21 – 23 AUGUST 2026 | ESCOT PARK DEVON | beautifuldays.org
BEAUTIFUL DAYS 2026 LINE-UP INCLUDES SUPER FURRY ANIMALS, MADNESS, LEVELLERS, THE PROCLAIMERS, THE DIVINE COMEDY, THE BETA BAND, SKINDRED, GOGOL BORDELLO, THE WONDER STUFF AND MORE
Beautiful Days have announced a huge 2026 line-up with names including Super Furry Animals, Madness, Levellers, The Proclaimers, The Divine Comedy, Beta Band, Skindred, Gogol Bordello, Richard Thompson, Tanita Tikaram and many more. The festival has music and entertainment over six stages plus walkabout theatre, site art, a huge children’s area, a massive selection of food and traders plus real ale bars run by Devon’s Otter Brewery. Beautiful Days is the Levellers’ annual family music festival organised by Exeter-based DMF Music since it started in 2003. Proudly independent and without advertising, the festival has already sold nearly 60% of their tickets before they’ve announced who’ll be playing!
Headlining Friday night on the Main Stage are Welsh offbeat legends Super Furry Animals who have reunited after 10 years. Led by singer Gruff Rhys the Furries are primarily and deservedly known for their nine albums of fearlessly explorative music, adventurously skipping between harmonic rock, psych, folk, electronica and dancefloor indie. Saturday headliners are one of Britain’s best-loved bands – the original Nutty Boys Madness. Their music, spirit and style are woven into the fabric of British culture with albums featuring numerous classic songs including ‘Our House’, ‘It Must Be Love’, ‘House of Fun’ and ‘Baggy Trousers’. They recently released the career-spanning anthology Hit Parade. Festival founders Levellers who are approaching their 40th anniversary will headline the Main Stage on the Sunday to close the weekend followed by the festival’s traditional firework finale. The band will also open the event with a Levellers Collective acoustic set in The Big Top.
Also announced for the Main Stage are Newport’s finest export Skindred fronted by Benji Webbe whose wild enthusiasm on stage is instantly contagious. The ragga-metal band’s new album ‘You Got This’ is out in April. International punk band Gogol Bordello, led by Ukrainian frontman Eugene Hütz, make a welcome return to Escot Park. Wild, unrestrained, and gloriously chaotic they are one of the most exhilarating live bands on the planet. The Wonder Stuff are celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2026. One of the most exciting and vital bands of the late-80’s/early-90’s they are still performing with the same vigour and determination that they’ve always had. Billy Bragg has been a fearless recording artist, tireless live performer and peerless political campaigner for 40 years. He recently released a career spanning box set celebrating his enduring musical legacy. Wrexham’s fast-rising indie force The Royston Club bring us their anthemic, high-energy sound. One of Wales’ most exciting new bands, they have built a reputation for delivering electrifying performances. London rock duo Nova Twins are renowned for their exhilarating live performances but also equally celebrated for their genre-defying sound. The Mercury Music Prize and two-time BRIT Award nominees have just been nominated for a 2026 MOBO award. The Undertones hit their 50th Anniversary this year. Emerging from Derry, Northern Ireland in 1976 they went on to release arguably some of the best punk albums of all time with iconic anthems including their most influential, and famous song, ’Teenage Kicks’.
The Main Stage also welcomes Black Country punk duo Big Special whose short journey in the time between their debut single to now could be described as ‘meteoric’, Irish punk quintet Gurriers, award-winning Welsh musician, songwriter and producer Gwenno, post-punk pioneers and revered cult Manchester band Chameleons, folk/punk powerhouse Skinny Lister, alt-rock trio Snayx and Bristol based wild and fast-paced punk quartet Split Dogs.
Completing the Main Stage line-up are Bar Stool Preachers (who missed playing in 2025 due to illness), London-based Cuban party tribe Sambroso All Stars, indie alternative pop band Crystal Tides, genre-defying festival favourites 3 Daft Monkeys, Dublin one-man punk band Meryl Streek, Welsh indie rock’n’roll band Trampolene and art rock band Erotic Secrets Of Pompeii.
Headlining Friday night in The Big Top are Scottish icons The Proclaimers. Twins Craig and Charlie Reid emerged nearly 40 years ago with debut album ‘This Is The Story’ and Top 3 single ‘Letter from America’. Since then their enduring appeal across generations has seen them enjoy huge success around the globe. Topping the bill on Saturday night are The Divine Comedy. Neil Hannon is the songwriter and driving force behind the band. His trademark orchestral pop, intelligent lyrics and legendary live shows have turned him into something of a national treasure. His first albums were critically acclaimed, but it was 1996’s ‘Casanova’ and lead single ‘Something For The Weekend’ that brought widespread fame. Then in 1998 ‘National Express’ became the band’s most beloved and highest charting single. Headlining Sunday are recently reunited Scottish indie group The Beta Band. Arguably one of the most acclaimed and loved bands of the time, by both fans and their musical peers alike, The Beta Band formed in 1996 and released a string of EPs and albums before splitting in 2004. They reformed in 2025 after 21 years.
Also playing in The Big Top this year are Richard Thompson with Zara Philips. Richard’s musical influence cannot be overstated. His genre defying mastery of both acoustic and electric guitar along with engaging energy and onstage wit continue to earn him new fans and a place as one of the most distinctive virtuosos and writers in folk rock history. Singer-songwriter Tanita Tikaram who first found fame at the age of 19 with debut album ‘Ancient Heart’ featuring the hit singles ‘Twist in My Sobriety’ and ‘Good Tradition’. Folk-rock pioneers Steeleye Span who released new album ‘Conflict’ in 2025. Acclaimed Irish folk singer-songwriter Lisa O’Neill, celebrated contemporary Scottish folk band and epic live outfit Skerryvore, London 4-piece Turin Brakes who released their 10th studio album Spacehopper in 2025, 24 years after their Mercury Prize nominated debut The Optimist LP and Damien Dempsey – one of modern Irish music’s greatest heroes. From intimate stages to euphoria-filled rooms and fields, Damien’s live shows are legendary.
The Big Top will also welcome award-winning solo artist Eddi Reader who was first brought into the limelight as front woman for Fairground Attraction whose #1 single ‘Perfect’ and parent album ‘First of a Million Kisses’ both topped the British charts. Rock and blues guitarist Toby Lee, new and unique Irish/American folk duo Dug, one of the most exciting artists on the contemporary British music scene – Katherine Priddy – who releases new album ‘These Frightening Machines’ in March, Ex-Auteurs frontman and now solo artist Luke Haines and Devon singer-songwriting duo Sound Of The Sirens.
Completing the 2026 Big Top line-up is Nick Parker And The False Alarms. Although primarily a solo effort Nick often plays with his band which is a folky/rocky/country affair, richly lyrical Irish singer-songwriter Junior Brother, female vocal and percussion collective Baque Luar – united by their love of Afro-Brazilian roots music, witty and dynamic singer-songwriter Ben Brown, the return of the Dartmoor Pixie Band Family Ceilidh (audience participation required), the Old Crow Folk Club, annual colourful Sunday Service from The Bar-Steward Sons Of Val Doonican with special guests and finally Levellers Collective who open The Big Top on the Friday afternoon playing acoustic reworkings of songs from their back catalogue.
The Little Big Top plays host to acts and DJs over the weekend including Phil Hartnoll (Orbital) DJ Set, Chris Hawkins & Bez, Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Experience, DJ Yoda, Dreadzone DJ Set with founder member Greg Dread, Bhangra All Stars, the Dub Pistols’ Barry Ashworth, Beatbox Collective, Shades Of Rhythm, Kings Of The Rave, DJ Chris Tofu & Friends, Sammy Dean, Samantics, Killa Beatmaker, Gina Larner, Fedzilla, Kaptain & Dregz, Revelation Roots, Dub Catalyst, Mothership, Twilight Of The Pleasure Gods plus Silent Disco and Friday’s opening family rave with Big Fish Little Fish.
First shows announced for the seated Theatre Tent are Bingo Bango, Entertainingly Different with Rob Pudner, Le Navet Bete, Welkin Music & Theatre present The Orchard, Dan The Hat, Stowaway Theatre present Cluck! and Stage By Stage present Shrek The Musical. Beautiful Days also welcome back The Magic Teapot and folk/roots sessions will return in The Fiddler’s Arms plus The Bimble Inn and The Rebel Tent. As well as music and entertainment, the festival is also well known for their colourful Sunday dressing up themes with the 2026 theme yet to be revealed!
Tickets for the 2026 event are on sale with nearly 60% already sold. Bell Tents and Campervan Passes have nearly SOLD OUT. There are still tipi or yurt options still available or general family camping. For information about Accessibility, go to the festival website. Tickets: www.beautifuldays.org/tickets
21 – 23 August 2026 | Escot Park, Devon, EX11 1LU
Festival website: www.beautifuldays.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beautifuldaysfestival/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/beautifuldaysfestival
BEAUTIFUL DAYS 2026 LINE-UP ANNOUNCED TODAY:
MAIN STAGE
SUPER FURRY ANIMALS – MADNESS – LEVELLERS – SKINDRED – GOGOL BORDELLO – THE WONDER STUFF – BILLY BRAGG – THE ROYSTON CLUB – NOVA TWINS – THE UNDERTONES – BIG SPECIAL – GURRIERS – GWENNO – CHAMELEONS – SKINNY LISTER – SNAYX – SPLIT DOGS – BAR STOOL PREACHERS – SAMBROSO ALL STARS – CRYSTAL TIDES – 3 DAFT MONKEYS – MERYL STREEK – TRAMPOLENE – EROTIC SECRETS OF POMPEII
THE BIG TOP
THE PROCLAIMERS – THE DIVINE COMEDY – THE BETA BAND – RICHARD THOMPSON with ZARA PHILIPS – TANITA TIKARAM – STEELEYE SPAN – LISA O’NEILL – SKERRYVORE – TURIN BRAKES – DAMIEN DEMPSEY – EDDI READER – TOBY LEE – DUG – KATHERINE PRIDDY – LUKE HAINES – SOUND OF THE SIRENS – NICK PARKER AND THE FALSE ALARMS – JUNIOR BROTHER – BAQUE LUAR – BEN BROWN – DARTMOOR PIXIE BAND FAMILY CEILIDH – OLD CROW FOLK CLUB – THE BAR-STEWARD SONS OF VAL DOONICAN – LEVELLERS COLLECTIVE
THE LITTLE BIG TOP
PHIL HARTNOLL (ORBITAL) DJ SET – CHRIS HAWKINS & BEZ – DELE SOSIMI AFROBEAT EXPERIENCE- DJ YODA – DREADZONE DJ SET (GREG DREAD) – BHANGRA ALL STARS – BARRY ASHWORTH – BEATBOX COLLECTIVE – SHADES OF RHYTHM – KINGS OF THE RAVE – DJ CHRIS TOFU & FRIENDS – SAMMY DEAN – SAMANTICS – KILLA BEATMAKER – GINA LARNER – FEDZILLA – KAPTAIN & DREGZ – REVELATION ROOTS – DUB CATALYST – MOTHERSHIP – TWILIGHT OF THE PLEASURE GODS – BIG FISH LITTLE FISH – SILENT DISCO
THEATRE TENT
BINGO BANGO – ENTERTAINGLY DIFFERENT – LE NAVET BETE – WELKIN MUSIC & THEATRE present THE ORCHARD – DAN THE HAT – RI BAROCHE presents CALL ME, MOTHER NATURE – STOWAWAY THEATRE present CLUCK! – STAGE BY STAGE present SHREK THE MUSICAL
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