So, Who Will Headline Electric Picnic 2026?

In just 90 minutes, the tickets for next year’s Electric Picnic have completely sold out – raising the question of who the 2026 headliners will be.

With this immense interest from fans all over Ireland, we are eager to find out if the chosen musical acts can match such high demand…

Irish acts in the spotlight

With Irish talent predominantly on the rise, such acts have been called to the headlining position more than ever before.

This year’s notable Irish performers included Hozier, Kneecap, Kingfishr, the Coronas and Amble – with such recognition, there’s no doubt that the 2026 lineup will see more Irish acts take the main stage.

Potential Irish headliners for Electric Picnic 2026

1)  Fontaines D.C.

 

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Fontaines D.C. have had a particular absence from the festival since 2022, in which they were not among the headlining acts. Since then they have only become more established, headlining festivals in Ireland and beyond such as All Together Now, Rock En Seine and Primavera Sound in 2025. Following the successful tour of their most recent album Romance, a return to Ireland’s biggest festival in the headlining position is greatly anticipated.

2)  CMAT

 

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Rising star CMAT has been praised for her cleverly crafted fusion of pop and indie music as well as her vocally strong performances. Despite her recent rise to fame, CMAT’s recognition has excelled globally making her a plausible choice as a headliner for next year. The current stages of CMATs sudden rising success is similar to that of Chappell Roan, who played on the Friday of Electric Picnic this year. CMAT is scheduled to tour her new album Euro-Country this year, which will no doubt elevate her status to headliner material.

3)  The Coronas

 

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Despite The Coronas having performed at Electric Picnic multiple times, including the 2025 festival, they have yet to be set as headliners. As a staple Irish band with a wide age-ranged audience, The Coronas are a reliable choice as a leading act for 2026. With an upcoming tour around Ireland, the band may be gearing up for their ultimate Electric Picnic performance.

4)  Dermot Kennedy

 

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Dermot Kennedy who headlined Electric Picnic in 2022 is another suspected leading act for next year. His surprise appearance during The Cranberries performance at this year’s festival, sparked rumours of his potential return among fans. Kennedy has not released an album since the year in which he headlined the festival and plans to release his third studio album next year, which corresponds with his past Electric Picnic arrangements

What other artists could potentially headline Electric Picnic?

Speculation of global artists as Electric Picnic headlines is solely based on which artists are active in the music sphere – whether they are on tour, have just released an album or are consistently releasing singles.

Artists who fit these agendas are the likes of Dua Lipa – who continues her Radical Optimism tour this September and Florence and the Machine – who are set to finish their European tour in March with no Irish date currently listed.

 

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Global megastar Ariana Grande plans a 5 night residency in London for her upcoming tour, which wraps up on August 23rd, creating a convenient slot for the dates of Electric Picnic. Another contender is Ed Sheeran, who is set to release his next album this September and is wrapping up his world tour in March 2026, with the likelihood of doing a festival run during the summer.

A final suspected act is Tame Impala, who have previously headlined the festival in 2022. With their soon to be released album, Tame Impala have announced 6 shows in the US, indicating a possible world tour.

 

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Although we have no official clues of who next year’s headlining acts may be, there is much room for speculation! It’s likely that the lineup will not be released until May next year, so until then we can only hope that the chosen acts can meet the demand of the Irish crowd!

Words by Leah Foran