ArcTanGent, the happy place near Bristol for those who enjoy their music on the heavier, more experimental and obscure side, has just announced the first wave of bands confirmed for 2026 edition and team MJB is excited.
Leading the impressive list of first names are Igorr, the French baroque metal artist who we just caught at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, with a UK exclusive performance. Another UK exclusive will come from another iconic French black metal outfit Alcest, setting the scene for a truly atmospheric festival line up, with main headliners still to be announced.
From the international announcements, the noise / sludge band Chat Pile from Oklahoma are returning to Fernhill Farm, and so are Oathbreaker from Belgium and the beloved Icelandic math art rockers Agent Fresco, with another UK exclusive and their first UK performance in 7 years.
When it comes to British acts, also returning with their first performance in 7 years are TTNG, the math rock stalwarts, as well as well beloved HECK who are reforming for the 10th anniversary of their album Instructions. Another anticipated return comes from Humanfly, reforming to play for the first time since their last performance 13 years ago, and Amplifier will play one of the iconic silent disco sets. Unfortunately as well as highly anticipated reunions, 2026 will see a goodbye to the post-hardcore band Svalbard, who will have their last ever performance on Wednesday.
Alpha Male Tea Party will join the Wednesday line up (the unofficial ‘best of previous editions’) off the back of the success of their recent album Reptilian Brain and their 2025 performance. Joining them on Wednesday will be psych rockers Giant Walker, alt-rockers Sans Froid, French post rockers Lost in Kiev and Irish post rockers Overhead, The Albatross. Knowing that many more names are still to be announced and the math-, psych-, post- and metal group chats are all abuzz with excitement and guessing who it might be, it is already shaping up to be an edition to remember.
Now in its twelfth year, ArcTanGenr returns to Fernhill Farm near Bristol between the 19th August and the 22nd August, with over half of the tickets for 2026 sold already. Tier 3 tickets are on sale now, with VIP packages available, and very few camper van spaces left.
You can relive the 2025 edition with us: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.