BEARDED THEORY

DAY SPLITS ANNOUNCED

THIS YEAR’S HEADLINERS ARE: GARBAGE, PIXIES, SKUNK ANANSIE & LAMBRINI GIRLS

LAST REMAINING TICKETS AVAILABLE TO GRAB

CATTON PARK, DERBYSHIRE, 20-24 MAY 2026

“Bearded Theory should be the next port of call for any music lover simply interested in having a good time.” The Telegraph

“A spectacular weekend.” Record Collector

“With loads to keep kids happy and an eclectic lineup of old and new you’ll be booking for next year before this year is even over." The Guardian

Bearded Theory continues to stand as one of the UK’s most beloved alternative festivals. The highly-coveted, multi-award winning independent event takes over its idyllic homeland of Catton Park, Derbyshire on the 20-24th May, ready to spark another year of inspirational, community-driven, grassroots festivities. Nestled at the meeting point of the West Midlands, South Derbyshire and Staffordshire, and just two hours from 50% of the UK population, its prime location, beautiful setting and unmatched atmosphere make it the perfect place to kickstart your bank holiday weekend and get the festival season underway.

The festival now shares its day splits, revealing Lambrini Girls headlining the Pallet on Thursday, Skunk Anansie on the Friday, Pixies taking over the stage on Saturday, and Garbage bringing the festivities to a close on Sunday.

They are joined by The Damned, CMAT, Everything Everything, The Horrors, Fat Dog, Ferocious Dog, Reverend & The Makers, Peter Hook & The Light, Kae Tempest, Kate Nash, Lambrini Girls, The Twilight Sad, Swim School, Kid Kapichi, Sir Chloe, Opus Kink, Basht., Bad Nerves, Badly Drawn Boy, Idlewild, NewDad, Goldie, Beans On Toast and many, many more across the weekend. Full list of names below.

With less than a month to go until the event, a limited number of tickets remain available for the festival. Act now to avoid disappointment.

DAY SPLITS HERE

Head to the Pallet stage first thing on Sunday for the annual fancy dress competition, in which the winners will be rewarded with tickets for next year’s festival. This year’s theme is ‘Beyond the Grave’, encouraging participants to tap into their ghoulish creative side.

The Festival School (the UK’s first of its kind) returns to the award-winning Children’s Area after receiving glowing praise from The Guardian, who lauded it as “probably the most inclusive school in the country.” With free places, a full curriculum, and lessons ranging from maths to mindfulness (and even DJ workshops), it's a standout example of Bearded Theory’s commitment to family-friendly, meaningful experiences. For the first time, the Festival School now offers a pre-school provision for 100 0-4 year olds, as well as the standard school for 200 Reception to Year 10 children.

Bearded Theory’s wondrously compact site punches well above its weight, with eight unique stages and areas bursting with music, dancing, and unfiltered joy. While the Pallet and Meadow stages deliver the biggest moments of the weekend, the Woodland stage offers a spellbinding, intimate escape - a hidden glade of unplugged sessions, raucous singalongs, and unforgettable late-night memories in the tree canopied silent disco. For those who wish to rave into the early hours, Big Ed and CODA return as the home for all things dance-oriented. Returning to the festival after its introduction at the last event is The Knockerdown - by day, an arts and Q&A hub, and by night, a raucous karaoke hotspot. Elsewhere, Convoy Cabaret, Maui Waui and Something Else Tea Tent provide a huge array of weird and wonderful, peaceful and powerful alternatives with a world of underground talent.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

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