Harry Styles is set to helm one of the U.K.’s most storied live music events this summer.
The global superstar has been announced as curator of Meltdown Festival for 2026, which will see him craft an eclectic bill of music, art and workshops across 11 days (June 11-21). The full line-up of performers and activations is expected to arrive in the spring.
Now in its 31st edition, Meltdown Festival is held annually at London’s Southbank Centre and is billed as “the world’s longest-running artist-curated music festival.” The multi-arts event spans the venue’s entire site, which comprises multiple performance spaces and galleries.
Styles joins a prestigious list of previous curators including David Bowie, Yoko Ono, Patti Smith, The Cure’s Robert Smith, David Byrne, Grace Jones, Nick Cave, Jarvis Cocker and most recently, Little Simz.
In addition to crafting the lineup, Styles is set to headline a marquee gig for Meltdown Festival at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, for which further details are set to be announced.
In a statement, the singer said: “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.
“We both share a passionate belief that music is a vital part of life. 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. I’m incredibly grateful to Southbank for having me, it’s really exciting for me to have this opportunity in such an iconic venue.”
Jane Beese, head of contemporary music at the Southbank Centre, added: “It’s a real privilege to welcome an artist with the cultural impact and presence of Harry Styles as curator of Meltdown in our 75th anniversary year at the Southbank Centre. His openness, warmth and instinct for collaboration feel perfectly aligned with the spirit at the heart of the festival.
“We’re excited to see Styles’ 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.”
According to a press release, Styles is expected to draw from a “broad palette of influences” for the line-up, from pop, soul, electronic and rock acts to emerging young British talent. The 2026 bill will also feature free public events designed to engage younger audiences.
Last year’s edition of Meltdown featured a wide-ranging mix of established and emerging artists, from The Streets to Jon Batiste and sets from R&B, jazz and pop talents including Mahalia and Lola Young, with curator Little Simz closing the festival alongside the Chineke! Orchestra.
Styles’ fourth studio album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally., is set for a March 6 release. His 2026 Together, Together tour is set to span seven major global cities and over 50 shows, including 30 nights at Madison Square Garden this fall.
