Nestled beneath the Cumbrian Fells is an unassuming, quaint town called Kendal. Tourists flock to Kendal every year to experience a slice of its beauty, go forth to the Beatrix Potter Museum or delve into the vast landscape of the Lake District National Park.
However, thousands of people decide to make the annual trip to Kendal Calling, and have been since its inception in 2006. The annual music festival held at Lowther Deer Park has grown substantially since then and now attracts some of the best bands on the planet to play to the 40,000 strong audience over the weekend.
Past headliners have included; Stereophonics, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Royal Blood and The Prodigy over the years. The line-up for 2026 is no different with some exceptional talent on show to tantalise the taste buds over the weekend. Headliners include; Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro, Brit Award Winners Wolf Alice and indie sensations The Kooks.
Bring The Noise has compiled a list of the hottest bands performing over the weekend so none of the action is missed.
The Cribs
Aside from the obviously huge headliners, The Cribs deserve a mention here. At the forefront of the indie-sleaze movement of the 90’s were The Cribs. Famed for their frantic, sweat-infested and at times dangerous live shows (one of the band members broke bone during a particularly wild show) this is not one for the faint hearted. Mosh pit guaranteed.
The Snuts
Another Scottish band on the bill. The Snuts have found themselves on mainstream radio with their infectiously catchy track Gloria and have recently completed a UK-wide headline tour promoting their most recent offerings including Summer Rain. The bands influences range from Arctic Monkeys and The Libertines all the way through to Brit Pop giants Oasis. A must see for the indie fans out there.
The Vaccines
Having recently completed a UK-wide tour of their debut album, What Did You Expect from The Vaccines? circa 2011, the band continue to entertain fans featuring heavily on the summer festival circuit in 2026.
Florence Road
The all girl group received enormous recognition when their single Heavy, which went viral on TikTok in 2025. Having recently toured with pop heavyweight Olivia Rodrigo, Brit Awards nominee Sombr and supported Wolf Alice as part of their European tour, the band continue to gain popularity with fans across the globe. Having performed at Kendal Calling in 2025, confidence will be at a high given the recent successes the band have experienced.
Wolf Alice
Formed over a decade ago, Wolf Alice are veterans of the music scene. Instantly recognisable by Ellie Roswell’s soprano vocals the band weave their way through multiple genres on their extensive back catalogue. With the band having a stellar year so far, a Brit Award for Best British Group, a hugely successful arena tour and a number one album for 2025’s The Clearing. Wolf Alice are more than qualified to sit at the top of the perch at this year’s festival.
Tickets are available from HERE and you can check out the full line up below!
Kendal Calling takes place at Lowther Deer Park from Thursday 30th July until Sunday August 2nd 2026.
Written By: Ben Gilligan
