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Richard Ashcroft and Blossoms to headline Neighbourhood Weekender 2026
The Warrington festival announces a stellar line-up for next summer's May Bank Holiday weekend
Neighbourhood Weekender will return to Warrington’s Victoria Park in 2026 with Richard Ashcroft and Blossoms confirmed as headliners for what promises to be one of the north-west’s biggest musical weekends. The festival – following its triumphant comeback in 2025 – will once again take over the park across the May Bank Holiday, bringing together some of Britain’s most loved acts alongside fresh new talent.
Ashcroft’s appearance marks his second time headlining the main stage in Warrington. The two-time Ivor Novello Award winner is enjoying a remarkable resurgence following a landmark year that saw him join Oasis on their record-breaking stadium tour before selling out Manchester’s Co-op Live. He has since announced a run of seven UK arena dates for 2026 and released his seventh solo album Lovin’ You earlier this month. The record’s lead single Lover has enjoyed extensive national airplay, signalling a creative high point for the Wigan-born frontman.
Ashcroft’s storied career began with The Verve, whose 1997 album Urban Hymns became one of the UK’s best-selling records of all time with 11× platinum certification. After three BRIT Awards and a string of chart-topping releases, his solo work continued to dominate the UK charts, beginning with 2000’s Alone With Everybody, which debuted at No.1. All five of his subsequent albums have reached the top five.
Sharing headlining duties are Blossoms, who will top the bill on the Sunday. The Stockport band are riding high following their biggest-ever show – a sold-out 30,000-capacity homecoming at Manchester’s Wythenshawe Park – and a five-night residency in the city. Their fifth studio album Gary, released last year, became their fourth UK No.1. Blossoms’ chart success has been consistent since their 2016 debut, which included the breakthrough hit Charlemagne and earned BRIT and Mercury Prize nominations. Their follow-up albums Cool Like You, Foolish Loving Spaces and Ribbon Around The Bomb cemented their reputation as one of the country’s most reliable hitmakers, with six Top 5 albums to their name.
Joining the headliners are Kaiser Chiefs, DMA’s, Shed Seven, Cast and pop icon Sophie Ellis-Bextor – whose Murder on the Dancefloor remains a dancefloor staple more than two decades on. Fellow pop royalty Melanie C also joins the bill, bringing a catalogue of solo hits and over 3 million album sales. The weekend will also feature Example, Razorlight, The Fratellis, Jamie Webster, The K’s and a wealth of rising artists including The Guestlist, Nxdia, The Covasettes, Luvcat, Fletchr Fletchr and Fiona Lee.
Neighbourhood Weekender has become a defining fixture of the northern festival calendar – a raucous yet family-friendly celebration of British music that kicks off the summer season. With three stages and a line-up blending indie heritage and new energy, 2026 looks set to continue that legacy.
How to get tickets for Neighbourhood Weekender 2026
Tickets go on sale at 9.30am on Friday 7 November here. Warrington residents in postcodes WA1–WA5 will have access to a local presale from 9.30am on Wednesday 5 November.
