Therapy? Announced As New Friday Headliners For Takedown Festival 2026
Takedown Festival has confirmed that Northern Irish alt-metal icons Therapy? will headline the Friday night of its 2026 edition, stepping in after Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons were forced to withdraw due to an ongoing medical condition.
Festival organiser Kai Harris addressed the change in a statement, emphasising that Campbell’s health and family take priority and wishing him a swift recovery. At the same time, Harris expressed genuine excitement about the replacement.
Therapy? hold a special place in the event’s history for the organiser himself.
“They were the very first band I saw at a big venue 34 years ago,” Harris explained. “Purveyors of the finest bouncy riffage and hooks to die for — the mighty Therapy?”
A Packed Weekend Returns To Portsmouth
Takedown Festival returns to Portsmouth Guildhall on 3–4 April 2026, continuing its resurgence as one of the UK’s most vital rock and alternative gatherings.
Alongside Therapy?, the festival has also added Grumble Bee, the alternative rock project of multi-instrumentalist Jack Bennett. Known for mixing emo-tinged melodies with gritty alt-rock textures and introspective lyricism, Bennett’s project adds another dynamic flavour to the bill.
The festival has also revealed the latest successful applicants from the Amplead: Apply To Play scheme — Blacklight Vice, Monochrome, and Stone Soup — giving emerging artists a shot on the same stages as established names.
PRESIDENT Set For Landmark Headline Slot
Saturday night will be headlined by the enigmatic masked collective PRESIDENT, marking the group’s first-ever festival headline performance.
Since emerging onto the heavy music scene, the band has rapidly built a reputation for unpredictable and cinematic live shows. Their appearance at Takedown is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about moments of the weekend.
They lead a formidable lineup that already includes WARGASM, As It Is, Graphic Nature, Mouth Culture, Vower, Zetra, Artio, Saint Agnes, The Hara, Bex, Profiler, Tropic Gold, The Wildhearts, InMe, and Mould, with further announcements still expected.
Watch Therapy? Perform ‘Screamager’
Takedown Festival 2026 Lineup
Friday – 3 April 2026
Kerrang! Stage
- Therapy?
- The Wildhearts
- South of Salem
- Asomvel
- Kill The Lights
Total Rock Stage
- Gnôme
- Wall
- Gurt
- King Kraken
- Stone Soup
Metal For Good Stage
- InMe
- Grumble Bee
- Devere
- The Fear
- Blacklight Vice
Saturday – 4 April 2026
Kerrang! Stage
- President
- Wargasm
- As It Is
- Mouth Culture
- Vower
- Lastelle
- Zetra
- Artio
Total Rock Stage
- The Hara
- Bex
- Bottom Line
- Mould
- Carsick
- Pavé
- Slacker
- Overgrown
Metal For Good Stage
- Graphic Nature
- Mason Hill
- Saint Agnes
- Tropic Gold
- Profiler
- Vexed
- Waterlines
- Monochrome
The Festival’s Comeback Story
After an eight-year hiatus, Takedown Festival made a triumphant return in 2023 with headline performances from Sleep Token and Skindred. The event also moved from its long-time home at Southampton University to the larger Portsmouth Guildhall, helping usher in a new era for the festival.
The comeback didn’t go unnoticed. That same year, Takedown received nominations for Best Small Festival, Best Metropolitan Festival, and the Grassroots Festival Award at the UK Festival Awards.
Tickets for Takedown Festival 2026 are on sale now via takedownfestival.com
