Rock Werchter 2026

[northernangel]

4 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

The XX to headline Werchter. 😍😍😍

 

Now that would be beautiful. 

Yeah that would start to turn things bad lol, even as a sub.

 

But your idea of a great time is The Cure, The XX, Radiohead, Nick Cave and possibly even Gorillaz....my idea of all that in one is well Primavera has passed haha.

 

I'd just get a ticket for The Cure here or look at IOW.

Edited October 21, 2025 by northernangel

[northernangel]

2 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

2024 was a shocker. 😂

Indeed and that's the difference, one of my favourite Werchter lineups in memory and Glastonbury was all that really stopped it. I've probably got more acts on that lineup of interest than any other Werchter year or close to it. 27 acts equivalent to 6/7 a day.

[thetime]

3 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Yeah that would start to turn things bad lol, even as a sub.

 

But your idea of a great time is The Cure, The XX, Radiohead, Nick Cave 

 

Don't forget queen Bjork. 😃

 

I would be the happiest man alive with those. I could fall of this earth with at peace with the world. 

 

Have to say the 3 XX albums have been perfection. 

[northernangel]

25 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

Don't forget queen Bjork. 😃

 

I would be the happiest man alive with those. I could fall of this earth with at peace with the world. 

 

Have to say the 3 XX albums have been perfection. 

Ah yeah can't forget her, I like one of hers, maybe two. Bit before my time though I feel and just not my thing.

 

Thing is with Werchter too like any European festival, I won't force going and spending out for it if the gut feeling isn't there but next year there is nothing in the way of Werchter. Also, while it might not be all my cup, they generally get the best of the headline barrier around excusing Fender....based on that festival anyway.

 

This year I think they will want a smooth, no issues booked festival with as quick sell out and smooth selling days as possible. Obviously things can happen against that.

 

I'm still hoping for Foos, KOL, The Offspring, Lorde, Jack and Florence. I recognise KOL might not be touring but I didn't expect them for any of the current early summer festivals announced anyway really. That might even mean that Jack and Lorde co-headline another day but I'd rather they grab KOL over The Offspring as I've seen them twice in the last few years.

Edited October 21, 2025 by northernangel

[sisco]

If it is the same as last year, even between the co-headers you can see the slope headliner if you wish too or the vast majority of the barn one too.  That’s 1 thing I loved about Werchter was the ease to see so many acts over a weekend 

[northernangel]

9 minutes ago, sisco said:

If it is the same as last year, even between the co-headers you can see the slope headliner if you wish too or the vast majority of the barn one too.  That’s 1 thing I loved about Werchter was the ease to see so many acts over a weekend 

Indeed. I prefer to see full sets if I can as spent too many times trying to catch more in the same time.

 

I'd live a KOL/Jack White co-headliner on Friday myself. I don't think Jack will drop down to just sub. With Foos incoming we will get an idea if they are in the frame or not. Foos/The Offspring is the perfect scenario but I do think we'll get more female acts in there. The hope is that Lorde agree to play 3rd down one day underneath two big co-headliners but it's unlikely and you csnt have them all

[BlackFoxx]

1 hour ago, thetime said:

 

I think majority are getting in a tizz over wording of festival announcements and forum posts. 

 

Those who are not used to you. Probably took your words of 'taking a dive', as Gorillaz are not worthy headliners. 

 

Rather than 'taking a dive, for my tastes'. 

 

Yeah it's probably this. 

 

As an example, Foos would be a boring headliner for me personally but I'd recognise they'd be a good booking for the festival and satisfy their primary concern to sell tickets. 

 

I feel like repetitive complaints that ultimately consist of subjective assessment of the bookings can get a bit tiresome. If everytime Foo Fighters got mentioned I posted something negative about them I'm not sure how much that contributes to this forum. 

 

Ultimately vote with your feet and go elsewhere if you don't like any given lineup that much. We are lucky in Europe to have some of the widest choice of festivals in a small area of probably anywhere else in the world. 

 

I'd also argue that Download and Rock Werchter are pretty different festivals in their genres and audience, so using that as a point of comparison is setting yourself up for disappointment but I've made that argument at least 3 times in last year's thread. 

[FestivalJamie]

Foo Fighters for Thursday headliner?

 

… possibly co-headlining with Jack White? Feels like that would make sense. Could also see Mumfords supporting.

 

Then a big pop name for Friday night e.g. Sabrina Carpenter, supported by Lorde.

 

Florence & Machine to pair up with The Cure on the Sunday.

 

Would be very strong on the whole with 2 large names daily.

[49Lawson]

Don't know if it's the full Foos tour but something (almost definitely a new song, possible tour too looking at their socials) drops at 3pm today

[northernangel]

53 minutes ago, FestivalJamie said:

Foo Fighters for Thursday headliner?

 

… possibly co-headlining with Jack White? Feels like that would make sense. Could also see Mumfords supporting.

 

Then a big pop name for Friday night e.g. Sabrina Carpenter, supported by Lorde.

 

Florence & Machine to pair up with The Cure on the Sunday.

 

Would be very strong on the whole with 2 large names daily.

Foos won't be co-headlining with anyone. They've outright headlined twice. My guess is they are Friday with The Offspring subbing and Jack and another big co-headliner Thursday. Could be the other way round.

[49Lawson]

Could be firmly in the danger zone of a Calvin Harris headline show on the Thursday/Friday night after Open'er have just added him on the Wednesday...

[Floyd_Ams]

5 minutes ago, 49Lawson said:

Could be firmly in the danger zone of a Calvin Harris headline show on the Thursday/Friday night after Open'er have just added him on the Wednesday...

I find it hard to believe that they'll put a DJ set on the main stage at Werchter as a headliner. Then again, until a couple of years back, I thought the same for acts like Dua Lipa or Olivia Rodrigo, so what do I know? 😂 (well at least for them there is an argument that they come with a band).

 

On a more positive note, Moby is officially back on tour and playing in Athens on July 1st just before RW. Bring him please!

[BlackFoxx]

2 hours ago, northernangel said:

Foos won't be co-headlining with anyone. They've outright headlined twice. My guess is they are Friday with The Offspring subbing and Jack and another big co-headliner Thursday. Could be the other way round.

Jack White subbed last time he was there to Pearl Jam, who are comparable in size at Roch Werchter to the Foo Fighters. I think Jack White and Foos aren't an unreasonable suggestion for a top two, and the debate over sub Vs co-headlining probably mostly comes down to semantics, marketing and about 15-30 minutes extra set time. 

[tmolvik]

28 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Foos won't be co-headlining with anyone. They've outright headlined twice. My guess is they are Friday with The Offspring subbing and Jack and another big co-headliner Thursday. Could be the other way round.

 

Although I think to return Foo now, is at least one year too early, I would be happy with the Foo/Offspring-combo. Time to get Offspring back.

[northernangel]

11 minutes ago, BlackFoxx said:

Jack White subbed last time he was there to Pearl Jam, who are comparable in size at Roch Werchter to the Foo Fighters. I think Jack White and Foos aren't an unreasonable suggestion for a top two, and the debate over sub Vs co-headlining probably mostly comes down to semantics, marketing and about 15-30 minutes extra set time. 

 

The fact Jack got a full 1.5 hours doesn't suggest he really subbed. Just like in 2019 when Tool got 1.5 hours but The Cure got 2hrs 15 but the poster wouldn't certainly suggest they co-headlined. 1.5hrs is a headline length, just like with Mumford and Florence too. 

I'd bet on it that both will be there but Jack won't be under them unless it's a shorter set of time and actually a sub.

 

KOL and Jack co-headlining is my current hunch/want with Sabrina not being agreeable.

8 minutes ago, tmolvik said:

 

Although I think to return Foo now, is at least one year too early, I would be happy with the Foo/Offspring-combo. Time to get Offspring back.

It is yes 

[49Lawson]

1 hour ago, Floyd_Ams said:

I find it hard to believe that they'll put a DJ set on the main stage at Werchter as a headliner. Then again, until a couple of years back, I thought the same for acts like Dua Lipa or Olivia Rodrigo, so what do I know? 😂 (well at least for them there is an argument that they come with a band).

 

On a more positive note, Moby is officially back on tour and playing in Athens on July 1st just before RW. Bring him please!

I would be stunned as well I think but I just never know about their booking strategy these days. I must admit if they do go down the DJ headliner route (or indeed, a dance closer after a smaller headliner as per years gone by) there's worse they could get than Calvin Harris. Saw him at TITP2014 and it was quite the spectacle even back then.

 

Moby would be tremendous though

[49Lawson]

Apologies for the double post but with The XX and David Byrne playing Open'er on the Wednesday now they have to be here surely?

[thetime]

4 minutes ago, 49Lawson said:

Apologies for the double post but with The XX and David Byrne playing Open'er on the Wednesday now they have to be here surely?

 

The XX will be like The Cure, everywhere this summer. Probably a toss up between co-head at Werchter or headliber at Pukkelpop. They will be at one of them though. 

Edited October 23, 2025 by thetime

[Archi]

Only US announced today. 

[thetime]

1 minute ago, Archi said:

Only US announced today. 

 

Interestingly opens up late August festivals. 

[northernangel]

2 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

Interestingly opens up late August festivals. 

As said earlier, they've left Reading wide open and that's a big enough gap to gap left rather than just continue to Canada. 

 

A mix of of stadiums and festivals in Europe I reckon. See what tomorrow brings but I'd feel fairly confident Werchter have them again.

[just_one]

yeah they are definitly announcing europe tomorrow

[bitterobvious]

If a few of the names mentioned drop, it could be a pretty tasty lineup for next year (opinions are my own)

[northernangel]

3 minutes ago, bitterobvious said:

If a few of the names mentioned drop, it could be a pretty tasty lineup for next year (opinions are my own)

If the names I think that will drop do it'll smash this year at the top end out the window.

[Floyd_Ams]

2 hours ago, 49Lawson said:

I must admit if they do go down the DJ headliner route (or indeed, a dance closer after a smaller headliner as per years gone by) there's worse they could get than Calvin Harris. Saw him at TITP2014 and it was quite the spectacle even back then.

 

Yep, totally agree! 

 

1 hour ago, 49Lawson said:

Apologies for the double post but with The XX and David Byrne playing Open'er on the Wednesday now they have to be here surely?

 

I expect David Byrne to be one of the Barn heads. For The XX I agree with @thetime. If they've secured a headlining position at PKP they'll be there instead.