Key Highlights
- Slam Dunk festival announces its 2026 line-up.
- Knocked Loose, Boston Manor, State Champs join the lineup with Good Charlotte and Sublime as headliners.
- Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025.
- Additional venues for Slam Dunk festival in 2025 include Hatfield Park and Temple Newsam.
Slam Dunk Festival: Celebrating Its 20th Anniversary with a Stacked Line-Up
The independent rock festival, Slam Dunk, is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2025 with an impressive lineup for the 2026 edition. The festival has announced over 20 new acts, including hardcore heavyweights like Knocked Loose and rising UK alt-rockers Beauty School.
The initial announcement of the line-up included headliners Good Charlotte, who will perform as a European exclusive, and Sublime, making their first-ever show in the United Kingdom. Other notable acts from the initial lineup are President (fronted by Busted’s Charlie Simpson), Taking Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional, Cancer Bats, Motion City Soundtrack, Hawthorne Heights, Driveways, and Tonight Alive.
Line-Up Expansion for 2026
Over the past few months, the festival organizers have continued to add more names to the bill. Boston Manor, Angel Du$t, Bayside, Call Me Amour, and Boston Manor are among the new additions. Hardcore heroes Comback Kid and Connecticut’s metalcore group Currents join the line-up for 2026, alongside Dying Wish, Guilt Trip, Hands Like Houses, Madina Lake, Static Dress, and former NME Cover stars Heriot.
Venues and Dates for Slam Dunk 2026
The festival will take place over two days in May 2026. The first day of the event is scheduled to be held at Hatfield Park on Saturday, May 23, while the second day will be at Temple Newsam in Leeds on Sunday, May 24.
The festival has grown significantly since its inception in 2006. Starting as a one-day event headlined by Fall Out Boy, Slam Dunk has become one of the largest independent rock festivals in the UK, with performances over the years from bands such as Paramore, Panic! At The Disco, Enter Shikari, Jimmy Eat World, Sum 41, and NOFX.
Additional Venues for 2025
In addition to its main venues in 2026, Slam Dunk also launched additional European legs in 2025. The festival returned to France and Italy, expanding its reach across Europe. Organizers are confident that the 2026 edition will be “its biggest and best” instalment yet, celebrating the milestone of 20 years in the rock festival scene.
The Slam Dunk team has made significant strides since its humble beginnings, with a lineup that continues to attract both established acts and up-and-coming bands.
Fans can expect an exciting lineup filled with heavy sounds and memorable performances as the festival celebrates two decades of independent rock music in 2025.
To purchase tickets for Slam Dunk 2026, visit the official website or the dedicated event page. The updated poster is available for viewing, showcasing the impressive line-up of bands set to perform at this year’s event.
