Harry Styles to curate 2026 Meltdown Festival at Southbank Centre

Harry Styles has been announced as the curator of the 2026 Meltdown festival, marking a landmark edition of the world’s longest-running artist-curated music festival. Taking place from 11–21 June 2026, this year’s festival coincides with the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary, offering Styles the chance to shape the venue’s annual multi-arts celebration across its 11-acre site. Styles joins a prestigious line of past curators including David Bowie, Yoko Ono, Patti Smith, Nile Rodgers, and others.

Harry Styles © Laura Coulson

Commenting on his role, Styles said, “I’m deeply honoured to curate the Meltdown festival, especially for the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary year. My goal as the curator is to share the music and art that I love, and to celebrate the rich history of the venue. Music brings us together, and the Southbank Centre has been at the heart of it for 75 years. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity in such an iconic venue.” His curatorship will reflect his broad musical influences, spanning pop, soul, electronic, rock, and underground scenes, alongside a focus on emerging young British talent.

The festival programme will include a headline performance by Styles himself, as well as a public schedule of interactive and free events designed to engage young audiences across the UK. Mark Ball, Artistic Director of the Southbank Centre, praised Styles’ global influence and creative versatility, noting that his Meltdown will embody the Centre’s 75-year mission to provide artists with a platform to push cultural boundaries. Jane Beese, Head of Contemporary Music, added that Styles’ warmth and collaborative spirit align perfectly with the festival’s ethos, promising a celebration of connection, discovery, and joy.

Since its establishment in 1993, Meltdown has become a defining feature of the UK’s cultural landscape, inviting artists to curate programmes that reflect both their vision and the energy of the moment. Styles will be the festival’s 31st curator, following figures such as Little Simz, Chaka Khan, Grace Jones, M.I.A., and David Bowie. His Meltdown offers a distinct perspective on his artistry, set against the backdrop of the Southbank Centre’s multi-venue site.

Harry Styles’ Meltdown takes place 11 – 21 June 2026. Full line-up and dates for ticket releases will be announced in Spring 2026. southbankcentre.co.uk