Over a blisteringly hot late-May Bank Holiday weekend, Dot to Dot Festival made its triumphant return to Bristol and Nottingham. Known for being a festival like no other, an incubator where rising local talent meets heavyweight headliners and the artists destined to be the ‘next big thing,’ the 2026 edition absolutely delivered on its reputation.
The day begins with Glasgow favourites Lucia & The Best Boys, who delivered a sweeping set blending beloved back-catalogue tracks with a haunting, ethereal cover of The Blue Nile’s “The Downtown Lights.” Mid-set, the atmosphere shifted to something more sombre as the band shared their disappointment at having to skip Nottingham on their upcoming headline run. They candidly noted that skyrocketing touring costs have made comprehensive nationwide tours increasingly unsustainable.
Meanwhile, the Black Cherry Lounge was bursting at the seams for Isle of Wight indie outfits Ugly Ozo. Treating the packed room to material across their first two EPs, the band captivated the audience with their unfiltered storytelling, weaving together diaristic tracks about love, complex female friendships, and the chaotic twenties experience.
NewDad transformed Rock City’s main stage into a wall of shoegaze bliss, captivating the packed room with an immaculate run through their album cuts. The soaring “Angel” stood out as a collective peak for the crowd, but the band’s hypnotic pull started long before that; vocalist Julie Dawson utterly spellbound the audience from her very first note. It was an undeniable highlight of Dot to Dot 2026, capturing the exact kind of magic that defines an “I was there” festival memory.
Next up were co-headliners Lambrini Girls, who delivered a scorching set that sent shockwaves through the crowd. Mosh pits opened instantly, though the chaos remained community-minded, guided by the band’s strict command to look out for one another and pick up anyone who fell. The band is at the peak of their powers. Against the backdrop of an uncertain political climate, their message stands tall above it all—a rallying cry that suggests hope isn’t entirely lost.
The true magic of Dot to Dot lies in its sonic variety, squeezing a massive spectrum of genres into one action-packed day. This year’s instalment boasted over 150 artists encompassing everything from folk to punk, which brought us squarely to the doorstep of New York’s premier dance-sleaze duo, FCUKERS. They are a force like no other. Across a relentless 60-minute set featuring tracks from their debut album O and their EP, they solidified their status as the band of the hour. Shanny Wise and Jackson Walker Lewis exuded an infectious energy that completely conquered the room, leaving the crowd thrashing and dancing together in spite of the stifling 30-degree weather.
Bleech 9:3 proved exactly why they are generating so much noise right now. Closing out a massive seventy-night marathon across the UK and Europe, their tireless work ethic deserves serious applause. But the real magic lies in their fan loyalty: with a mere five tracks available on streaming, the atmosphere inside Rescue Rooms was electric as a packed crowd sang along word-for-word to completely unreleased material.
When the sweat finally settled, and the music stopped, one thing was abundantly clear: Dot to Dot’s greatness lies in its refusal to compromise. For an incredibly low ticket price, the festival delivers unparalleled scale and diversity, cramming months’ worth of sonic discovery into one unforgettable weekend. Whether you came for the atmospheric shoegaze, the intimate indie diaries, or unreleased tracks from a band on the brink of making the big time, Dot to Dot 2026 offered a seat at the table for everyone. It remains the ultimate bargain for music lovers; a sprawling, multi-venue celebration that leaves you exhausted, inspired, and already counting down to next year.
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