Takedown Festival Announce Stage Splits + Reveal More Bands
Award-nominated independent rock and metal festival, Takedown Festival, has today revealed its stage splits for the 2026 edition.
The festival returns to Portsmouth Guildhall on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th April 2026, once again bringing a heavyweight lineup of alternative, rock and metal talent to the south coast.
Alongside the stage split announcement, Takedown has confirmed a wave of new artists joining the 2026 bill. Newly announced acts include Leeds alt-rock misfits Artio, fresh from the release of their acclaimed debut album Soul Rot, and hotly tipped nu-grunge quartet, Overgrown. They’ll be joined by further additions Carsick, Pave, Vexed, Wall and King Kraken.
Friday’s Main Kerrang! Stage will be headlined by Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, delivering decades of hard-rock firepower with a special Motörhead set. Warming up the crowd earlier in the day will be The Wildhearts, South Of Salem and Kill The Lights. The festival’s second day raises the intensity as Wargasm, As It Is, Mouth Culture, Vower, Lastelle, Zetra and Artio prepare the ground for President, marking the masked collective’s first-ever festival headline performance.
Elsewhere across the site, Gnome and The Hara will headline the Total Rock Stage, while InMe and Graphic Nature top the bill on the Metal For Good Stage.
Talking on the announcement of stage splits, Kai and Sarah Harris of Takedown Festival Ltd share:
We’re pleased to share this year’s stage splits, highlighting a strong and diverse lineup across all stages. We are very proud of the 2026 edition and can’t wait to see everyone having a great time. See you in the pit.
FRIDAY (03 April 2026)
Kerrang! Stage
Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons
The Wildhearts
South of Salem
Asomvel
Kill The Lights
Total Rock Stage
Gnôme
Wall
Gurt
King Kraken
Metal For Good Stage
InMe
Devere
The Fear
SATURDAY (04 April 2026)
Kerrang! Stage
President
Wargasm
As It Is
Mouth Culture
Vower
Lastelle
Zetra
Artio
Total Rock Stage
The Hara
Bex
Bottom Line
Mould
Carsick
Pavé
Slacker
Overgrown
Metal For Good Stage
Graphic Nature
Mason Hill
Saint Agnes
Tropic Gold
Profiler
Vexed
Waterlines
Tickets for Takedown Festival 2026 are on sale now via takedownfestival.com
After an eight-year hiatus, the legendary festival made its triumphant return in 2023 with headliners Sleep Token and Skindred. Relocating from its Southampton University roots to the larger Portsmouth Guildhall, Takedown has re-established itself as one of the most important fixtures in the UK rock calendar.
Capping off an incredible comeback year, Takedown Festival was nominated for Best Small Festival, Best Metropolitan Festival, and the Grassroots Festival Award at the 2023 UK Festival Awards.
