Wilderness Festival has unveiled its 2026 lineup, promising its most ambitious and wide-ranging programme yet as it returns to Cornbury Park.
Leading the charge on the Wilderness Stage are New York pop provocateurs Scissor Sisters, bringing their electric showmanship and hit-packed catalogue. The Last Dinner Party return to headline after their rapid ascent from the festival’s Stargazer stage in 2022 to major chart success.
Electronic music heavyweight Carl Cox will deliver two special sets — a funk and soul session in The Atrium and a headline performance on the Wilderness Stage. Soulwax also join the bill while touring their seventh album All Systems Are Lying, blending rock intensity with electronic energy.
Additional Wilderness Stage acts include Baxter Dury, Good Neighbours, The House and Garage Orchestra, The Hot 8 Brass Band, Janet Kay and Carroll Thompson.
Marking a UK festival first, Annie Lennox presents Sisters, a special takeover of the Wilderness Stage. The collaboration will see Lennox curate a hand-picked selection of performers, delivering powerful moments while raising funds and awareness for the global feminist organisation The Circle.
Organisers describe the takeover as one of the most significant highlights in the festival’s 15-year history at Cornbury Park.
At The Atrium, the Wilderness Orchestra will perform Here, There and Everywhere, a sweeping tribute to The Beatles. God’s Jukebox returns with orchestral renditions of audience-requested favourites, while Women in Jazz continues celebrating female voices and stories across the industry.
Hidden within the secret walled garden, The Riddle brings back its popular phone-free dancefloor, with sets from Luke Howard of Horse Meat Disco, Dave “Love” Lee, Dan Shake, Demi Riquísimo and Grace Sands.
In The Valley, Groove Armada will perform a special DJ set, joined by Olive F and Delilah. The Dive spotlights alternative live music including PleasureInc., Sleeping Together, Aqualine, King No One and Bleech 9:3.
The Jumpyard, curated by Continental Drifts, promises high-energy performances from The Scribes, Dogshow, Flash Bang Brass and Drum and Bass Gospel.
Making its debut, The House of Sublime hosts the Southbank Centre’s KUNSTY Takeover, celebrating bold and boundary-pushing independent artists. Fatt Projects and The Cocoa Butter Club are among the featured acts.
Festival staples also return, including:
- The Club House singalongs
- The Wilderness Cricket Match hosted by Bearded Kitten
- Michelin-starred Long Table Banquets with Atul Kochhar, Margot Henderson and Mike Davies
- Thought-provoking talks at The Forum
- Wellness experiences at The Sanctuary
- Creative programming at The Makers Quarter and Family Field
This year introduces ten brand new secret venues, promising hidden worlds and immersive discoveries across the site.
Audi also returns as headline partner for 2026, bringing a curated programme of immersive experiences following last year’s Audi Haven.
Ticket sales begin with a 48-hour PayPal presale at 10.00am on 27 February 2026. A 24-hour Wilderness presale follows at 10.00am on 02 March, before general sale opens at 10.00am on 03 March.
A limited number of tickets will be available exclusively to PayPal customers during the presale window via Ticketmaster. Registered Wilderness mailing list subscribers will receive their presale links ahead of the 02 March release.
