It’s going to be quite the 20th birthday for SLAM DUNK Festival in the summer of 2026, with
the first wave of announcements providing some huge names, and making a little bit of history
in the process. Headlining the celebration will be pop punk icons Good Charlotte, back on UK
soil for the first time in seven years. Supporting them on the line up will be the California
legends Sublime, playing their first ever UK show, with Jakob Nowell, stepping in to continue
his late father Bradley’s legacy.
On top of this massive announcement, the line up has been filled out with emo royalty Taking
Back Sunday, celebrating 20 years of the era defining album Louder Now, Dashboard
Confessional, Hawthorne Heights, Tonight Alive and Motion City Soundtrack. Pop punk
fans will be spoilt for choice with the likes of Cartel, Goldfinger, The Suicide Machines, Stand
Atlantic, The Menzingers, Set Your Goals, The Home Team and Zebrahead.
Attendees of SLAM DUNK will also get monster sets from British metallers Bury Tomorrow and
masked newcomers PRESIDENT. Considering the inevitable rise of the anonymous four-piece,
their set is not one to be missed.
Festival founder Ben Ray admits even he can’t quite believe how far things have come: “When I
started SLAM DUNK 20 years ago, I had no idea it would get this far. The support from fans and
bands has been unreal, I can’t wait to celebrate with everyone next summer”.
SLAM DUNK is the UK’s biggest independent rock festival, and it returns in 2026, for a
monumental milestone. After yet another unforgettable Slam Dunk this year, the festival is
gearing up to raise the bar even higher next year.
Slam Dunk will return to Hatfield Park on Saturday 23rd May, before heading north to Leeds, Temple Newsam on Sunday 24th May 2026. Tickets are on sale this Saturday 27th September at 10am. Don’t sleep on this – it’s set to be the biggest Slam Dunk yet.
