Global superstar Harry Styles has been announced as the curator for the 2026 Meltdown Festival, one of the U.K.'s most historic live music events. Slated for June 11-21, the 11-day festival will see Styles craft an eclectic bill of music, art, and workshops at London’s Southbank Centre. This upcoming edition marks the 31st iteration of Meltdown Festival, which is proudly billed as “the world’s longest-running artist-curated music festival” and spans the entirety of the venue’s site, encompassing multiple performance spaces and galleries.

Styles joins a prestigious lineage of previous curators who have helmed the event, including luminaries such as David Bowie, Yoko Ono, Patti Smith, Robert Smith of The Cure, David Byrne, Grace Jones, Nick Cave, Jarvis Cocker, and, most recently, Little Simz. His curatorial role entails designing a diverse program that will draw from a broad spectrum of influences, from pop, soul, electronic, and rock acts to showcasing emerging young British talent. The full line-up of performers and activations is expected to be unveiled in the spring of 2026.

In addition to his curatorial duties, Harry Styles is set to headline a marquee performance at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, with further details regarding this special gig to be announced. Expressing his sentiments in a statement, Styles conveyed his deep honor in curating the festival, especially as it coincides with the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary year. He articulated his objective as curator: to share the music and art he cherishes and to celebrate the venue’s rich history, emphasizing a shared belief that music is a vital, unifying part of life, a principle the Southbank Centre has upheld by providing easy access to great music for the past 75 years.

Jane Beese, head of contemporary music at the Southbank Centre, also welcomed Styles' appointment, highlighting his significant cultural impact and presence. She noted that his characteristic openness, warmth, and instinct for collaboration are perfectly aligned with the core spirit of the festival. Beese shared the institution's excitement to witness Styles’ vision materialize across the entire site, anticipating an event that will foster connection, discovery, and joy, reflecting the expansive, playful, and generous nature of his artistic world. Furthermore, the 2026 festival is planned to include free public events specifically tailored to engage younger audiences, echoing the community-focused initiatives seen in prior editions, such as last year’s diverse program under Little Simz, which featured a wide mix of established and emerging artists like The Streets, Jon Batiste, Mahalia, and Lola Young.