Sziget 2026

[Yelo, the Parmiggiana]

1 minute ago, billybigballs said:

That's a really good point. They will know exactly how well he sells tickets and, judging by some of the posts last year, he doesn't particularly.

Totally agree, but the problem with that day last year was not A$AP Rocky alone.

• Michael Kiwanuka is an extremely weak sub headliner (with no thematic correlation with Rocky),
• The rest of the Main Stage was a filler hungarian band (no disrespect, but last year Hungarian bands has been used for that and that reason alone) and The Joy (exotic pick)
• Revolut was interesting for Caribou and Blossoms, but they don't carry the day alone
• Bolt Arena was convicing with Amelie Lens, Blawan and Len Faki - although, and this has no impact on the selling - Blawan put on one of the most confusing set I ever witnessed and Amelie Lens completed her tranformation into a Hard Techno washing machine
• Colisseum had no banger
• Buzz had no hidden-op (maybe ekkstacy).

Like, generally speaking, that day was terrible from the get go, top to bottom. And this, without taking into account the predictable folds of Michael Kiwanuka (who I think folded 2 out of 3 previous appearence at the festival in the last 11 years) and A$AP Rocky (with the virdict for his case pending and Rihanna pregnant and due to deliver like a month before). 

[sandorbeni]

31 minutes ago, Yelo, the Parmiggiana said:

 

• The rest of the Main Stage was a filler hungarian band (no disrespect, but last year Hungarian bands has been used for that and that reason alone)

I have to disagree with you on this. The guy had a sold out show in the biggest arena in Budapest a few months before Sziget. I'm not a fan, but he is very popular amongst young people. I think booking a popular Hungarian artist who can showcase their music to an international audience is better than booking another landfill indie band or a singer songwriter with one minor tiktok hit.

 

However, I agree that it was the weakest day.

[kristofm]

3 hours ago, sandorbeni said:

I have to disagree with you on this. The guy had a sold out show in the biggest arena in Budapest a few months before Sziget. I'm not a fan, but he is very popular amongst young people. I think booking a popular Hungarian artist who can showcase their music to an international audience is better than booking another landfill indie band or a singer songwriter with one minor tiktok hit.

 

However, I agree that it was the weakest day.

Yeah, absolutely, we can't say all Hungarians are filler.

 

You've got a day when you've got Ocean Alley and The Beaches on the main stage before the subheadliner, that's never weaker than putting Carson Coma, Pogány Induló, especially Azahriah up there. If 50% of the visitors are Hungarian, that means roughly 40-45% of the visitors know these artists. How many of the visitors knew Ocean Alley, The Beaches, Alessi Rose, The Joy, or Luvcat and say "Oh, I know this artist, gonna be fun"? There are a few like this from Hungary as well, like Дeva, who's still definitely a small-club-sized artist, but I did turn up for Pogány Induló for instance, because I'm not that into it to buy a ticket for a stadium gig, but he's super popular in Hungary, so let's see what he's all about.

 

Neither of these artists make you sell tickets, there's a very very very few people who buy tickets because Alessi Rose, and a bunch of people won't buy tickets because of Carson Coma, because they can see them playing at the stadium, etc. months before. However, they could be good enough to convince Hungarian teenagers to spend more time at the festival instead of drinking at K-bridge or at home.

 

Edited January 19 by kristofm

[billybigballs]

10 hours ago, kristofm said:

Yeah, absolutely, we can't say all Hungarians are filler.

 

You've got a day when you've got Ocean Alley and The Beaches on the main stage before the subheadliner, that's never weaker than putting Carson Coma, Pogány Induló, especially Azahriah up there. If 50% of the visitors are Hungarian, that means roughly 40-45% of the visitors know these artists. How many of the visitors knew Ocean Alley, The Beaches, Alessi Rose, The Joy, or Luvcat and say "Oh, I know this artist, gonna be fun"? There are a few like this from Hungary as well, like Дeva, who's still definitely a small-club-sized artist, but I did turn up for Pogány Induló for instance, because I'm not that into it to buy a ticket for a stadium gig, but he's super popular in Hungary, so let's see what he's all about.

 

Neither of these artists make you sell tickets, there's a very very very few people who buy tickets because Alessi Rose, and a bunch of people won't buy tickets because of Carson Coma, because they can see them playing at the stadium, etc. months before. However, they could be good enough to convince Hungarian teenagers to spend more time at the festival instead of drinking at K-bridge or at home.

 

 

I guess the counter argument to this is, why would Hungarian teenagers spend money to go and see a Hungarian artist at Sziget when they could see them play an arena in Budapest for a much cheaper price?

 

Although, as I'm not Hungarian (and certainly no longer a teenager) I could be completely wrong! 

[Newjem]

1 hour ago, billybigballs said:

 

I guess the counter argument to this is, why would Hungarian teenagers spend money to go and see a Hungarian artist at Sziget when they could see them play an arena in Budapest for a much cheaper price?

 

Although, as I'm not Hungarian (and certainly no longer a teenager) I could be completely wrong! 

Or they can go to much cheaper Strand or SZIN.

[kristofm]

4 hours ago, billybigballs said:

 

I guess the counter argument to this is, why would Hungarian teenagers spend money to go and see a Hungarian artist at Sziget when they could see them play an arena in Budapest for a much cheaper price?

 

Although, as I'm not Hungarian (and certainly no longer a teenager) I could be completely wrong! 

 

3 hours ago, Newjem said:

Or they can go to much cheaper Strand or SZIN.

I don't think they're buying tickets because of them, but when they go through a lineup and see familiar names that's surely more motivating than seeing names they've never heard of. Plus, at least they come in for the 5.30pm artist and consume in the festival area earlier.

[dhtjmnd12]

There is a gap in ASAP Rocky’s Tour - @Sziget2025_Leaks? 

[iamdebrii]

28 minutes ago, dhtjmnd12 said:

There is a gap in ASAP Rocky’s Tour - @Sziget2025_Leaks? 

Just releasing an album + cancelling last year (with some form of contractual obligation probably in place) + Sziget-shaped gap makes it seem quite likely tbh

 

Imagine going from Lewis Capaldi to A$AP Rocky on the mainstage 😂

[dhtjmnd12]

2 minutes ago, iamdebrii said:

Just releasing an album + cancelling last year (with some form of contractual obligation probably in place) + Sziget-shaped gap makes it seem quite likely tbh

 

Imagine going from Lewis Capaldi to A$AP Rocky on the mainstage 😂

Personally think they should do Skepta sub + ASAP headline, and he is around doing R&L so would be incredible but we can dream

[thetime]

9 minutes ago, iamdebrii said:

Just releasing an album + cancelling last year (with some form of contractual obligation probably in place) + Sziget-shaped gap makes it seem quite likely tbh

 

 

Looking at those dates, I would say even more unlikely than anything. Also cancelled Pukkelppop and Lowlands, he has dates scheduled for Belguim and Holland.

 

Also the 1st European date being 2 week after Sziget. 

 

 

[ReljaGajić]

5 hours ago, iamdebrii said:

Just releasing an album + cancelling last year (with some form of contractual obligation probably in place) + Sziget-shaped gap makes it seem quite likely tbh

 

Imagine going from Lewis Capaldi to A$AP Rocky on the mainstage 😂

I mean it went from Lewis Capaldi to Calvin Harris in 2022, so... it's likely to happen 😬

[Yelo, the Parmiggiana]

On 19/01/2026 at 21:19, kristofm said:

Yeah, absolutely, we can't say all Hungarians are filler.

 

You've got a day when you've got Ocean Alley and The Beaches on the main stage before the subheadliner, that's never weaker than putting Carson Coma, Pogány Induló, especially Azahriah up there. If 50% of the visitors are Hungarian, that means roughly 40-45% of the visitors know these artists. How many of the visitors knew Ocean Alley, The Beaches, Alessi Rose, The Joy, or Luvcat and say "Oh, I know this artist, gonna be fun"? There are a few like this from Hungary as well, like Дeva, who's still definitely a small-club-sized artist, but I did turn up for Pogány Induló for instance, because I'm not that into it to buy a ticket for a stadium gig, but he's super popular in Hungary, so let's see what he's all about.

 

Neither of these artists make you sell tickets, there's a very very very few people who buy tickets because Alessi Rose, and a bunch of people won't buy tickets because of Carson Coma, because they can see them playing at the stadium, etc. months before. However, they could be good enough to convince Hungarian teenagers to spend more time at the festival instead of drinking at K-bridge or at home.

 

Just to clarify my position: I'm not saying that all Hungarian bands are filler; what I mean is that (if memory serves) this was the first time since 2015 that a Hungarian band was placed so high on the Main Stage lineup (with Irie Maffia subbing for Robbie Williams).

On top of that, the same day also had another Hungarian band (Krúbi) headlining the Revolut/A38 stage.

 

I'm not saying they don’t have an audience, but it’s a very specific one, and it’s not very accessible to non‑Hungarians. That’s something worth keeping in mind when planning the timetable.

I think the same applies to artists like Lazza or Liberato: they’re huge names in Italy, but their appeal outside the country is more limited.

 

I know it sounds harsh, but having Pogány Induló, Foals, or Yung Lean in that slot is not the same in terms of turnout and I am sure it had a contribution on the whole fiasco. 

[Lambert]

Fred Again would be an amazing headliner again, I know he headlined 2024, but he is a weird one where he is borderline global superstar and still relatively smallish, so many people don't know about him but those that do recognise his ability, 100% would sell day tickets and draw a huge huge crowd again, I think he would command a realistic booking fee for now, because without a doubt he will headline Glasto/Coachella in the next few years  

[billybigballs]

36 minutes ago, Lambert said:

Fred Again would be an amazing headliner again, I know he headlined 2024, but he is a weird one where he is borderline global superstar and still relatively smallish, so many people don't know about him but those that do recognise his ability, 100% would sell day tickets and draw a huge huge crowd again, I think he would command a realistic booking fee for now, because without a doubt he will headline Glasto/Coachella in the next few years  

I guess it's too soon tbh. He's very popular but has his act moved on in two years? I suspect not. 

 

[Lambert]

18 minutes ago, billybigballs said:

I guess it's too soon tbh. He's very popular but has his act moved on in two years? I suspect not. 

 

It has moved on massively, as well as his "live shows" he has been on a huge European/American tour for his new USB album, this is where he is doing DJ sets instead of the live shows, a very versatile artist in that way, trying to get a ticket to one of the USB shows is like finding hens teeth !! he announced a further 10 shows recently, 5 in New York and 5 at Ally Pally and they all sold out in the first 2 minutes, the tour tickets were released the week before each venue was announced and they also went in minutes, if it isn't a live show a DJ set, would be incredible, the Fred Again marketing team are incredible, where they keep the venues modest, so the ticket demand becomes outrageous, a friend of mine was 125000 in the que for his Glasgow show, for a venue that held 14000

 

 

[billybigballs]

2 hours ago, Lambert said:

It has moved on massively, as well as his "live shows" he has been on a huge European/American tour for his new USB album, this is where he is doing DJ sets instead of the live shows, a very versatile artist in that way, trying to get a ticket to one of the USB shows is like finding hens teeth !! he announced a further 10 shows recently, 5 in New York and 5 at Ally Pally and they all sold out in the first 2 minutes, the tour tickets were released the week before each venue was announced and they also went in minutes, if it isn't a live show a DJ set, would be incredible, the Fred Again marketing team are incredible, where they keep the venues modest, so the ticket demand becomes outrageous, a friend of mine was 125000 in the que for his Glasgow show, for a venue that held 14000

 

My daughter saw him in Vancouver last month at one of his USB shows. She said she preferred his set at Sziget. She didn't give any indication that the show had moved on massively or, if it has, it wasn't worth commenting on.

 

I'd happily have him back, I love his stuff and his set at Sziget was great (but not amazing IMHO). I guess we'll find out either way soon.

 

 

[thetime]

1 hour ago, billybigballs said:

 

My daughter saw him in Vancouver last month at one of his USB shows. She said she preferred his set at Sziget. She didn't give any indication that the show had moved on massively or, if it has, it wasn't worth commenting on.

 

I'd happily have him back, I love his stuff and his set at Sziget was great (but not amazing IMHO). I guess we'll find out either way soon.

 

 

 

Wouldn't he of been announced for festivals already, if he was in the frame for festivals this summer? Most have been announced now. 

[Lambert]

On a smaller artist side, would love to see Tobihas, Rules or Joy Annoymous 

[billybigballs]

On 16/01/2026 at 09:33, Sziget2025_Leaks said:

U2Vjb25kIGFubm91bmNlbWVudCBjb21pbmcgaW4gYSBmZXcgd2Vla3Mu ☔️

I read elsewhere on the 'net that there are rumours of LDR touring European festivals this summer (Rock en Seine still has no acts announced for its opening day proper) and that led me to remember this pic.

[CCester]

8 hours ago, billybigballs said:

I read elsewhere on the 'net that there are rumours of LDR touring European festivals this summer (Rock en Seine still has no acts announced for its opening day proper) and that led me to remember this pic.

Delete this before you jinx it 😬

[So Sad Simon]

8 hours ago, billybigballs said:

I read elsewhere on the 'net that there are rumours of LDR touring European festivals this summer (Rock en Seine still has no acts announced for its opening day proper) and that led me to remember this pic.

Great, fantastic, beautiful artist.

 

F**king awful live act.

[dhtjmnd12]

2 minutes ago, So Sad Simon said:

Great, fantastic, beautiful artist.

 

F**king awful live act.

Yeah I can’t lie I wouldn’t be happy with that as a booking but that’s personal bias

[activean]

27 minutes ago, So Sad Simon said:

Great, fantastic, beautiful artist.

 

F**king awful live act.

I guess we are all on the same page here. 

Btw, who could it be the oposite of that, great live but meh music? 

[sandorbeni]

5 minutes ago, activean said:

I guess we are all on the same page here. 

Btw, who could it be the oposite of that, great live but meh music? 

Macklemore?

[billybigballs]

5 minutes ago, sandorbeni said:

Macklemore?

Good shout.

 

Potentially The Killers, bar a handful of songs.

 

Coldplay put on a great show but fairly bland songs, and his voice, ruin it every time.