FESTIVAL REVIEW: RADAR Festival 2026

Following a morning of sunshine, showers, and ominous grey clouds, and a short journey on the tram replacement bus, the familiar sight of the O2 Victoria Warehouse looms overhead. Now in its sixth year, with this being the third edition of the festival in its current Mancunian home, RADAR Festival feels firmly established within the distinctive industrial red brick walls. 

Merseyside’s Rozemary kick off the first day on the Shure stage and garner a packed crowd for their 1pm slot. Following the recent release their new EP, it’s harder now to breathe, the band fill the stage with infectious energy and plenty of discordant, thunderingly heavy moments. Denmark’s Ghost Iris shatter the Obscure Clothing stage. With a setlist including the new single, One-Way Wasteland, the circle pit is soon in full swing. The band are clearly having fun, especially vocalist Jesper Gün who can be seen running through the audience and ‘hiding’ behind the stage curtain.

Returning to the Shure stage, Scottish djent-pop act Sixth Wonder’s performance is immersive. The setlist, including the likes of tracks such as Death Departed and Missile, sees the outfit unleash melodic moments, catchy hooks and heavy rhythms. Next, Bound In Fear fill the mainstage with an abrasive, unforgiving display of extreme metal. The band released the new full length A Mind Too Sick To Heel earlier this year and evoke its brutality. It might only be the early afternoon, yet it suddenly feels a little darker in here.

Brighton’s CLT DRP shower the Shure stage in their punk-fuelled electronic heavy sound. Energised with the band’s uncompromising style, the room is clearly invigorated with the trio’s high-powered performance. Graphic Nature grace the Obscure Clothing stage with a ferocious, raw and honest offering. Vocalist Harvey Freeman is clearly passionate about challenging the stigma around mental illness and neurodivergence and spends a moment sharing this with the audience. Amidst the chaos of the circle pit (featuring Sid the Cookie Monster inside it), the impact of Graphic Nature’s monstrous sound is immense.

With Hacktivist you’re always in for a good time. Over on the Shure stage, it has the feel of a headline show with the band’s energetic display emulated around the room. The audience is packed out, and crowd surfers are diving over the barrier in a near-constant stream. Volumes return to RADAR following their appearance in 2023. With a career spanning 17 years, there’s no sign of the quartet slowing down any time soon. Metallic tinged punching rhythms and technical leads manifest across the setlist, for example 91367, and resonate over the stage in a ferocious onslaught.

Having adorned appropriate safety gear, Pintglass proceed to deliver their rather iconic full-on set that combines the brutal and the humorous. Pintglass are no strangers to RADAR having worked their way up the festival line-up to headline the Shure stage, and chants of ‘geeza’ are soon rippling across the crowd. Thy Art Is Murder are first to headline the Obscure Clothing stage for 2026. The Australian extreme metallers, now fronted by Jerry Chard, descend into the very depths of the abyss transforming the main stage into a heavy dystopian realm. The act’s obliterating sonic attack refuses to yield cloaking the O2 in a darkening shroud.

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Kicking off day two, Dacara’s pop-infused metal and cyberpunk image are found on the Shure stage. Under the glow of the lime-green lights, melodic cleans and powerful screams from vocalist Emma Shippen accompany the band’s high energy levels and dynamic music. Switching gear somewhat on the main stage, clad in animal print shorts and Adidas, Seething Akira bring an untameable party atmosphere and it’s still early in the afternoon. Alongside their own energised original tracks, the band launch into an unexpected, and unforgettable, djent-up version of Faithless’s Insomnia.

Brighton’s self-proclaimed ‘brat-metal’ act Eville specialise in hard-hitting metal with a ‘bratty’ edge. Electronics create intensity and an EDM feel to a setlist that commands movement from the crowd. Next to take to the Obscure Clothing stage are Mancunian trio The Hara. In the wake of their new album The Fallout and latest single I Love You, the tri-part act has an authenticity to their performance revealed through Josh Taylor’s emotive vocals, heavy rhythms and driving percussion.

Helsinki’s Royal Sorrow bathe the Shure stage in enthralling melodies. Dreamy moments are met with crushing riffs across the setlist comprised with tracks from their 2025 album, Innerdeeps. Emotive and intricate, the atmosphere in the audience is mesmerising.

Masked quintet BLACKGOLD bring hip-hop fuelled nu-metal to the Shure stage. The band’s embellished black and gold masks gleam under the stage lights as they climb (in some cases literally) all over the stage. Some strong Limp Bizkit influences emerge from the high charged, heavy sound. Northlane return to RADAR this year as a highly requested act. The Australian metalcore quartet electrify with fan favourites notably Clockwork and Bloodline, along with their latest single release Evian. The staging, lighting and band’s impressive technical execution makes for a highlight of the weekend.

Fast rising quartet unpeople headline the Shure stage. Gearing up to unveil their debut in October, the band unveil their own distinctive brand of highly rhythmic contrasting riffs, vocal harmonies and surreal imagery. The memorable hooks of new singles clouds and the garden are heard echoing among the crowd even after their performance ends “da da da da da da…”. Known for their live show experiences, Skindred do not disappoint, delivering groove, catchy motifs, pop culture references and plenty of humour. Benji’s charismatic persona and audience teasing keeps the crowd hooked and includes, of course, the Newport helicopter.

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Maebe begin Sunday’s instalment of heavy progressive music on the Shure stage. The instrumental ensemble from Bristol released their latest album Brain Paint earlier this year. Ambient and captivating, Maebe launch the festival’s most prog-filled day. UK-based Ihlo open the Obscure Clothing stage for the final time this year drawing a large crowd despite the early time slot. The sound ebbs and flows dynamically between technical prog moments and heavier displays. Emotive with textural arrangements, Ihlo establish the tone for the day.

Hailing from Milan, Italy, Benthos create chaos across the Shure stage. Progressive elements and mathcore collide into a thrilling and untameable wall of sound. With high technical prowess, the band evoke a shadowy dream-like state. Germany’s Elwood Stray announce their arrival with monumental sub-bass that reverberates around the entire warehouse. If anyone wasn’t awake before, they certainly are now. The band provide a high-energy display from the off. Vicious screams and pummelling breakdowns see their setlist including the likes of Genesis taken from their new album Descending.

Bathed in pink and purple hues, Finland’s Luna Kills take to the Shure stage for their first live appearance in Manchester. Lotta’s soaring cleans and fierce fry screams make for a powerful performance against a modern metal backdrop. Then comes Einar Solberg, perhaps best known as vocalist for Norwegian progressive metallers Leprous. In his solo work, Solberg presents even greater displays of emotion. From the staging to the sound, there is a grandeur found on the main stage. One of the most poignant moments is A Beautiful Life.

Australia’s Voyager bring a special performance to Manchester. With band members adorned in matching red sparkles, and frontman Danny Estrin sporting his extensive jacket collection, the progressive quintet perform fan favourites Prince Of Fire, Dreamer and, of course, Promise. It’s an emotional show as the band share the highlights of their Eurovision experience in 2023 and share the difficulties of Danny’s cancer journey. Exploring both light and shade, it’s clear they’re determined to celebrate every moment.

In the midst of their summer tour, Employed To Serve strike with a barrage of riffs, screams and unceasing rhythms. The circle pit is soon spinning at full pelt, while the monstrous vocals of Justine Jones and Sammy Urwin flood the Shure stage. British progressive rock collective The Pineapple Thief envelope the Obscure Clothing stage with dreamy soundscapes, compelling melodies and intricate arrangements. The band provide moments of serenity and introspection.

Arriving on stage to A-ha’s Take On Me, French deathcore act ten56. kick off with an explosive descent into discordant realms. Previous festival-goers may remember ten56. from RADAR’s line-up two years ago, and their misfortune of two broken-down vans on route causing them to arrive at the venue only 17 minutes before their set time. This Sunday, headlining on the Shure stage more than makes up for their last experience, as onslaught after onslaught of rhythms and gutturals ripple through the crowd. US progressive heavyweights Animals As Leaders draw RADAR 2026 to a close with an immersive sound and impressive light show. The band first appeared at RADAR in 2019 at the festival’s original home in Guildford. Now on the Obscure Clothing stage, Animals As Leaders unveil ambient passages and dramatic breakdowns. Notable moments in the setlist include Ectogenesis and Infinite Regression that hasn’t been performed live for 10 years.

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Words by Holly Royle

Photos by Oli Duncanson, Claire Alaxandra Powell, Loz Robey, Charlie Bluck and Naomi Paulmin