Every May, Slamdunk becomes the beating heart of the UK alternative scene — a weekend where nostalgia collides with the future, where sweat‑drenched tents feel like home, and where you can lose your voice three times before sunset. For Hatfield (23 May) and Leeds (24 May), the festival returns with a lineup that feels like a celebration of everything this community stands for: legacy, evolution, and the thrill of finding your next favourite band.

This year’s bill is a three‑tiered triumph — from scene‑defining headliners to mid‑bill heavyweights and the rising names you’ll be telling everyone about come Monday.

These are the giants shaping the weekend — the acts whose legacy, power, and presence define Slamdunk 2026.

Good Charlotte

Pop‑punk icons who shaped an entire generation’s soundtrack. Their Slamdunk set promises a rush of nostalgia wrapped in the kind of big‑stage confidence only a band with this many anthems can deliver.

Knocked Loose

A seismic, era‑defining booking. Knocked Loose bring a level of intensity that reshapes the air around them — a headliner that proves Slamdunk isn’t afraid to go heavier, louder, and more uncompromising than ever.

Sublime

A sun‑kissed curveball that adds warmth and swagger to the weekend. Their fusion of ska, punk, and West Coast groove is the perfect festival palette cleanser — a communal, feel‑good moment waiting to happen.

Sitting proudly in the middle of the bill, these bands bring the momentum, the craft, and the energy that keep the day electric.

Boston Manor

Atmospheric, emotionally charged, and increasingly ambitious. Their live show has evolved into something cinematic — a dark, melodic storm that hits harder in the open air.

Cancer Bats

A guaranteed eruption of sweat, riffs, and pure punk‑hardcore joy. They’re veterans who still play like they’ve got something to prove, and Slamdunk crowds always meet them at full volume.

Dead Pony

One of the UK’s most exciting modern alt‑rock exports. Sharp, stylish, and bursting with energy, they’re the kind of band that turns casual passers‑by into instant fans.

State Champs

Pop‑punk precision at its finest. Big choruses, bigger smiles, and a crowd that never stops moving — they’re the beating heart of the festival’s mid‑bill.

Tucked away on the smaller stages, these rising names are the ones you’ll stumble upon by chance and leave completely obsessed with.

The Home Team

Slick, vibrant, and festival‑ready. Their blend of pop‑rock sheen and funk‑tinged swagger makes them one of the most exciting rising US acts on the bill.

Zebrahead

Perennial underdogs with a cult following and a party‑starting streak. Their rap‑punk hybrid is chaotic, joyful, and tailor‑made for Slamdunk sunshine.

Call Me Amour

A sharp, modern alt‑rock outfit with ambition written all over them. Expect intensity, melody, and a set that feels like a band on the cusp of something bigger.

Pest Control

Leeds’ own hardcore breakout — raw, fast, and proudly DIY. If you want something heavier and grittier, this is your essential stop.

Slamdunk 2026 feels like a festival with its own history. It honours the icons, champions the innovators, and gives the spotlight to the next wave — all while keeping that unmistakable Slamdunk spirit alive.

It’s a weekend of fun, community, and discovery. A place where you can scream along to the songs that raised you, then stumble into a tent and find the band that’ll soundtrack your next chapter.

And that’s why Slamdunk remains one of the UK’s most beloved alternative festivals.