The Great Escape announces its FIRST FIFTY show line-up

FIRST FIFTY, the live launch of The Great Escape 2026, returns to venues acrosss East London on 13 November 2025

The Great Escape has lifted the lid on this year’s FIRST FIFTY, the annual live showcase that sets the stage for next May’s Brighton new music showcase. Taking place on Thursday 13 November across eight venues, the launch night gives a first taste of the artists set to feature in 2026. Two new spots join the fray this year – The George Tavern and The Jago – alongside TGE staples, promising another first-look glimpse at all tomorrow’s playlists.

Tickets start at £8, with an early 48-hour presale now live for those on The Great Escape mailing list, ahead of a general release at 10am on Friday 19 September.

As ever, the event arrives in cahoots with tastemakers BBC Introducing, Clash, DIY, Dork, Notion, The Independent and, of course, Ticketmaster New Music. Each will helm their own showcases, pulling together some of the best emerging acts from around the world.

Ticketmaster New Music sets up camp at Oslo with SISTRA, Ava Joe and Adelaide’s Teenage Joans while The Independent hosts Folklore with Scottish soul searcher James Emmanuel, Dublin six-piece Madra Salach and neo-soul singer Ashaine White. DIY takes the reins at MOTH Club, lining up Liverpool’s Girl Group, art-pop firebrand Max Baby and dream pop soloist Annie-Dog and BBC Introducing showcases Persia Holder, Elsa and Senegalese collective Tukki at Paper Dress Vintage.

Dork’s night at Sebright Arms is shaping up rowdy with Belfast grunge merchants The Itch, Dublin’s chaos-inducing Really Good Time and queer punk agitators SLAG. Over at The Victoria, Notion puts forward Girl Tones, Saint Clair and art-punk duo Ain’t. Newcomer media partner Ones to Watch makes its debut at The George Tavern with Sean Trelford, Clothesline from Hell and R&B upstart Tanzana. And Clash keeps it international at The Jago with Tommy WÁ, Isak Benjamin and Irish troubadour Dermot Henry.

Beyond the music, the festival has suicide prevention charity CALM as its lead charity partner for 2026. CEO Simon Gunning says the partnership is about using music’s reach to “make some noise about suicide and help save lives”, with plans for visibility across venues, panels and campaigns during the festival itself – which coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week.

The Great Escape will run 13–16 May 2026 in Brighton, taking over more than 35 venues and packing in upwards of 450 artists, with tickets available now here.