The sun has finally started to creep out from behind the clouds, which means that festival season is just around the corner. For thousands of festivalgoers, the tent pegs get hammered into the soil for the first time at Catton Park in Derbyshire for Bearded Theory, during the late May bank holiday (20-24th May). This year’s edition sees three 90s juggernauts at the top of the bill, with Pixies, Garbage and Skunk Anansie, with a whole host of alternative, folk and punk acts on the undercard for ticketholders to sink their teeth into. Here are some of the unmissable acts for 2026…
Pixies
Alt-rock veterans Pixies will be headlining the Pallet stage this year, bringing their signature mix of surf and punk rock to the fields for the first time. They are easily one of the most influential bands of the late 80s and early 90s, with an inter-generational appeal that extends beyond nostalgia. 2026 marks the band’s 40th anniversary of their formation, and what better way to celebrate than with the wonderful crowd at Bearded Theory. With classics like Here Comes Your Man, Where is My Mind? and Monkey Gone to Heaven, this is sure to be an unforgettable set.
Garbage
Garbage have the great honour of closing down the main stage on Sunday evening, with iconic songs like I Think I’m Paranoid and Stupid Girl, completing the incredible 90s trifecta that the festival has crafted this year. Edinburgh’s Shirley Manson has developed a fierce reputation as a frontwoman, with her sharp, captivating storytelling both in and outside of her performance. Their industrial sounds and highly cinematic performances are still resonating with modern audiences, with a raw electricity that’s definitely worth getting excited for.
Skunk Anansie
Britpop-era powerhouses Skunk Anansie are set to kick things up a notch at Catton Park as the heaviest of the headliners this year. They’re renowned for challenging the establishment on all fronts – sonically, lyrically and visually – which perfectly aligns with the bohemian ethos of Bearded Theory. Sophie Bokor-Ingram aka Skin is a legendary force to be reckoned with, known for eccentricity and a piercing, demonic stare. Expect boisterous energy, punchy riffs and a whole lot of noise!
CMAT
After unfortunately having to drop out last year due to scheduling conflicts, CMAT is back on the bill for Bearded Theory 2026. She’s still riding the highs of her hugely successful album EURO-COUNTRY, which earned Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson her second Mercury Prize nomination. CMAT expertly combines campy wit, devastating vulnerability and pure joy in her song-writing and is no stranger to viral stardom. This will certainly be one of the most hotly anticipated sets of the weekend for many, who are ready for a line dance in the sunshine to the Dunboyne multi-instrumentalist’s pop and country hits.
Fat Dog
South London electro punks Fat Dog are returning to Derbyshire, which will come as a delight to anyone who managed to catch their stellar performance last time. After bursting onto the scene with King of the Slugs in 2023, the band has quickly mastered the art of maximalist, high-octane rock-and-roll madness and have generated a constantly growing cult following driven by live performances. If you didn’t manage to get stuck in with the sweaty mayhem last year, make sure you’re diving headfirst in the pit this time from a band with an equally raucous bark and bite.
Kid Kapichi
Kid Kapichi will pack a punch at Bearded Theory, ready to Smash the Gaff and dust off some hangovers. They’ve been known for driving riffs, anthemic choruses and pure punk energy, which are certainly still there, but more recently the band has started leaning in for a more introspective feel with their fourth album Fearless Nature. Their set will be a great opportunity for fans to get to experience the band in its new form as they go from a four to a two-piece as they set their new agenda.
Getdown Services
Another act returning for round two is Getdown Records, who have been gaining a significant amount of traction in the last few years within the post-punk sphere. Josh Law and Ben Sadler are highly satirical in their approach to social commentary, covering Crisps, landlords and Jamie Oliver. Their set last year on the Woodland stage was met with a huge crowd ready to get stuck in, and with more and more hype beginning to surround the Bristolian duo, the vibes are set to be huge.
Lynks
Self-proclaimed “drag monster” Lynks has become a huge cult sensation within London’s queer and underground scenes, and it’s not difficult to understand why. Also hailing from Bristol, Lynks dissects club culture, identity and absurdity through experimental, electro-clash-punk. Performances include recipes for bechamel sauce, incredible choreography and an all-around good time. Prepare to dance.
Westside Cowboy
Fresh from supporting none other than Geese, the next big thing in art-rock, Westside Cowboy have set their course for Bearded Theory this May. This is a set that promises a sneak-peek at a band already beginning their own meteoric rise with wildly positive critical acclaim for So Much Country ‘Till We Get There, released earlier this year. The band won Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent Competition last year with their brand of ‘Britanicana’, and already have an impressive back-catalogue of songs that soar with intensity and dazzle with vulnerability in equal measure.
Check out the Bearded Theory line-up below!
Tickets are on sale HERE.
Written By: Izzy Morris
