Kingfishr announced for Great Escape 2026 and First Fifty acts revealed

November 17, 2025

With 2026 on the horizon, news is filtering through about who will be playing at the next instalment of The Great Escape. With Brighton’s amazing festival set to return in May, it has been announced that Irish indie folk trio Kingfishr will headline a Spotlight Show at Brighton Dome Concert Hall on the Thursday (14th May).

Hailing from Limerick, Kingfishr have quickly become one of the most exciting new voices in alternative folk. Formed during lockdown by Eddie Keogh, Eoin “Fitz” Fitzgibbon and Eoghan “McGoo” McGrath, the trio are known for their soaring soundscapes, emotive lyrics and anthemic energy.

Access to Kingfishr’s Spotlight Show will be via standalone tickets, available on general sale from 10am on Friday 21st November via greatescapefestival.com, with artist and venue presales on Wednesday 19th November from 10AM, and Live Nation presale on Thursday 20 November from 10am.

Alongside news of Kingfishr’s Spotlight Show, The Great Escape has also completed the FIRST FIFTY line-up – the first fifty acts announced to perform at the 2026 festival. Featuring a selection of the most promising new music from across the globe, the FIRST FIFTY is one of the year’s most exciting tip lists for emerging talent.

Here they are:

Ain’t
Annie-Dog
Ashaine White
Au/Ra
AVA Joe
Bean Magazine
Becky Sikasa
BED
Big Long Sun
Carpetman
Clothesline from Hell
DC3
Dermot Henry
Elsa
Gareth
Girl Group
Girl Tones
Isak Benjamin
Jack Devlin
James Emmanuel
Kellan Christopher Cragg
ladylike
Lily Moore
Little Grandad
Madra Salach
Marlon Funaki
Max Baby
Meltt
Morn
Mustbejohn
Ngaiire
Persia Holder
PISS
Really Good Time
Ringlets
Saint Clair
Sean Trelford
SISTRA
SLAG
Sophia Thakur
Tanzana
Teenage Joans
The Itch
THE OBGMs
Tommy WÁ
Truman Sinclair
Tukki
Wah Wah Wah
Westside Cowboy
Yndling

Playing host to over 450 up-and-coming artists and hotly tipped talent across 35+ walkable venues, alongside the music industry-led TGE conference, the festival will kick off the 2026 season from 13 – 16th May in Brighton, England. Tickets for The Great Escape festival are on sale now, with TGE 2026 Saver Tickets, priced from £108, running seriously low.