The Maccabees Lead Star-Studded Line-Up For Brighton’s On The Beach 2026

Brighton’s seafront series On The Beach has unveiled the full line-up for its Saturday 25th July 2026 edition, with The Maccabees set to headline a standout day celebrating the breadth of UK indie.

The Maccabees @ All Points East 2025

The Maccabees @ All Points East 2025 (Ethan Jones)

Joining them on the bill are Editors, Miles Kane, Anna Calvi, Ash, Badly Drawn Boy and rising Brighton favourites Lime Garden—bringing together a cross-generational snapshot of British guitar music.

For The Maccabees, the headline slot marks a significant full-circle moment. Having spent formative years building their early following in Brighton, their return to top the bill on the city’s iconic beachfront stage follows a widely celebrated comeback run in 2025, including major festival appearances. The band have promised a special show to mark the occasion, leaning into both nostalgia and their enduring connection with the city.

Among the standout names on the line-up, Editors arrive as one of the most consistently evolving bands of their generation. Since breaking through in the mid-2000s, the Tom Smith-led five-piece have continually reshaped their sound—from the brooding post-punk urgency of their early records to the darker, synth-driven textures of more recent releases. Known for their commanding live presence and anthemic catalogue, their set is expected to deliver both emotional weight and widescreen intensity.

Editors @ Brixton Academy

Tom Smith of Editors @ Brixton Academy (Kalpesh Patel)

Also bringing serious pedigree to the bill are Ash, whose legacy as one of the UK and Ireland’s most enduring guitar bands spans more than three decades. Rising to prominence with their era-defining debut 1977, the trio have built a reputation on high-energy hooks, melodic immediacy and explosive live shows. Their continued presence on major stages is a testament to a catalogue that still resonates powerfully with audiences today.

Ash @ Scala

Ash @ Scala (Kalpesh Patel)

Elsewhere, Miles Kane continues his ever-evolving solo journey, blending glam rock flair with psych-tinged swagger, while Anna Calvi’s performances remain some of the most visceral and theatrical in modern British music. Badly Drawn Boy adds a rare festival appearance to the day, offering a more introspective counterpoint with his deeply personal songwriting, while Lime Garden represent the new wave—bringing Brighton’s thriving grassroots scene to the forefront with their sharp, genre-blurring indie sound.

Anna Calvi @ Troxy

Anna Calvi @ Troxy (Kalpesh Patel)

With more than 70% of tickets already sold, demand for the event is high, with a final ticket release set to be made available via pre-sale. The 25th July show joins a packed On The Beach programme, with other dates across the series—featuring acts including Fatboy Slim, Madness and Moby—already sold out.

Now in its sixth year, On The Beach has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of Brighton’s summer calendar, consistently delivering major live moments against the backdrop of the coastline. With this latest announcement, 2026 looks set to continue that tradition in emphatic style.

The Maccabees Experience Something Like Happiness At All Points East 2025

Twenty Flight Rockers @ 100 Club (Adrian Hextall)

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RAYE @ All Points East 2023 (Dnieper Cruz)

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Arabella Lucia @ B.R.A.T. Denmark Street (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

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Desperate Measures @ Hope and Anchor (Louise Phillips)

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