Harry Styles to curate London’s Meltdown Festival for 2026
A full line-up of artists chosen by Styles will be revealed in the coming months
By Nick Reilly
Harry Styles is set to curate the 2026 Meltdown festival at London’s Southbank Centre, following in the glittering footsteps of David Bowie, The Cure‘s Robert Smith and many more.
Styles’ role, which comes as he gears up to release his new album Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally, will form a “landmark” part of the Southbank Centre’s 75th-anniversary year.
“I’m deeply honoured to curate the Meltdown festival, especially for the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary year. My goal as the curator is to share the music and art that I love, and to celebrate the rich history of the venue,” he said.
The festival will run from Thursday June 11 until Sunday June 21 and a line-up will be revealed in the spring.
“It brings us together and the Southbank Centre has been at the heart of it, providing easy access to great music for the past 75 years,” Styles added.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Southbank for having me, it’s really exciting for me to have this opportunity in such an iconic venue.”
The Southbank Centre’s artistic director, Mark Ball, hailed Styles as an “iconic British artist” and explained that the celebrated cultural space was “thrilled and excited that Harry Styles’ Meltdown sits at the heart of a 75th anniversary year that champions young people, their curiosity and creative freedom”.
“His openness, warmth and instinct for collaboration feel perfectly aligned with the spirit at the heart of the festival,” added Jane Beese, Head of Contemporary Music at Southbank. We’re excited to see his vision play out across the whole site, creating space for connection, discovery and joy, and inviting audiences into a Meltdown that reflects the breadth, playfulness and generosity of his artistic world.”
Styles will also head out on a world-tour this summer, which will see him play a record-breaking 12 dates at Wembley Stadium.
Last year’s Meltdown Festival was curated by Little Simz.