SŴN FESTIVAL
WALES’ LEADING MUSIC DISCOVERY FESTIVAL
ANNOUNCES FIRST NAMES FOR 2026 EDITION – TAKING PLACE ACROSS CARDIFF OCT 15th-17th
ACTS ANNOUNCED TODAY INCLUDE:
DOVE ELLIS
CARDINALS
DANA MARGOLIN
WORKING MENS CLUB
BEL COBAIN
HMLTD
LUCIA & THE BEST BOYS
THE ORIELLES
LITTLE GRANDAD
& MANY MORE
Cardiff’s Sŵn Festival unveils the first wave of names for its 19th edition, taking place across the city over Thursday October 15th to Saturday October 17th. Returning once again in the beefed up format of three full days of programming that made 2024 and 2025 banner years for festival, Sŵn 2026 is packed to the rafters and is proudly part of Cardiff Music City Festival (2nd-17th October) for the third year running, building an ambitious annual collaboration in Cardiff across two weeks, which includes Llais and the Welsh Music Prize.
Described by DIY Magazine as a bastion of “fearless programming,” this year’s edition of the festival pulls together a veritable who’s who of local, national and international talent, with some of the buzziest new names out there joined by gems of the Welsh music scene. As always, Sŵn continues to use its platform to champion the stars of tomorrow as well as those making some of the most game-changing, leftfield music. So, cosy up in one of Cardiff’s many warm and friendly independent venues and prepare to find your new favourite artist.
One of the thriving Irish modern folk scene’s breakout stars of 2026, Dove Ellis makes his Cardiff bow with a special show at Tramshed. Fresh from opening for Geese on the US leg of their Getting Killed tour, Ellis has been making waves following the release of his acclaimed, otherworldly debut album, Blizzard. It received rapturous praise from the likes of Pitchfork, The Guardian and NME for its enchanting vocals, poetic lyricism and dreamy drifting melodies. Don’t miss the chance to catch him before he’s conquering bigger stages before too long.
A beacon of authenticity in contemporary music, London’s Bel Cobain crafts timeless, purposeful soul and R&B. Struck through with a sense of mystique that harks back to luminaries like Pink Floyd and Kate Bush, she’s rapidly ascended in the twin worlds of music and fashion, racking up a litany of milestones in quick succession: a BBC 6 Music Maida Vale session for Gilles Peterson; co-signs from the likes of i-D, Vogue and Colors; and a record deal with beloved tastemaker Brownswood Recordings. .
Joining Dove Ellis in flying the Irish flag at this year’s Sŵn are Cork quintet Cardinals. Hot on the heels of releasing their lauded debut album, Masquerade, via impeccable indie imprint So Young Records, Cardinals make multi-faceted indie-rock that pulls on a wide array of influences from Townes Van Zandt to Nine Inch Nails to Iceage. It’s emotionally expansive – as prone to bursts of barbed violence as it is to bright-eyed tenderness – but at its core, it’s thrillingly alive and best seen in a dark, packed-out venue.
While many will have mourned the untimely demise of Sŵn favourites Porridge Radio following the release of their swansong EP, The Machine Starts to Sing, last year, attendees at this year’s festival are in for a treat as band leader Dana Margolin returns to play new music in Cardiff. Little is known about what to expect but you can bet you’ll want a front row seat for a little piece of Sŵn history.
Since the release of their much-loved second album Fear Fear in 2022, Yorkshire synth-pop-meets-post-punk crew Working Men’s Club have kept busy: collaborating with the likes of Daniel Avery, opening for LCD Soundsystem and Tame Impala, and with leader Sydney Minsky-Sargeant releasing a debut solo album on the esteemed Domino Recording Co. Making their return to Cardiff this year, expect a dirty disco throwdown of the highest order.
Emerging from South London’s thriving alternative scene in 2016, the shape-shifting collective HMLTD have maintained an uncompromising artistic vision and downright refusal to be pigeonholed into any style or genre. Their long awaited debut album West of Eden collated the heights of their initial output, while their follow-up rock opera The Worm was declared “a triumph of ambition” by The Sunday Times. With a big 2026 in sight, there’s never been a better time to witness the marvel that is their live show at this year’s Sŵn.
Lucia & the Best Boys – the Scottish indie-pop band led by Lucia Fairfull – have been building a stellar name on the live circuit for a number of years now, opening for the likes of Wolf Alice and The Last Dinner Party on the way. They return with a new album, Picking Petals, this year helmed by alt-pop luminary Yves Rothman on production duties and featuring guest turns from the likes of Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry and TLDP’s Abigail Morris. Following its release this summer, she heads to Cardiff with the fist-pumping anthems well in tow.
Building out a monumental year for Sŵn are myriad other must-see sets from new music’s best and brightest. Having recently released their fourth studio album, Only You Left, on Heavenly, Manchester trio The Orielles are back in Cardiff armed to the teeth with shoegazing punk belters. A mainstay of the Brixton Windmill scene, Little Grandad are in town with an arsenal of urgent, Americana-laced power-pop. For those in need of a little pummelling techno to blow the cobwebs out, Leeds upstarts Bathing Suits have you well covered, while should you crave your psychedelia a little more rockist look no further than the brilliantly monikered LSD and the Search for God. The cult San Francisco quartet trade in swirling guitars, otherworldly drones, fuzzed-out pop melodies and dreamy vocal harmonies.
It doesn’t stop there, though. London alternative singer-songwriter duo Good Health Good Wealth bring beautifully spun yarns on love, money, sex and stereotypes to the Welsh Capital; fast-rising Limerick quintet THEATRE are bound to charm with an enchanting vision of gothic, ethereal folk-rock; South London trio Honeyglaze revel in blustery, cathartic and emotionally captivating indie-rock, while conversely Australian duo 2Charm will be in town serving up a slice of their self-styled ‘gooner pop’: expect sleazy EDM techno that melodises on the intricacies of queer love.
As always, there’s a plethora of local Welsh talent on display at this year’s festival and to name but a few to circle in your Clashfinder: multi-instrumentalist and composer Cerys Hafana is a long-term favourite at Sŵn and her mediations on minimalism, traditional and avant-folk music are not to be missed; guitarist, vocalist and beatmaker ifan makes enchanting, alternative music that’s sure to win you over; staples of the Welsh scene Pys Melyn are back in town for those needing a fix of retro-tinged psych-rock; rising bilingual alt-pop four-piece Wrkhouse will leave you with hooks rattling around your head for days; and metallic hardcore titans Asidhara will cave in what remains of your noggin.
Sŵn 2026 is once more multi-venue across all three days of programming. Venues this year include: Tramshed, Clwb Ifor Bach, St. John’s Church, Jacobs Basement, Fuel, The Canopi, Tiny Rebel, Little O’Neill’s and Porter’s.
Adam Williams, Head of Music for Sŵn, offers the following on this year’s festival: “Whilst we live in a world that surrounds us with negativity, it’s been extremely uplifting to work on Sŵn’s 19th edition. 2026’s lineup is filled with incredible new music. We have the pleasure of welcoming Dove Ellis to Cardiff for the first time who will be performing a special guest spot over at Tramshed. Other Cardiff first-timers come in the form of Cardinals, Lucia & the Best Boys, Theatre, Bathing Suits, 2charm, Lauren Auder, Shaking Hand plus dozens of others, as well as much anticipated returning artists including Working Mens Club, HMLTD and Porridge Radio’s Dana Margolin who come loaded with new music.”
Sŵn Festival remains as accessible and community-focused as ever – once again offering a wide array of schemes to make tickets as widely available as possible and to offer in-roads into the festival. Payment plans for tickets are available as well as concession tickets for young people, students and Blue Light account holders, while volunteer programmes and the apply to play scheme will also return. Sign up to the mailing list to be notified when applications open.
Tickets for Sŵn are on general sale now with instalment plans available. Head here for ticketing options and more info: https://swnfest.seetickets.com
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