Roskilde Festival 2026: Countdown!
Summer means festivals. Around the world - and especially in Denmark. Now the countdown has truly begun.
Next week, Copenhell kicks off with a rock-solid and heavy line-up: Iron Maiden, Nine Inch Nails, Suicidal Tendencies, Alice Cooper, Sepultura and Anthrax are among the featured names. As always, it is also worth paying attention to the intriguing dark forest of smaller acts, many of which have plenty to offer in their own right.
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Roskilde’s greatest strength has always been its ability to stay ahead of the curve, nurturing and discovering new artists across a vast palisade of genres
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The week after Copenhell, Roskilde Festival 2026 launches itself from the Danish soil, bringing with it a very special mythology and history. Because Roskilde Festival truly is something unique. Among the official headliners are The Cure, Gorillaz, David Byrne, Lily Allen and Little Simz.
But Roskilde’s greatest strength has always been its ability to stay ahead of the curve, nurturing and discovering new artists across a vast palisade of genres. In recent years, some festivalgoers have criticised the festival for its perceived lack of rock and metal acts.
That criticism only tells part of the story, as both rock and metal are still represented. However, since the turn of the millennium, the festival has gradually shifted towards more pop, R&B, hip-hop, rap and urban music.
That approach apparently suits an audience with an average age of 24 just fine, meaning that the old veterans – both on stage and in the crowd – may have to make a little room and get up to speed with the music of younger generations.
Smukfest – The Little Brother with Muscle
In August, attention turns to Smukfest in Skanderborg. As always, it lives up to its name, as it is genuinely both an idyllic and charming festival. Its music programme has only grown stronger over the years and, measured by the number of major names on the bill, it comes surprisingly close to matching its big brother, Roskilde. Almost, at least.
The festival continues to maintain a strong Danish line-up, featuring artists such as Bæst, Blæst, Lukas Graham (who is, after all, a Danish global star), D-A-D and Katinka.
At the same time, international names such as Drew Sycamore, rising country star Julia Cole and the talented young Amsterdam-based DJ Olive Angus add further depth to the programme.
It will also be exciting to welcome the Danish band Ulige Numre, who have reunited after a nine-year hiatus and are now returning to the stage.
Here at WLC Magazine, we will be covering both #RF26 and #Smukfest26 with fresh reviews every day throughout the festivals.
Before then, however, we will make a stop in Sweden to visit the small festival Torsjö Live in Skåne. Reviews from that event will also be available soon.
