All Points East 2026: Tyler, The Creator

When you think of the most influential rappers of the 2010s and 2020s, few names stick out as much as Tyler, The Creator. A jack of all trades, whether it be singing, acting or even fashion design, he is supremely respected by collaborators and peers alike, and has built up a reputation for being one of the freshest voices in the genre. That versatility extends beyond his music: he has hosted the Camp Flog Gnaw festival in Los Angeles every year since 2012 (bar those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic). It’s a  festival with just about every genre imaginable while still centring itself heavily on rap and R&B, and fans on the other side of the pond have long yearned for something remotely similar outside of the US. Enter All Points East, who, in a year with no Glastonbury or Wireless, have taken the responsibility to fill the gap. While it isn’t billed as Camp Flog Gnaw, Tyler’s two-day headline takeover at All Points East is as close as you’re going to get, and is a fresh addition to the ever-changing landscape of festivals in both the UK and Europe.

Starting his career playing FIFA Ultimate Team on YouTube, Quadeca (whose real name is Benjamin Lasky) has always had a passion for music. However, it’s safe to say the progression from his diss tracks against fellow YouTuber KSI to the quality of his output now is remarkable to say the very least. His record from last year, Vanisher, Horizon Scraper was universally praised, and the ornate instrumentation that the record is so celebrated for was thoroughly present in Quadeca’s set. Backed by a flautist and a hugely talented keyboard player, Lasky’s fusion of folktronica with hip-hop is a fresh take on the genre and allows him to stand out. 

You wouldn’t think Danny Brown was already 45 years old, not only due to his topless appearance showing off his impressive upper-body physique, but also due to his unbridled onstage energy. A visibly animated Brown made it his mission to move through as much of his discography as he could in a 30-minute set, with each song performed as if you were listening to the studio version. His experimental hip-hop has continued to push the boundaries of what is possible in the genre, and his presence on today’s lineup is reflective of Tyler’s own aim to continue to break the conventions of what is expected from him. 

Stepping in at the last second to replace Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, esteemed Floridian Denzel Curry, alongside his longtime collaborator Kenny Beats, delivered a set that more than made up for the absence. Celebrating the release of their collaborative album ‘II’ the week before, they both showcased how fantastic the new record is, while also acknowledging Curry’s consistency across the last decade of his career. While I initially felt this may have been a set solely focused on the duo’s collaboration projects, Curry understood the crowd perfectly and balanced his new music with his hits. Tracks such as ‘Walkin’ and ‘Ultimate’ garnered some of the best crowd action of the day, and reminded us all what he is capable of.

Over on the North Stage, a moment that will be looked back on for many years to come took place, as Jim Legxacy made his UK festival debut. Following the success of his album last year black british music (2025), as well as collaborations with rappers such as Dave, he has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in the country. The booking of Legxacy proved to be a masterstroke by the All Points East team, as he delivered one of the sets of the day to a packed crowd that sang every word back to him. Considering he’s been performing live for barely a year, his performance chops are very impressive, as is his live band backing him to give his music that extra boost. The only lowlight of the set was the lack of appearance from his dog, Bingo, which Legxacy attributed to the festival’s “no dog policy”. The dachshund’s appearance as part of the on-screen visuals during ‘idk idk’ more than made up for it, however.

When you happen to be Kendrick Lamar’s cousin, there’s always going to be a lot of hype and expectation around you. This is certainly the case for Baby Keem (real name Hykeem Jamaal Carter Jr.), who had all eyes on him at the beginning of the 2020s thanks to a Grammy win and his breakthrough debut album the melodic blue. Unfortunately, Keem’s set left a little to be desired, whether it was down to the set being plagued by audio issues or Keem being drowned in theatrical smoke making him impossible to see. As opposed to many of the other performers today, his live cadence was certainly lacking, often performing over a backing track and only adding in a few words here and there. However, what Keem lacked in performance, he certainly made up for in crowd connection and energy. The reception to hits such as ‘family ties’ and ‘ORANGE SODA’ produced some of the day’s most memorable moments, and emphasised the quality of a good UK crowd.

Stepping on stage for the second time in 24 hours, Tyler, The Creator immediately began his set by bemoaning the crowd from the day before for being “dead” and thanking today’s audience for matching his energy. Having done both nights, this was definitely not just a statement made to garner attention from the crowd and get their support, but through Tyler’s improved performance today, it was clear that there was something in the air tonight that made him give 110%. Compared to the Friday, there was a pleasant switch-up in the setlist, particularly in what he dubbed his “throwback section”. Songs such as ‘Tamale’ and ‘I THINK’ were played for the first time during Tyler’s two-night run, while he also provided two moments that will go down long in All Points East history.

Despite publicly commenting on an Instagram post earlier in the week that there would be no special guests for his All Points East headline sets, Rex Orange County (who was part of the lineup for Tyler’s headline show the day before) came out for his verse on their hit ‘Boredom’, setting a precedent for the moment that was about to come. Then arrived one of the biggest names in rap, A$AP Rocky, who was due to play a headline show of his own in the capital the following night. His special guest appearance for his collaboration with Tyler, ‘Who Dat Boy’, sent shockwaves across the festival site, and for the first 30 seconds of the performance, you couldn’t hear a word being rapped on stage due to the crowd’s sheer pandemonium seeing the two on stage together. The dynamic between the two during the track was infectious, and these two guest appearances were a real statement of how respected Tyler is in the industry to be able to get these names on stage with him.

While it was realistically going to be impossible to top a moment that was anywhere near as significant, Tyler’s back catalogue of hits fully resonated with the crowd. All the way from the front in the mosh pits to the back where dozens of fans had heaps of space to jump around, songs like ‘NEW MAGIC WAND’ and ‘EARFQUAKE’ captivated the audience. The impressive on-stage production, complete with a subway carriage mimicking the London Underground, as well as a plethora of pyrotechnics, further added to the spectacle that was worthy of any headline slot. Closing the show out with ‘See You Again’, Tyler gave a shoutout to the several musical talents that the UK has to offer, while recognising the impact the country has had on his career (in both good and bad ways). The only thing we have to hope now is that this wasn’t just a one-off; rap and hip-hop festivals are such a necessity to the UK festival calendar, and the severe lack of them only makes festivals like All Points East stand out more. As for Tyler, taking his talents in both live performance as well as lineup curating across the world could help bring some of his magic to corners of the globe that haven’t had that love before. For now, as we approach the end of festival season, it’s a time to start looking and hoping that this wasn’t the last time we had a Tyler-centric festival in the UK.