Desertfest London 2026: Clutch to Headline; Blackwater Holylight, Mario Lalli, 16, Gnome, Howling Giant and More Added
Business as usual here, by which I mean Desertfest London is coming in hot with the latest round of names for the 2026 lineup, with Clutch headlining on a UK exclusive, plus Gnome, Mario Lalli, Blackwater Holylight, friggin’ 16, Howling Giant, Waxy, and a host of others — names I’ve heard, names I’ve not — joining the bill. Some homework to do — who are Ian? who are Meatdripper? — and still more reveals to come, you can see on the poster below it’s getting pretty crowded.
Clutch are the last of the headliners to be revealed, and sure to be a draw for oldschool heads alongside Green Lung, Hermano and The Sword, whoever else counts. They’re always, always, always fun live, so no doubt they’ll deliver. Tickets are on sale and linked below:
Are you ready? Our third and final 2026 headliners are here – some of you may have guessed it from our teasers — please welcome the mighty Clutch to Desertfest 2026!
It certainly has been a longtime coming but we are thrilled to announce these supernovas are *finally* bringing their legendary high-energy live show to the Desertfest London stage – their only UK show in 2026.
And that’s not all we have to share — we warmly welcome:
↠ Antwerp powertrio Gnome
↠ LA (via PDX) ethereal heavy psyche dreamers Blackwater Holylight
↠ The Godfather of Desert Rock, Mario Lalli, returning with The Rubber Snake Charmers, to take us on a shaman’s journey through the desert landscape of imagination.
↠ Swedish quintet Hällas, bringing their cinematic storytelling, and epic fantasy-themed Adventure Rock.
↠ California sludge pioneers 16 The Band – playing their first UK show in over a decade – their first time at DF London.
Feast your eyes on the 24 new artists who have joined are 2026 line up! 💥
CLUTCH
GNOME
BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT
MARIO LALLI & THE RUBBER SNAKE CHARMERS
Hällas
16
Howling Giant
khost
Cwfen
Harrowed
Coffin Mulch
The Grey
Red Eyed Cult
DROMOS
LIQUID SHIT
Waxy
Midhaven
Meatdripper
IAN
SMOULDERING TOMB
Praetorian
Den Der Hale
SUPERSEED
INSTAR SLING
+ MORE TBA
PHASE 2 TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
https://link.dice.fm/Desertfest2026
https://www.desertfest.co.uk/
http://www.desertscene.co.uk/support
https://www.instagram.com/desertfest_london/
https://www.facebook.com/DesertfestLondon
+
IAN?
Just an overlooked postmetal/noiserock experiment in the good new UK old-fashioned tradition. You’d probably dig them JJ, even if it’s not quite your sweetspot. One of those voices with things to say but it’s a pitiless world sometimes