Bearded Theory Festival
Catton Park, Derbyshire
20 – 24 May 2026
Bearded Theory returns to Catton Park in Derbyshire this May. As usual it boasts a great line up mixing established alternative acts and upcoming talent. This year’s headliners – Pixies, Garbage, and Skunk Anansie – bring a very 1990s vibe. All have iconic back catalogues and reputations for great live performances.
Among others gracing the event, CMAT‘s current reputation precedes her. Meanwhile, The Damned, always among the best of the original punks, just seem to get better and better with their mix of punk, goth and rock. Fat Dog are sure to deliver an incendiary live set, with Lambrini Girls not far behind when it comes to generating audience mayhem. Kae Tempest and Kate Nash bring their own intensity. There are also country-tinged sounds from Rianne Downey and the excellent Kezia Gill.
For fans of hard edged punk and garage infused guitar, there’s plenty on offer; Bad Nerves, Kid Kapichi, Sprints, and The Molotovs are all sure to impress, while Heartwoorms and The Horrors sprinkle a touch of goth.
Bearded Theory caters for a diverse range of tastes and ages. For those with memories stretching back through the decades, there’s plenty to enjoy. Artists like Peter Hook and The Light, Idlewild, Neville Staple, and The Wedding Present are bound to bring smiles to aging faces. For dancers, there are Get Down Services, Phil Hartnoll and many more.
There’s always a relaxed, laid back vibe and a range of experiences at Bearded Theory. Main stage acts play to thousands while the various tented venues cater for everything, from sweaty and boisterous to chilled and intimate Across the festival’s eight stages, pretty much every genre except mainstream pop is on offer.
Weekend tickets, upgrades and more information is available here. Bearded Theory | 20th-24th May 2026
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