spotlight artists on the cusp of major breakthroughs. Recent announcements include the return of contemporary soul star and former Liverpool resident Jalen Ngonda, who will close the festival on Sunday night. A graduate of LIPA, Ngonda first appeared at Sound City in 2017 and 2018 before breaking into international acclaim.
With a star-studded alumni that includes Charli XCX, The 1975, Ed Sheeran and Stormzy, Sound City continues to attract industry attention worldwide. The 2026 Sound City+ Conference — supported by BPI, PRS, PPL, PRSF, AIM and UK Music — will unveil its speakers and schedule soon.
Opportunities for Grassroots Artists
Sound City will again open applications for unsigned and emerging artists via its Apply To Play programme, powered in 2026 by TuneCore and Amplead. TuneCore’s involvement continues from their 2025 Scouse House takeover, supporting the next generation of talent.
Supported by Leading Music Organisations
The festival’s return is made possible through funding from Arts Council England, thanks to National Lottery players, along with partnerships from CAPLL, SAE Institute, ICMP, Leeds Conservatoire and the Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMA). SESAC also returns with a live showcase and will honour their late Vice President John Sweeney by naming The Shipping Forecast stage in his memory.
Sound City remains the UK’s lead festival for Keychange, continuing its commitment to gender balance and diverse representation across all stages.
Tickets On Sale Now
Early bird tickets sold out almost a year in advance, and with Keo’s fanbase rapidly expanding, organisers are encouraging festival-goers to secure their Weekend or Day Tickets now at soundcity.uk.com.
Stay updated with Sound City announcements via the festival’s official channels.
