FESTIVAL REVIEW: Outbreak Festival 2026

Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Outbreak Festival once again proved why it has become one of the UK’s most important alternative music festivals. From the almost ceremonial performance delivered by Knocked Loose in Manchester’s Albert Hall to Loathe seemingly summoning the rain with their crushing set, this year’s festival had everything. There were soaring highs, unforgettable performances, moments of reflection, and unfortunately some lows too, with several injuries causing sets to be paused across the weekend. Yet despite this, the sense of community never faltered.

Although I wasn’t in attendance for Friday’s emo-heavy lineup featuring Love Rarely, Joyce Manor, and The Front Bottoms, there was no way I was missing Knocked Loose‘s special 2am performance at Manchester’s Albert Hall. For anyone unfamiliar with the venue, the Albert Hall is a former Wesleyan chapel complete with Gothic arches, stained-glass windows, and ornate balconies. It couldn’t have been a more fitting location for a band whose recent album, You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To, is steeped in religious imagery and symbolism.

After a full day of festival performances and many people attending evening shows such as Bilmuri beforehand, you’d expect the crowd to be running on empty. Instead, the room felt electric. Bryan Garris has an uncanny ability to command an audience the moment he walks onstage. Every scream is answered back in unison, transforming the room into something resembling a congregation rather than a concert. Combined with the glowing illuminated cross behind the band, the performance became less of a gig and more of a ritualistic act of shared catharsis, where the energy wasn’t simply performed, it flowed equally between the band and every person in the room.

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Saturday arrived with another stroke of luck as the weather remained firmly on Outbreak’s side. Spirits were high as festival-goers descended on Bowlers Exhibition Centre (BEC) for another packed day of hardcore, punk, and everything in between.

Truck Violence opened my day with a performance built on crushing downbeats and a sluggish, almost hypnotic pace. Their repetitive lyricism functioned more like mantras than conventional choruses, encouraging listeners to immerse themselves in the emotion rather than simply sing along. Some banjo-like instrumentation and handclaps introduced an unexpected folk influence, briefly lulling the audience into a false sense of security before the band launched back into devastating heaviness.

Still In Love immediately shifted the tempo. Their blistering drumming drove an energetic hardcore set that rarely paused for breath, with relentless rhythms pushing the audience into constant movement.

Static Dress appearance had long been rumoured through the band’s own teasing online, making their ‘secret’ set one of the day’s worst-kept secrets. Unsurprisingly, the crowd packed out the area long before they even took to the stage. As the band even got in with the action, they lured the audience into a false sense of security by stating that it would be Title Fight that would be performing after all these years, but obviously that wasn’t the case, and it actually caused quite the discourse on social media.

They introduced themselves (“Yo, what’s up? We’re Guilt Trip”) before diving into Nostalgia Kills and playing songs from their acclaimed sophomore album and a contender for my album of the year, Injury Episode. Each time I have seen them, their performance never wavers from being anti-climactic, and vocalist Olli Appleyard always gets down to business with showcasing a raw, compelling, and cathartic performance.

If there was one word to describe Touché Amoré‘s set, it would simply be “overflowing”. Calling the crowd packed would almost be an understatement, as fans filled every available space to witness one of post-hardcore’s most emotionally resonant bands.

High Vis arrived just as the festival experienced its first real rainfall. Under normal circumstances, rain would have dampened the mood, but after hours of relentless heat, it was met with cheers rather than groans. Between songs, vocalist Graham Sayle spoke candidly about his own struggles with suicide, explaining that although life can become unimaginably difficult, things can improve, but only by putting in the work. It was an honest and vulnerable moment that resonated deeply with the audience.

One of the day’s biggest surprises came courtesy of Texas newcomers I Promised The World, making their UK debut. Their sound felt like Static Dress colliding with My Chemical Romance, balancing soaring melodies with post-hardcore aggression. That came through in the likes of Don’t Just Stand There and the lyrics of “What am I supposed to hold when you leave your heart out of this conversation?”. They quickly became one of my favourite discoveries of the weekend, helped further by the unusual moment where the band’s vocalist Hunter Wilson and guitarist Caleb Molina swapped roles mid-set, offering a refreshing dynamic rarely seen live.

When Loathe finally took to the main stage, they arrived with one objective: complete dominance. Their immense wall of sound briefly came to a halt after the set was paused due to an audience injury, another reminder of the physical nature of hardcore shows and the importance of looking after one another. Once proceedings resumed, the skies finally opened. As vocalist Kadeem France motioned towards the heavens, the rain began to pour almost on cue, paired with their mighty soundscape of instrumentation,  creating one of the weekend’s most cinematic moments.

Alexisonfire closed my Saturday with a set I’d wanted to experience for years. Songs such as Boiled Frogs sounded phenomenal live, while the band’s effortless ability to unite thousands of voices into booming “woah-oh” choruses demonstrated exactly why they remain one of post-hardcore’s defining acts. Even the occasional object being launched through the air couldn’t distract from an unforgettable performance.

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Sunday wasted no time getting underway. Gridiron kicked things off with an intriguing blend of hardcore and hip-hop influences. Their groove-heavy downbeats carried echoes of Rage Against the Machine while maintaining an identity entirely their own.

Without question, however, one of my favourite sets of the entire weekend belonged to California’s Initiate. From the opening moments, the band’s combination of blistering screamo vocals, pounding drums, and razor-sharp thrash-inspired instrumentation was impossible to ignore. Vocalist Crystal Pak delivered gut-wrenching vocals that landed like repeated sucker punches while effortlessly encouraging crowd participation throughout the set.

Between songs, she reflected on the importance of hardcore, stating that without the friendships and community the scene had given her, she’d “probably be in a cabin somewhere in the woods like a fucking weirdo.” The honesty was met with huge applause. The band also expressed solidarity with Palestine before announcing new music arriving later this summer, their first since 2023. Throughout their set, circle pits transformed into impromptu dance floors as the audience embraced every chaotic second.

Dynamite packed out the second stage with uncompromising straight-edge hardcore, while Haywire 617 demonstrated just how beloved they’ve become. Fans screamed every lyric back at the band as their bass-heavy, high-speed set spiralled into joyous chaos. Between songs, they encouraged audiences to educate themselves about political issues and take meaningful action, dedicating one song to those affected by the ongoing situation of the Filton 25.

La Dispute delivered exactly what longtime fans would expect: pure anguish wrapped in poetic vulnerability. The audience hung on every word as vocalist Jordan Dreyer spoke passionately about the state of the world, reminding everyone that music and community will always matter more than corporations or profit. His sincerity was unmistakable. Of course, it wouldn’t be Outbreak without a surreal moment too, this time provided by someone crowd surfing with a frog wearing fishnet tights.

Hatebreed demonstrated why they remain hardcore royalty by filling Stage Two beyond capacity, while February unleashed one of the weekend’s most politically charged performances, with vocalist Rila Oshawa declaring, “Outbreak, get the fuck up, bitch!” before voicing support for Palestine and condemning ICE.

Another standout discovery came through Trapped Under Ice. Somehow I’d never listened to them before Outbreak, which now feels almost unbelievable. Their set overflowed with energy, community, and pure joy. Vocalist Justin Tripp repeatedly handed the microphone to the audience, encouraging fans to become part of the performance rather than simply spectators. It perfectly captured everything hardcore is supposed to be.

Basement provided a fitting conclusion to my weekend, playing new songs from their recently released album WIRED, but also the well-known songs of Covet and Whole. Speaking between songs, the band reflected on remaining authentic despite success, encouraging aspiring musicians by insisting that anyone can do this for the right reasons. They also admitted that, despite years of touring and well-earned acclaim, vocalist Andrew Fisher still gets nervous performing, even in front of friends. It was an unexpectedly grounding reminder that even experienced musicians remain human.

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Looking back on the weekend, one thing became particularly noticeable: there were far more newcomers attending Outbreak this year. That’s undoubtedly a positive sign, demonstrating just how much the festival continues to grow. However, I’d encourage anyone discovering hardcore through Outbreak to support local shows too. Festivals are often the gateway into the genre, but grassroots venues are where the scene truly lives and breathes.

With that also comes a responsibility. Hardcore audiences look after one another, whether it’s being aware of your surroundings in the pit, helping someone who has fallen over, or respecting others, particularly amid the discussions this year surrounding crowd surfing and women’s experiences at shows, we all play a role in ensuring everyone can enjoy themselves safely.

Equally, conversations surrounding politics within hardcore continue to divide opinion, yet it feels impossible to separate the two. Hardcore has always reflected society, challenged authority, and provided a voice for those with something important to say. Whether audiences agree with every message is ultimately beside the point; the two go hand in hand. All of it comes down to the message or stories that bands want to tell through their music. 

Overall, Outbreak’s 15th anniversary delivered another hugely successful weekend of discovering new artists, celebrating established favourites, and experiencing the remarkable sense of belonging that defines hardcore. Across every stage, there was grit, passion, vulnerability, and chaos, but above all, there was community. Watching thousands of people release emotion through moshing, singing, and simply existing together remains one of the most therapeutic experiences live music can offer.

Whether you were buying merch, discovering your next favourite band, or throwing yourself into the pit with complete strangers, it all became part of the beautifully chaotic experience that makes Outbreak unlike any other festival. Same time next year?

Words by Zena Morris

Photos by Liam Maxwell, Nat Wood and Anna Swiechowska