Rock Werchter 2026

[charlierc]

10 hours ago, thetime said:

 

UK festivals are in a right state at the minute. They don't know to stick or twist. 

 

I don't mind the reading headliners, least they are giving acts a go.

I do wonder if we just have a festival oversaturation with an extreme quantity of choices, whereas Belgium having only 2/3 big ones helps them pack a lot together. 

[thetime]

3 minutes ago, charlierc said:

I do wonder if we just have a festival oversaturation with an extreme quantity of choices, whereas Belgium having only 2/3 big ones helps them pack a lot together. 

 

I don't think its just Belguim, but across Europe. With the likes of Mad Cool, Rock en Seine, Way out West, Primavera etc. 

 

Belguim fests do it well, they certainly wouldn't have Kasabian headline multiple fests in the same summer. 🤭

Edited December 1, 2025 by thetime

[charlierc]

3 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

I don't think its just Belguim, but across Europe. With the likes of Mad Cool, Rock en Seine, Way out West, Primavera etc. 

 

Belguim fests do it well, they certainly wouldn't have Kasabian headline multiple fests in the same summer. 🤭

Feel like that was ever thus though, no? Even before they sacked Tom, it was fairly clear Kasabian were bigger in the UK than anywhere else. I had that experience in 2018 when they were on 3rd at a festival in Paris that I went to. 

[thetime]

8 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Feel like that was ever thus though, no? Even before they sacked Tom, it was fairly clear Kasabian were bigger in the UK than anywhere else. I had that experience in 2018 when they were on 3rd at a festival in Paris that I went to. 

 

European people must have better taste than us folk from the UK. 

 

In all seriousness there isn't that many major festivals in the UK next year. Reading/Leeds, IOW, Victorious (debatable). Then the genre specific ones like Download and Creamfields. Probably the same as countries like Belguim with Werchter, Pukkelpop, Tomorrowland, graspop and Dour

 

UK just have darts to nany mid sized fests (25k), that rarely sell out. 

 

Edited December 1, 2025 by thetime

[northernangel]

I didnt stop Werchter sharing Iggy with Lokerse this year. Its not like Reading are sharing headliners or BST are with other festivals etc etc. Other countries don't have a serious of owned smaller festivals by the same people and they spread the big names out. Not like kendal is near Derby, Cornwall, Portsmouth or Oxford. Download aren't sharing their headliners with anyone else. The only mainland festival that actually will share us Glastonbury and with their sales they can. APE aren't sharing theirs with other festivals.

 

If you didn't have a group of festivals that were run as they are, most of those options would die out as they obviously get a deal on bands.

[sisco]

I think we’d all agree 🤷‍♂️ Anyway, moving on.

 

If there is a package this week (or before Christmas) who is everyone hoping for? Personally as always I’ll hope for Biffy Clyro + Wolf Alice, Vampire Weekend, Skunk Anansie, and Little Simz doing the barn one night would be top it off.  

[Kempleton]

2 minutes ago, sisco said:

I think we’d all agree 🤷‍♂️ Anyway, moving on.

 

If there is a package this week (or before Christmas) who is everyone hoping for? Personally as always I’ll hope for Biffy Clyro + Wolf Alice, Vampire Weekend, Skunk Anansie, and Little Simz doing the barn one night would be top it off.  

If any of Biffy, Vampire Weekend or Wolf Alice were added, I’d finally get off the fence and get tickets.

 

I’d also be very happy with one, some or all of: Nation of Language, Geese, Interpol, Four Tet, Slowdive, Oklou, Maruja and Newdad.

[sisco]

1 minute ago, Kempleton said:

If any of Biffy, Vampire Weekend or Wolf Alice were added, I’d finally get off the fence and get tickets.

 

I’d also be very happy with one, some or all of: Nation of Language, Geese, Interpol, Four Tet, Slowdive, Oklou, Maruja and Newdad.

Really hoping for Maruja but think they’re more likely for the slope.  Absolutely cannot wait for that lineup but that’ll be well into next year 

[BlackFoxx]

Wolf Alice excellent in Birmingham over the weekend! 

 

Think their Belgium show was after the last package too so perhaps a reason for their delay? 

[Kempleton]

Do we have any indication that Vampire Weekend are even active next summer? Or is this just an optimistic wish list?

 

Would be a dream booking for me.

[tmolvik]

49 minutes ago, sisco said:

I think we’d all agree 🤷‍♂️ Anyway, moving on.

 

If there is a package this week (or before Christmas) who is everyone hoping for? Personally as always I’ll hope for Biffy Clyro + Wolf Alice, Vampire Weekend, Skunk Anansie, and Little Simz doing the barn one night would be top it off.  

Pulp, Biffy Clyro, Vampire Weekend, The Offspring, Manchester Orchestra, Placebo, Richard Ashcroft, The Glorious Sons, Beck, Grandson, The Hives, Jack White

[bitterobvious]

I'd rather have goose than geese

[sisco]

23 minutes ago, Kempleton said:

Do we have any indication that Vampire Weekend are even active next summer? Or is this just an optimistic wish list?

 

Would be a dream booking for me.

So…. Someone had info that the Thursday lineup was M&S, Lorde, The Lumineers, Vampire Weekend, Kasabian, Zwangere Guy, Young Yello.  Now obvs it has turned out wrong as Lorde isn’t there Thursday now however there must of been truth to it at the time otherwise he’s a great guesser to 4 of the right acts on the right day on the right stage.  
 

So fingers crossed VW appear but you’re right they’ve not been announced for anything yet so who knows if it’ll actually happen 

[Floyd_Ams]

I wouldn't be surprised if they'd announce the Offspring for Friday first. Since this is expected to be a small package, I'm hoping for Richard Ashcroft, Beirut, Floodlights (slope?), Maruja (slope?), Archive, Franz Ferdinand.

[Ohad]

5 minutes ago, tmolvik said:

Pulp, Biffy Clyro, Vampire Weekend, The Offspring, Manchester Orchestra, Placebo, Richard Ashcroft, The Glorious Sons, Beck, Grandson, The Hives, Jack White

 

Give me this trio and I'm good to goooooo

[northernangel]

2 hours ago, Kempleton said:

If any of Biffy, Vampire Weekend or Wolf Alice were added, I’d finally get off the fence and get tickets.

 

I’d also be very happy with one, some or all of: Nation of Language, Geese, Interpol, Four Tet, Slowdive, Oklou, Maruja and Newdad.

 

You seem every confident and assured on what Werchter book to sit on the fence about it? Biffy are extremely unlikely again, why not just do it last year. Added to Kasabian won't be playing 5th down and neither will VW.

39 minutes ago, Floyd_Ams said:

I wouldn't be surprised if they'd announce the Offspring for Friday first. Since this is expected to be a small package, I'm hoping for Richard Ashcroft, Beirut, Floodlights (slope?), Maruja (slope?), Archive, Franz Ferdinand.

The Offspring chances are very slim mow, they would be subbing, they've just played a 15k cap arena and they aren't below sub anywhere in Europe this year, they won't suddenly be 3rd down on a day with The XX and Lewis Capaldi of all days when Teddy Swims is also playing 3rd down at multiple European lineups too.

[northernangel]

59 minutes ago, tmolvik said:

Pulp, Biffy Clyro, Vampire Weekend, The Offspring, Manchester Orchestra, Placebo, Richard Ashcroft, The Glorious Sons, Beck, Grandson, The Hives, Jack White

 

Pulp, Biffy, VW and Jack all unlikely right now. Pulp are well committed over that weekend. They also haven't played Belgium for a massive amount of years. Biffy were below a headliner or two recently in Germany so if they aren't getting that they won't do it. They haven't played since 2014 and given their most recent Belgium date was 9 years ago next year in a small venue it says it all.

[sisco]

How does a genuine who would you like to play question turn into a, nope they can’t, they won’t, blah blah blah.  
 

Also more Beauregard additions tomoz night on the same weekend as Werchter so might get a few more clues

Edited December 1, 2025 by sisco

[majmun]

Just saw The Roots are back the 9th of July in Paris which gives me hope for them at RW

[gingerevans84]

1 hour ago, northernangel said:

 

You seem every confident and assured on what Werchter book to sit on the fence about it? Biffy are extremely unlikely again, why not just do it last year. Added to Kasabian won't be playing 5th down and neither will VW.

The Offspring chances are very slim mow, they would be subbing, they've just played a 15k cap arena and they aren't below sub anywhere in Europe this year, they won't suddenly be 3rd down on a day with The XX and Lewis Capaldi of all days when Teddy Swims is also playing 3rd down at multiple European lineups too.

Kasabian play low down everywhere they go in Europe, wouldnt surprise me to see them around 5pm

[BlackFoxx]

How big is Alanis Morrisette in Belgium?

 

New Download forums reporting a London date on Saturday 4th July. I'd absolutely love to see her turn up here if possible.

[Sparticus]

Just now, BlackFoxx said:

How big is Alanis Morrisette in Belgium?

 

New Download forums reporting a London date on Saturday 4th July. I'd absolutely love to see her turn up here if possible.

Unless it's Sunday I would be surprised...have heard of her doing a UK northern show on the Thursday which would tie in.

[BlackFoxx]

2 minutes ago, Sparticus said:

Unless it's Sunday I would be surprised...have heard of her doing a UK northern show on the Thursday which would tie in.

f**k sake, that'd rule her out then! 

Pretty sure the same thing happened this year with her playing the UK during RW weekend!

Edited December 2, 2025 by BlackFoxx

[sisco]

Dogstar are defo going to be there with those dates and then a few from Beauregard have to have a chance, Franz Ferdinand and The Hives the best chance id guess

Edited December 2, 2025 by sisco

[Floyd_Ams]

13 minutes ago, sisco said:

Dogstar are defo going to be there with those dates and then a few from Beauregard have to have a chance, Franz Ferdinand and The Hives the best chance id guess

Dropkick Murphys and Agnes Obel are more than welcome too!