Now in its 15th year, Outbreak Fest has become the most essential date in the calendar for the counterculture within the UK. Hosting the likes of Death Grips, Turnstile, Title Fight, Knocked Loose and more in its almost decade and a half operating, its reputation has extended globally; welcoming artists and fans alike from around the world to participate in the event’s sweat-soaked chaos over three days of genre-fluidity across two locations. Following its biggest edition yet in 2025, Outbreak Fest have announced more names for their 15th anniversary Manchester edition this year, as well as day splits for the event. On Friday 26th June, Outbreak Fest will kick off their 15th anniversary celebrations with a very special pre-show evening event, spotlighting some of modern emo’s finest acts. New Jersey alternative duo The Front Bottoms will headline the event to perform their 2015 seminal album Talon of the Hawk in full, commemorating 10 years of one of their most beloved works. Fresh off a tour supporting fellow Pennsylvania natives Superheaven, Balance & Composure will return to Outbreak Fest after a standout set in 2024, this time performing select tracks from their Separation and The Things We Think We’re Missing albums. Another returning act, Tigers Jaw join the Friday line up in support of their soon to be released seventh album, Lost On You. Nashville alternative greats Free Throw will make their first appearance at Outbreak Fest, as will Floridian four-piece Pool Kids, who are riding high off the back of their most established album yet, Easier Said Than Done. Tickets for the Friday event are sold separately to weekend tickets and are available at http://outbreak-fest.co.uk alongside very limited weekend tickets. Elsewhere on the line up, Outbreak Fest have announced day splits for the festival alongside a raft of new names joining the likes of Alexisonfire, Basement, Hatebreed, Suicidal Tendencies, Converge, Trapped Under Ice and more. On Saturday 27th June, NY post-hardcore icons Quicksand will make their Outbreak Fest debut, compounding over 35 years in the game. The likes of Death Lens, Sunbrella, Tummyache, Greet Death, Love is Noise, Blanket and Recluse.E also join an already stacked Saturday billing. Sunday’s line up, headlined by the mighty Basement, has been bolstered by much-adored songwriter Snail Mail, who will perform off the back of her third studio album, Ricochet, which will release in March. She will also be joined by US shoegaze heroes Nothing, who will return to Outbreak with tracks from their forthcoming A Short History Of Decay album, as well as a selection of festival favourites from their genre-defining catalogue. Full line up with day splits is below. Outbreak Fest 2026 – Manchester
Line up FRIDAY
The Front Bottoms (Performing Talon Of The Hawk in full) Balance & Composure (Performing songs from Separation and The Things We Think We’re Missing)
Tigers Jaw
Free Throw
Pool Kids SATURDAY
Alexisonfire (Performing Crisis in full) Converge
PUP * High Vis
Touche Amore (Performing Stage Four in full) * Quicksand The Armed * Scowl
Higher Power
Truck Violence * Bodyweb
Death Lens
Sunnbrella * Tummyache
Greet Death
Knives
Love is Noise * Blanket
Recluse.E * Still in Love
Turn of Phrase SUNDAY
Basement Suicidal Tendencies * Hatebreed (Performing Satisfaction Is The Death Of Desire & Perseverance in full)
Trapped Under Ice * The return of – Trash Talk
Snail Mail La Dispute
Fiddlehead . Nothing
Ecca Vandal
Harms Way
Gridiron
End It * Haywire
Glitterer
Glare
Sanction * Ingrown
Glixen * Febuary + More to be announced across all 3 days Over 95% of weekend tickets for Manchester’s edition of Outbreak Fest 2026 are sold out. Remaining tickets are available now from outbreak-fest.co.uk alongside hotel packages and a deposit scheme, allowing festival goers to split the cost of their tickets. In its decade and a half causing chaos in the North of England, Outbreak Fest has become a hub for alternative music in all its guises and the community that comes with it. Rapidly expanding to become a global destination for some of the most boundary pushing music the alternative scene has to offer. 2026’s edition aims to celebrate the achievements of that scene at large, while offering festival attendees a completely unique experience that’s unable to be captured anywhere else. Outbreak Fest: Twitter | Instagram | TikTok About Outbreak Fest:
Launched in 2011 as an independent, DIY one day festival in the north of England, Outbreak Fest has rapidly expanded in its 14 years of operating to become the premier event within the UK’s thriving counterculture. Initially launching as a home to hardcore, punk and metal, the sounds emanating from the festival have broadened to suit the ever-diversifying tastes of its audience; now playing host to the finest established and emerging names in the genres of its origins, but also hip hop, indie, shoegaze, emo, electronic and so much more. 2025 saw more scope to the reach of Outbreak Fest, with a triumphant one-day event in London’s Victoria Park alongside its usual two-day weekender at Manchester’s Bowlers Exhibition Centre. | 
