Y Not 2026

Coming back to Y Not every year is always something I really look forward to, they continue to put on a brilliant lineup of indie plus up and coming artists throughout the weekend. This year was no different with The Reytons, Two Door Cinema Club and The Streets headlining the festival with The Libertines as the headliner for those with Thursday entry.

Friday

No visit to Y Not is complete without going to see the Lancashire Hotpots. As the first act of the day, you wouldn’t expect a huge crowd, but the Hotpots had the field filling up from the very start. Their playful take on British culture, from ‘Chippy Tea’ to ‘Has The Bin Man Bin Mon’, immediately set the tone for the weekend: funny, energetic and unmistakably Northern. From there it was over to The Quarry to catch Taylor Liam Jackson. After making his Y Not debut on the Hog & Barrel stage last year, his promotion to one of the festival’s larger stages already felt well deserved. Within minutes he had the audience in the palm of his hand. New single ‘Home’ proved to be an early highlight, showing exactly why he’s quickly becoming one of the most promising up-and-coming artists around. 

Then, it was back over to the Main Stage for Reverend & The Makers. Their set brought together the different eras of the band’s career, with ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’ proving to be the standout moment as the song rang out across the field. I caught The Royston Club next. They’ve been a real favourite of mine for a while, and their latest album Songs For The Spine has only added to the anticipation around the band. Opening their set with ‘Shivers’, the lead track from the new album, they immediately grabbed the crowd’s attention before launching straight into ‘I’m A Liar’, which had the entire field jumping from the opening moments. The back-to-back start perfectly showed the band’s ability to combine huge choruses with an impressive live presence.

After catching The Royston Club, I headed back over to The Quarry for Florence Road. The Irish four-piece have been generating serious buzz over the last couple of years with their songs finding a huge audience online. It was great to see that translate into a brilliant live set, with closer ‘Break The Girl’ providing one of the biggest reactions of the afternoon coming during. It’s clear to see why the band has been gaining so much attention. There was plenty of walking between stages today as I worked my way through a packed Friday lineup - back over to the Main Stage for Dizzee Rascal. His high energy brought something completely different to the other acts that day: grime classics and festival favourites such as ‘Bassline Junkie’ and ‘Dance Wiv Me’ had the crowd bouncing.

Friday wrapped up with a memorable set from The Reytons. They transformed the Main Stage into a faithful recreation of their hometown Rotherham – a brilliant touch that reflected the connection between the band and their fans, many of whom have followed their journey from the very beginning. The set itself showcased everything that has made the band so popular, with well-known tracks including ‘On The Back Burner’, ‘Kids Off The Estate’ and ‘Low Life’ bringing the crowd together for a Friday night finale.

Saturday

I started my Saturday off with Mr Motivator, the legendary fitness instructor best known for his feel-good workouts on breakfast television in the 1990s. His infectious positivity had everyone stretching, dancing and laughing into the afternoon. I headed over to a new stage for 2026 next, The Pit, for The Slow Country. Having seen them play in a small pub in London a few months ago, I had them near the top of my list. The Pit immediately stood out from the festival’s outdoor stages. Its dark, enclosed layout and low ceiling gave it the feel of a packed grassroots music venue, creating an atmosphere that suited emerging bands perfectly. The seven-piece band blends folk-rock and alternative influences into a sound that feels completely their own. Their music felt like it was made for dancing, which is what many in the crowd did. The vocal harmonies, guitars and mandolins were heard beyond the stage, with many people crowding in during the first few songs. 

Away from the stages, Flamingo Jack’s hosted the annual fancy dress competition, bringing another burst of colour and creativity to the weekend. Across the site, festivalgoers embraced the theme with costumes ranging from The Flintstones and Freddie Mercury to Buzz Lightyear and Woody from Toy Story. It was a perfect example of the community spirit that runs through Y Not, where the experience is shaped just as much by the people attending as the artists on stage. 

The afternoon continued with a trip back to the Main Stage for Vanessa Carlton, an artist whose music has been part of the soundtrack to many people’s lives since the early 2000s. Whilst it was a shorter set, it was really enjoyable, with much of the performance showcasing the tracks from her latest album Veils. The set eventually arrived at the song everyone knew was coming, with ‘A Thousand Miles’ bringing the performance to a close. Hearing those instantly recognisable opening notes ring out across the Main Stage was a standout moment of the afternoon. Staying at the Main Stage, it was time for one of the most influential bands of the Madchester era, Happy Mondays. With Shaun Ryder leading the way and Bez bringing his unmistakable presence to the stage with his trademark maracas, they delivered a set that captured everything that made the band so unique. Their blend of indie rock, dance and funk influences still feels completely distinctive.

Saturday afternoon continued with The Vaccines on the Main Stage, with the summer sun finally bringing a proper festival atmosphere to the field. Their set pulled heavily from their debut album What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?, bringing the sharp guitars and fast-paced indie sound that remains central to the band’s live shows. Tracks like ‘Post Break-Up Sex’ and ‘If You Wanna’ still carried the same energy that made them stand out when they first appeared. Kaiser Chiefs then took over the Main Stage, delivering one of the busiest sets of the afternoon. Their hour-long performance moved effortlessly through the band’s biggest songs, with ‘Ruby’ and ‘Never Miss a Beat’ creating some of the loudest moments of the day. Around the field, fans were perched on shoulders, dancing with their hands in the air as clouds of dust rose from the ground. It was a reminder that, even two decades into their career, Kaiser Chiefs still know how to command a festival stage. 

Saturday’s headliners were Two Door Cinema Club, who brought their debut album Tourist History to the Main Stage, weaving tracks from the record throughout their set. Songs including ‘Undercover Martyn’, ‘What You Know’ and ‘Something Good Can Work’ showcased the band’s knack for huge melodies and instantly recognisable guitar hooks, with the tracks fitting perfectly into a festival headline slot. Alongside the Tourist History songs, the band pulled from across their catalogue to keep the momentum going, closing out Saturday with a set that felt built for a summer evening. 

Sunday

My Sunday started with The Lottery Winners, a band who I had been looking forward to all weekend. The four-piece have built a reputation for their honest songwriting and brilliant live shows. Tracks like ‘Burning House’, ‘Turn Around’ and ‘You Again’ showed the range of their set, balancing the more reflective moments with plenty of chances for the crowd to get involved.

A true master of festivals took to the Main Stage next. Sophie Ellis-Bextor is a certain hit with any crowd. She took to the stage to a sea of fans, wearing her signature sparkles and performing with outstanding vocals and a great band. Fans were gathered from the Ferris wheel to the barrier, and everyone was moving with the music. As she finished with ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’, the reaction around the Main Stage summed up the appeal of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s set. Friends turned to each other smiling, laughing and dancing as the song brought a joyful close to the performance. 

I went into Rizzle Kicks with almost no knowledge of the band, and they did not disappoint. Playing only a forty five-minute set, they packed every minute with amazing songs, and a great presence from every member on stage. The standout of the set was when a young man named Kian was spotted in the centre of the crowd doing a backflip, and was invited onto the stage to repeat the stunt. The duo made the most of their short set, mixing their biggest tracks with plenty of energy and personality. ‘Down With the Trumpets’ and ‘Follow Excitement’ were standout moments, showcasing why their songs have remained so familiar. The evening continued with Scissor Sisters bringing their unmistakable mix of disco, pop and flamboyant showmanship to the Main Stage. Opening with ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’’ and ‘Laura’, they immediately set the tone for a performance full of personality, with Jake Shears leading the band through a set packed with the songs that made them such a memorable part of 2000s pop culture. The set moved between their most recognisable material, with ‘Take Your Mama’ and ‘Filthy/Gorgeous’ showing the range of their flamboyant pop sound before The Streets took over for the final set of the night. 

Closing out the weekend were The Streets, with Mike Skinner and co. performing their landmark 2004 album A Grand Don’t Come For Free in full. The album tells the story of an ordinary man dealing with everyday struggles, from losing a large sum of money to the highs and lows of relationships, friendships and everything that comes with them. Bringing the record to the Main Stage gave the performance a semi-theatrical feel, with the story unfolding track by track as Skinner guided the audience through the ups and downs of the album. After the story reached its conclusion, the band returned with a selection of their biggest hits like ‘Turn The Page’, ‘Who’s Got The Bag’ before closing out the festival with ‘Take Me As I Am’. The ambitious show went down incredibly well and was a really special close to the festival.

Closing Thoughts

Y Not continues to get the balance right when it comes to its lineup. The festival has a knack for combining well-known names with emerging artists, creating a weekend where you can spend one moment watching a band you’ve loved for years and the next discovering your new favourite act. There were a few small areas that could be improved, with the expansion of Paradise Peaks this year highlighting the need for facilities to grow alongside increased capacity. While this didn’t impact my overall experience, it was clear from feedback across the weekend that this is something the festival should address as it continues to grow. Ultimately, the mix of discovery and community is what keeps people returning to Y Not year after year. 

Super early bird tickets for the 20th anniversary Y Not go on sale Friday 7th August