BBC Radio 6 Music Festival reveals 2026 line-up across Greater Manchester grassroots venues

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BBC Radio 6 Music Festival line-up in Manchester for 2026 Credit: BBC Radio 6 Music

BBC Radio 6 Music Festival line-up in Manchester for 2026 Credit: BBC Radio 6 Music

The BBC Radio 6 Music Festival has today revealed its line-up for this year’s event, which will feature some massive names performing at intimate grassroots venues in Greater Manchester.

This year’s inner-city music festival will take place between Wednesday 25 and Sunday 28 March, at venues including Band on the Wall, YES, and even the Eccles Town Hall Ballroom.

And the headliners are huge, including Bloc Party, Courtney Barnett, The Horrors, and BRIT Award Critics’ Choice winner Jacob Alon.

Ticket-holders will also have the chance to see DJ sets from the likes of Beth Ditto and Nick Grimshaw, Emily Pilbeam & Nathan Shepherd, Lambrini Girls and Steve Lamacq as part of an Indie Forever club night.

Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music says: “Independent grassroot venues are vital to the UK’s music ecosystem and at 6 Music, we’re proud to support what they do.

“So, it makes sense for the next evolution of the 6 Music Festival to take place in these special spaces, collaborating with new partners and celebrating Manchester’s incredible music legacy, as well as the next generation of artists.”

Nick Grimshaw says: “So excited to be back at the 6 Music Festival in Manchester. Bringing a whole host of excellent artists and showcasing them at grassroots venues – these independent spaces are increasingly under threat but are vital for culture and a space where artists are given the freedom to take risks, grow, and truly flourish. I can’t wait!”

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, says: “Greater Manchester’s music scene has always been driven by its grassroots venues and independent spirit. They’re vital to nurturing new talent and keeping our cultural life vibrant.

“It’s fantastic to see the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival celebrating those spaces and shining a spotlight on the creativity that continues to flourish right across our city region.”

BBC 6 Music Festival line-up in full

Weds 25 March – BBC Introducing

Thursday 26 March

Friday 27 March

Saturday 28 March

The festival will extend to the BBC 6 Music broadcast schedule too, with some shows broadcast live from MediaCity and plenty of highlights shared from the festivalt oo.

All 6 Music and BBC Radio Manchester programmes will be available on BBC Sounds for 30 days after broadcast. Performances and DJ sets will be added to BBC Sounds during the festival.

Headliners will each present a four-part series of Artist in Residence, inviting listeners on a journey into their musical soul, in the lead-up to the festival (Bloc Party (9-12 Feb), Courtney Barnett (16-19 Feb), Kelly Lee Owens (2-5 Mar), The Horrors (9-12 Mar), Jacob Alon (16-19 Mar) and Yard Act (23-26 Mar)).

In addition, a new eight-part BBC Sounds podcast, The Rise and Fall of Madchester, presented by Steve Lamacq and Music & Cultural PR Creative, Alison Bell, will be available on BBC Sounds from 8am on Monday 16 March.

Tickets to each event are sold separately and will be available from www.bbc.co.uk/6musicfestival at 10am on Thursday 12 February.

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Featured image: BBC Radio 6 Music

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