If you thought Burn It Down had already carved out its place as one of the UK’s most essential alternative festivals, Torquay is about to prove you wrong. This September, the seaside turns seismic as Burn It Down 2026 rolls in with a line-up so stacked it feels almost reckless.
Three days. A tidal wave of rock, punk, hardcore and alternative energy. And a bill that reads like a love letter to the scenes that refuse to die quietly.
Leading the charge this year are VUKOVI, Drug Church and SPEED — three acts who don’t just headline festivals, they reshape them.
VUKOVI take the Thursday top slot, bringing their explosive alt‑rock theatrics to kick off the weekend with a bang.
Drug Church close out Friday with their signature blend of sardonic punk and cathartic singalongs — a set guaranteed to turn the Foundry into a pressure cooker.
And on Saturday, Sydney hardcore juggernauts SPEED deliver the final blow, topping the bill with the kind of set that will be talked about for years.
With no‑barrier headline sets on Friday and Saturday, the divide between band and crowd disappears entirely. Expect bodies in motion, voices raised, and a level of connection you simply don’t get at bigger, more sanitised festivals.
But Burn It Down has never been a festival that relies on its headliners — and 2026 proves it again.
The undercard is a feast of established favourites, cult heroes and rising names who are already shaping the future of heavy and alternative music. Among them:
As It Is bringing their emotionally charged, high‑octane pop‑punk.
unpeople, one of the UK’s most exciting new alternative exports.
The Meffs, delivering razor‑sharp punk energy.
The Chisel and Grove Street, flying the flag for the UK’s ferocious hardcore and crossover scenes.
PENGSHUi, Meryl Streek, Pest Control, Beauty School, Heriot, Love Rarely, Split Dogs, TRC, IOTA, Oversize, False Reality, Bodyweb — and dozens more ready to tear through Torquay with everything they’ve got.
It’s the kind of line-up where you can stumble into your new favourite band in a sweaty side room, then five minutes later find yourself throwing elbows to a set you’ve waited years to see.
Burn It Down is less of a festival, it’s more of a takeover. Across The Foundry, The Attic and The Apple & Parrot, the English Riviera becomes a playground for alternative culture. Sun, sea air, and a soundtrack that never lets up.
Whether you’re there for the breakdowns, the riffs, the singalongs or the discovery, Burn It Down 2026 promises a weekend where every corner of Torquay feels alive.
Three days. An army of bands. One unforgettable weekend.
Burn It Down 2026 isn’t just bringing the noise — it’s bringing a statement. And if you’re anywhere near the South West this September, you’ll feel it.