ArcTanGent 2026 Levels Up: Arcane Roots Return as ATG Unleashes Its Boldest Line-Up Yet
ArcTanGent Festival 2026 continues to flex its reputation as the UK’s most forward-thinking heavy music gathering, unveiling a huge new wave of artists for its return to Fernhill Farm near Bristol from 19–22 August. Already tracking as the festival’s fastest-selling edition ever, the latest announcement cements ATG’s status as a pilgrimage point for fans of boundary-pushing rock, metal and experimental music.
Leading today’s additions are the long-awaited return of Arcane Roots, freshly reformed and releasing new music for the first time in over seven years. Their ArcTanGent main stage appearance – one of only two UK festival dates – is set to be one of the most emotional and significant moments of the weekend, especially for a fanbase that has consistently ranked them among ATG’s most requested acts. Also rejoining the festival are Manchester breakout experimentalists Maruja, returning just two years after playing ATG as a brand-new band. Their rapid ascent has been impossible to ignore, and their upgraded slot reflects a festival that prides itself on growing artists alongside its audience.
The newly announced names stretch across ArcTanGent’s famously broad sonic spectrum. Cinematic post-rock collective Nordic Giants promise their signature fusion of thunderous sound and immersive visuals, while US shoegaze favourites Nothing finally make their ATG debut. Faroese singer-songwriter Eivør joins the bill as a UK-exclusive for 2026, adding a striking folk-leaning counterpoint to the festival’s heavier edges. Elsewhere, expect typically eclectic turns from Jamie Lenman, Italian avant-jazz noise outfit Zu, cult electronic metal project Master Boot Record, London math-core force Pupil Slicer and Brazilian avant-metal provocateurs Papanugu. It’s a line-up that feels less like a genre list and more like a manifesto.
Festival organiser James Scarlett summed up the moment: with ArcTanGent 2026 already breaking sales records, this announcement represents both first-time appearances and the return of artists who’ve outgrown their previous slots. From Maruja’s meteoric rise to the long-awaited comeback of Arcane Roots, the sense is of a festival fully confident in its identity – and unafraid to take risks. These new names join a previously announced bill that already reads like a greatest-hits list for adventurous heavy music. Headliners Primus, Chelsea Wolfe, and Cult of Luna (performing Mariner alongside Julie Christmas) sit alongside boundary-breakers including Napalm Death, Igorrr, High on Fire, Chat Pile, Alcest and many more.
Celebrating over a decade as a fully independent, award-winning festival, ArcTanGent continues to offer something increasingly rare on the UK circuit: a carefully curated line-up you genuinely won’t see anywhere else. With UK exclusives, reunion shows and final ever performances promised across the weekend, ATG 2026 is shaping up to be another essential chapter in the festival’s singular story.
Tickets for ArcTanGent Festival 2026 are on sale now here.
