Mutations Festival 2026 Adds 70+ Acts: Fat Dog and Beastie Boys' Mike D Headline Brighton's Grassroots Venues
UK music festival Mutations Festival has announced a major lineup expansion for its eighth edition, adding more than 70 acts across two nights — Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, 2026 — spread across ten grassroots venues in Brighton, on England's south coast. Headline duties are split between Fat Dog, Squid, Mike D 5D, and Dove Ellis, with roughly 30 more names expected in early September.
Friday and Saturday lineups
Friday, October 23 is topped by Fat Dog, who release their second album, Cancel Me (I'm Tired), via Domino Records on October 2 — putting the festival slot right on the heels of the release. Support includes post-punk act Squid, dance-rock outfit Working Men's Club, dream-shoegaze band Bdrmm, and synth-punk act Lip Critic. Smaller-stage highlights include Cowboy Hunters, The Itch, Max Winter, World News, Hutch, and Marsy.
Saturday, October 24 is headlined by Beastie Boys member Mike D with his new band 5D, with Mercury Prize-nominated indie folk artist Dove Ellis opening — Ellis has also just announced a small UK/Ireland tour for later this year. The rest of the day's bill includes Alex Cameron, TTSSFU, Panic Shack, Walt Disco, Ain't, Alien Chicks, Little Grandad, Plantoid, Silver Gore, plus Speedial, Painkiller, Esmeralda Road, Any Young Mechanic, and Tasha, performing across various Brighton venues.
Ticket details
- 📅 Friday, October 23 – Saturday, October 24, 2026
- 📍 Ten grassroots venues across Brighton, UK
- 🎫 Tickets on sale from August 7, 2026
- 🎟 Discounted pricing for attendees under 25
- 📢 Roughly 30 more acts to be announced in early September
Mutations' track record for breaking new acts
Per Far Out Magazine, Mutations Festival has built a reputation for spotting rising bands early: CMAT and Sprints in 2021, The Last Dinner Party in 2022, English Teacher in 2023, and Kneecap and Adult DVD in 2024. This eighth edition continues that pattern, packing plenty of newer names in alongside its headliners.