Throughout its history, CloseUp Festival has platformed both new and emerging artists, while giving audiences the chance to see tomorrow’s headliners in a rare, up-close and intimate setting. Taking place across three days in Central London, the festival is built around discovery and catching bands and artists just before they break, at one of London’s most iconic music venues. Previous sold-out editions have featured sets by Little Comets, milk., CATTY, Delights, EKKAH, whenyoung, Pixey, Trudy and The Romance, Beaux, Corella and Phoebe Green.
CloseUp Festival’s 11th Edition will take place May 22, 2026 – May 24, 2026 at Colours Hoxton. Yesterday, festival organizers announced the first wave lineup and headliners for 2026.
Friday, May 22, 2026‘s opening party will be headlined by indie dance punks Home Counties. Saturday, May 23, 2026‘s all-day session will be headlined by Jimothy Lacoste. And Sunday, May 24, 2026 will be closed out by Pale Blue Eyes. The first wave lineup will benefit rounded out by a handful of rising acts including Harry Crane, Slow Country, Just For Fun, This is a Fever, Monks, Only Real and Lizzie Esau.
“We are so back. CloseUp Festival, our biggest yearly event, returns with 2 full days and a warm-up party in 2026.,” CloseUp Festival founder Sam Tucker says. “Announcing in line with an entire CloseUp rebrand, and our best ever lineup (if we do say so ourselves). CloseUp Festival is now in its 11th year, which is quite wild even for us to say. As a fully independent company, being able to continuously book our favourite artists year in, year out, is nothing short of a privilege. We’ve spotlighted 100+ artists of varying genres, backgrounds and levels in our decade in the sun, and have no intentions of slowing down any time soon.”
For all of my friends in the UK — or if you plan to be in London in late May, you can purchase tickets here.
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