The initial wave of artists set to perform at Cardiff Music City Festival 2026 has been announced, with Sŵn Festival revealing the first 60 acts playing the city’s flagship new music showcase.
Returning for its third year, Cardiff Music City Festival runs from Friday 2 October to Saturday 17 October, and will once again incorporate Sŵn Festival, Llais and the Welsh Music Prize as part of a wider programme celebrating the power of music to unite and inspire.
The first artists confirmed to play Sŵn Festival (15–17 October) are a mix of exciting Welsh, UK-based acts and emerging international names, reflecting the festival’s commitment to supporting new music and showcasing artists at every stage of their careers.
Welsh acts announced include multi-instrumentalist and composer Cerys Hafana; guitarist, vocalist and beatmaker, Ifan; retro-tinged psych rockers Pys Melyn; and bilingual alt-pop four-piece WRKHOUSE.
Beyond Wales, the line-up spans the UK and the globe, featuring the synth-driven post-punk energy of Working Men’s Club, raw and chaotic noise courtesy of Makeshift Art Bar, cathartic indie-rock from Honeyglaze, Australian electronic duo 2charm, and a Cardiff debut for breakout Irish folk artist Dove Ellis.
Head of Music for Sŵn Festival, Adam Williams said: “We’re delighted to unveil the first wave of artists for Sŵn 2026. This year, the festival returns with three full days of new music in 9 different venues across Cardiff – with over 150 artists performing across 10 amazing stages. We’re proud to promote new music and give a platform to the amazing artists we collaborate with throughout the year.”
Returning for its third year, Cardiff Music City Festival will once again incorporate Sŵn Festival, Llais and the Welsh Music Prize as part of a wider programme celebrating the power of music to unite and inspire.
FULL LIST OF ARTISTS ANNOUNCED SO FAR
2Charm | Asidhara | Bambees | Bathing Suits | Bel Cobain | Blood Wizard | Blue Amber | Bureau De Change | Cardinals | Casi | Cerys Hafana | Chwaer Fawr | Cowboy Hunters | Dana Margolin | Dermot Henry | Disgusting Sisters | Dove Ellis | Esmerelda Road | Fatale | Foot Foot | Glasshouse Red Spider Mite | Good Health Good Wealth | Heartpiece | HMLTD | Honeyglaze | Ifan | James Emmanuel | Lacuna | Lafant | Lauren Auder | Little Grandad | Lo Rays | LSD and the Search for God | Lucia & the Best Boys | Maeve | Makeshift Art Bar | Modern Woman | Mould | Nation Unrest | PainKiller | Personal Trainer | Pyncher | Pys Melyn | SexyTadhg | Shaking Hand | SHINOBii | Shlug | Sold For Parts | Tai Haf Heb Drigolyn | The Dogs | The Joy Hotel | The Orielles | Theatre | Tokomololo | Tony Bontana | waverley. | Working Men’s Club | World News | Wrkhouse | Wyatt
Further artist and event announcements for Cardiff Music City Festival 2026 are expected in the coming months.
