Rock Werchter 2026

[northernangel]

45 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Were there many options in that brief period of 2021 when they had festival pilots? I remember Reading, Download and a much-later-than-usual IOW had a go.

 

40 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

Yes 2021, was a bit weird. Not many festivals around in 2021. 

 

I'll actually give them a bit of a buy for 2021 and people were desperate to get back to events it probably didnt matter. I don't think 2022 really did much better though but that's me.  Easy to day that though when theh book for 17-20 and not on their 30s.

[thetime]

Just now, northernangel said:

 

 

I'll actually give them a bit of a buy for 2021 and people were desperate to get back to events it probably didnt matter. I don't think 2022 really did much better though but that's me.  Easy to day that though when theh book for 17-20 and not on their 30s.

 

I dont think 2021 was the worst lineup in the world, it was just bloody cold.

 

Even my 1st werchter it hit the high 30s, I thought im liking this. Everyone was so polite as well, not many brits around puking and no pushing/barging during sets. A lot complain about the reserved Belgian crowds, I enjoyed that part. 

[thetime]

37 minutes ago, 49Lawson said:

 

Totally agree with you here by the way mate. I used to be devastated for days if/when I failed to get Glasto tickets back in the day but it just looks like it's become an absolute parody of itself now (imo of course). I often think a lot of casual music enjoyers try to get tickets and then just don't bother with looking further afield once they don't get Glasto tickets and I just feel like telling them "there's a massive array of options out there, just have a quick google and you'll find something you enjoy more!"

 

Crazy how Glastonbury tickets started to get ultra difficult in getting. 

 

I remember 1998 I sent a postal order off with the money, to the Glasto festival office. With no worry about getting tickets. 

 

Even my last one in 2008, I got tickets few weeks before the festival. That did sell poorly though.

[sisco]

2 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

I dont think 2021 was the worst lineup in the world, it was just bloody cold.

 

Even my 1st werchter it hit the high 30s, I thought im liking this. Everyone was so polite as well, not many brits around puking and no pushing/barging during sets. A lot complain about the reserved Belgian crowds, I enjoyed that part. 

A lot is made of that but I didn’t massively notice it.  The Slope was very good for atmosphere.  Sometimes the day time acts on the bigger stages get lost a little but that happen elsewhere too

[bitterobvious]

Moby, not really an act that is at the forefront of my mind, but I bit like Weezer this year, it would be a special treat

[Floyd_Ams]

For me, Moby would be a special booking, precisely because it's very rare to see him live these days. I can understand why young people might not relate but for my (and ±1) generation is part of the music we grew up with and I think it still sounds wonderful and by playing gigs again, he can create a new generation of fans (like many, many others). Because of the style of his music, there isn't a bad song you'll hear live. It doesn't get boring (assuming you like that style of course :)). 

 

Put him in the Barn during 21p or any other new pop act that will come along and I have no doubt that the tent will be packed! 

[northernangel]

10 minutes ago, Floyd_Ams said:

For me, Moby would be a special booking, precisely because it's very rare to see him live these days. I can understand why young people might not relate but for my (and ±1) generation is part of the music we grew up with and I think it still sounds wonderful and by playing gigs again, he can create a new generation of fans (like many, many others). Because of the style of his music, there isn't a bad song you'll hear live. It doesn't get boring (assuming you like that style of course :)). 

 

Put him in the Barn during 21p or any other new pop act that will come along and I have no doubt that the tent will be packed! 

 

I'd rather later night set if possible.

[tmolvik]

20 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

I'd rather later night set if possible.

 

I think those night sets are gone unfortunately (or maybe just as well for my own well being), but I really hope he'll play indoors if he shows up. Unfortunately it seems like RW is more and more into recycling the same bands that has been there the previous 5 years, rather than booking bands or artists that has "slipped" for many years. We'll see this years, but after the two last years editions, my hopes aren't very high. I'll probably be there again next year, but after last year, I've never been closer to dropping it and this will probably be the first of 13 editions, where I have to see more of the line-up rather than just book when tickets become available.

[matrainertje]

2 hours ago, bitterobvious said:

Moby, not really an act that is at the forefront of my mind, but I bit like Weezer this year, it would be a special treat

Hoping his shows are less dull though. Weezer was a hard one to sit through. 

[Floyd_Ams]

53 minutes ago, tmolvik said:

Unfortunately it seems like RW is more and more into recycling the same bands that has been there the previous 5 years, rather than booking bands or artists that has "slipped" for many years. 

Indeed and recycling selectively I'd add. I think it has to do more with artists that LN wants to promote than anything else. That and the target audience that seems to be changing. There are bands that haven't played there for ages, they are around and go to other festivals but not RW. And it's not always about the bands wanting top spots as it's often being said. Looking where they end up playing elsewhere or the allocation of high spots in RW the last coouple of years, that cannot be the only or main reason.

[northernangel]

58 minutes ago, tmolvik said:

 

I think those night sets are gone unfortunately (or maybe just as well for my own well being), but I really hope he'll play indoors if he shows up. Unfortunately it seems like RW is more and more into recycling the same bands that has been there the previous 5 years, rather than booking bands or artists that has "slipped" for many years. We'll see this years, but after the two last years editions, my hopes aren't very high. I'll probably be there again next year, but after last year, I've never been closer to dropping it and this will probably be the first of 13 editions, where I have to see more of the line-up rather than just book when tickets become available.

 

To be honest for a lot of this years Werchter, apart from the headliners in the end which I'd have all enjoyed, I found it a bit damp. 2024 however had 4 headliners I'd be happy with albeit two were questionable but a top undercard for me some of my best runs. I'd have gone if not for G.

30 minutes ago, matrainertje said:

Hoping his shows are less dull though. Weezer was a hard one to sit through. 

Same applies to Download to a point. They were superb in 2010 at Leeds but extremely dull and well out of place at Download.

[northernangel]

5 minutes ago, Floyd_Ams said:

Indeed and recycling selectively I'd add. I think it has to do more with artists that LN wants to promote than anything else. That and the target audience that seems to be changing. There are bands that haven't played there for ages, they are around and go to other festivals but not RW. And it's not always about the bands wanting top spots as it's often being said. Looking where they end up playing elsewhere or the allocation of high spots in RW the last coouple of years, that cannot be the only or main reason.

Glastonbury has a lot of this too now. They are definitely targeting a different younger audience and even with acts I do like a lot, this year while I won't watch it on tv was much easier to miss and be okay with that than usual

[charlierc]

2 hours ago, thetime said:

 

I dont think 2021 was the worst lineup in the world, it was just bloody cold.

 

Even my 1st werchter it hit the high 30s, I thought im liking this. Everyone was so polite as well, not many brits around puking and no pushing/barging during sets. A lot complain about the reserved Belgian crowds, I enjoyed that part. 

It is a curio that 2020 had a pretty hot summer for most of it, almost like gloating that everything was shut down that year, and then 2021 when things began to return was just not as nice.

[charlierc]

1 hour ago, tmolvik said:

Unfortunately it seems like RW is more and more into recycling the same bands that has been there the previous 5 years, rather than booking bands or artists that has "slipped" for many years.

Feels like it was ever thus though, no? Kings of Leon played it 7 times between 2007 and 2017, including all 3 of 07/08/09 and both of 2013/14. They've clearly fallen out of their booking policy given they've not been back in the past 8 years, but that was a lot of high-frequency bookings in quick succession.

[thetime]

7 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Feels like it was ever thus though, no? Kings of Leon played it 7 times between 2007 and 2017, including all 3 of 07/08/09 and both of 2013/14. They've clearly fallen out of their booking policy given they've not been back in the past 8 years, but that was a lot of high-frequency bookings in quick succession.

 

Pretty much this, Werchter never worried about repeats. They were more concerned getting the best lineups possible. Its only an issue, when you are not a fan of the acts being repeated. 

 

Its why Editors played 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016. 😃

 

 

Edited October 17, 2025 by thetime

[charlierc]

2 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

Pretty much this, Werchter never worried about repeats. They were more concerned getting the best lineups possible. Its only an issue, when you are not a fan of the acts being repeated. 

 

Its why Editors played 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016. 😃

 

 

Muse did it in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2019 and 2023, so can throw in another multi-time booking, as well as their 2013 show at Werchter Boutique.

 

I guess the main issue is if you go and then turn up 2/3 years later to find half the acts are the same. Would give a real Groundhog Day vibe.

Edited October 17, 2025 by charlierc

[northernangel]

18 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Feels like it was ever thus though, no? Kings of Leon played it 7 times between 2007 and 2017, including all 3 of 07/08/09 and both of 2013/14. They've clearly fallen out of their booking policy given they've not been back in the past 8 years, but that was a lot of high-frequency bookings in quick succession.

KOL became dead though

[thetime]

12 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Muse did it in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2019 and 2023, so can throw in another multi-time booking, as well as their 2013 show at Werchter Boutique.

 

I guess the main issue is if you go and then turn up 2/3 years later to find half the acts are the same. Would give a real Groundhog Day vibe.

 

I don't mind repeats personally, they must sell the tickets. Its perhaps why the likes of KOL, Editors and Muse don't play as much now. 

[Floyd_Ams]

9 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

Pretty much this, Werchter never worried about repeats. They were more concerned getting the best lineups possible. Its only an issue, when you are not a fan of the acts being repeated. 

 

This is true. It is also true that I like much less the acts being repeated nowadays than the ones from 5-10-15 years ago (which is what makes all this and the "best lineup possible" very subjective).

It's the bands that strangely fall out of this rule that usually catch the eye. Depeche Mode have not played there since 2013. The Smashing Pumpkins since 1997. Massive Attack since 2003. Blur since 2013 (and before that 1999?). The National, etc. etc. etc. .... I may have gotten some dates wrong but you get the point.

 

Again it's all subjective. I don't mind repeats at all as long as it's bands that I love. A lot of people were complaining about Pearl Jam being there often for example, I'd gladly have them every year 🙂 

[bitterobvious]

1 hour ago, matrainertje said:

Hoping his shows are less dull though. Weezer was a hard one to sit through. 

 

You're not alone in thinking that, but I thought they were brilliant. I thought RHCP in 2016 were appalling, but others thought they were great. It's funny how different people experience things so differently  

[thetime]

38 minutes ago, Floyd_Ams said:

A lot of people were complaining about Pearl Jam being there often for example, I'd gladly have them every year 🙂 

 

That would be me 😄

[northernangel]

47 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

I don't mind repeats personally, they must sell the tickets. Its perhaps why the likes of KOL, Editors and Muse don't play as much now. 

Yeah it's true. If I like said band I'd have them back. Wouldn't bother me if Yungblud for example played again but I'd understand why many wouldnt like it.

[ParanoidTourist]

I really like The Last Dinner Partys new album. Hope they play next year!

[sisco]

3 minutes ago, ParanoidTourist said:

I really like The Last Dinner Partys new album. Hope they play next year!

I’d be very surprised if they don’t as they played Pukklepop last year so the earlier summer festivals make sense and they’ve already been announced for IOW fests

[northernangel]

Put it in the RFP thread but we have a very good chance of getting whoever the headliner is on Saturday. Shared a headliner on the bill the last 4 years at least and the other 4 are unlikely due to. various reasons. Would be the makings of a strong year at the top.