Three Mercury Prize nominees, an exclusive UK performance and immersive events will feature in the Cardiff Music City Festival when it returns this October.
Running from October 2 to October 17, Cardiff Music City Festival 2026 will bring together Sŵn Festival, Llais and the Welsh Music Prize alongside performances, talks, pop-ups, exhibitions and special events across the Welsh capital.
The festival is a key part of Cardiff’s Music City strategy and aims to celebrate the power of music to unite and inspire people.
This year’s programme includes 2026 Mercury Prize nominee Dove Ellis and jazz pianist Joe Webb, who was nominated in 2025.
Joe Webb will appear at a special event curated for the festival by BBC broadcaster Bethan Elfyn alongside 2022 Mercury Prize nominee Gwenno.
French hip-hop and trip-hop pioneer Wax Tailor will make his only UK appearance of 2026 under the immersive dome at CULTVR.
International artists and emerging Welsh talent
The festival’s flagship events, Sŵn and Llais, will showcase performers from Wales and around the world.
International artists appearing during the festival include New York avant-garde figure Laurie Anderson, who will perform at Llais.
The programme also features emerging Welsh artists Morn and Cerys Hafana, alongside 6Music favourites Adult DVD and Honeyglaze.
A special opening night performance will see Welsh collective Acid Casuals celebrate the 20th anniversary of their acclaimed album Omni.
Further collaborations and performances will be held in locations ranging from grassroots music venues to major cultural institutions.
Immersive events across Cardiff
Other highlights include Richard James’ immersive installation Evolution of Beauty at the Temple of Peace and special performances marking 25 years of Cardiff-based experimental art collective tactileBOSCH.
The programme will also explore the influence of the American Punkhouse movement in Wales.
Cardiff Music City’s Cardiff Night Market takeover will return with Radio Sudd, while the Canopi Lounge will serve as a festival hub.
A range of industry talks, conferences and creative gatherings will also take place during the two-week programme.
Cardiff Music City Festival Curator, Ruth Cayford, said: “Whether it’s Mercury Prize nominees, legends like Laurie Anderson, one of the many incredible artists coming out of Wales right now, the immersive music experiences and one-off performances we’ve got planned, this year’s programme really showcases the range of creativity that exists across contemporary music.
“The programme is designed to encourage discovery. After a successful summer music series of outdoor events in the city, we are shifting the focus to our much loved indoor venues. It doesn’t matter if people come for Sŵn, Llais, the Welsh Music Prize or one of our many special events, they’ll find themselves part of a city-wide celebration that connects artists, audiences and communities through music.”
Supporting Cardiff’s music scene
The festival forms part of Cardiff’s wider work to support music at every level, from developing future talent to strengthening the city’s grassroots venues.
Initiatives within the local authority’s Cardiff Music City strategy include ‘Little Gigs’, a talent development programme that brings live music into schools and supports pupils through the earliest stages of their music careers and onto festival stages.
The city’s Grassroots Venues Fund provides financial support for independent music spaces.
Cardiff Council has also formed a partnership with Music Venue Trust, using income from large-scale concerts in a city park to fund the organisation and provide backline equipment to grassroots venues across Cardiff.
Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “Cardiff’s music scene is special, and we’ll keep doing as much as we can to help it continue to thrive.
“The festival brings the city’s whole music ecosystem together – it’s a fantastic celebration of the talent and creativity we’ve got here and a great chance to discover new music and support local venues.”
