The Cure have confirmed yet another major festival date for 2026: they are set to headline the Isle of Wight Festival, adding a key UK date to their burgeoning European summer slate. The announcement marks their first confirmed U.K. festival appearance of the year.
Isle of Wight Festival 2026 is slated for June 18–21 at Seaclose Park in Newport. The Cure’s slot will close out the event, making it a marquee headliner position. In addition to The Cure, the festival has already revealed its co-headliners, Calvin Harris and Lewis Capaldi, establishing a diverse and multi-genre bill. They’ll be joined by punk icons the Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter, cult favorites like Wet Leg, The Last Dinner Party, and Shed Seven, as well as veteran acts including Suzanne Vega, Rick Astley, David Gray, and Feeder. The eclectic lineup further expands with appearances by The Kooks, Starsailor, KT Tunstall, and Jo Whiley’s 90s Anthems, promising a weekend that bridges generations and styles.
On the 2026 Isle of Wight lineup, Festival director Caroline Giddings said: “It might be our best line-up yet. It’s my favourite so far, at least. We’re proud to put the future of music and current stars on a bill alongside artists like The Cure and the Sex Pistols, who helped lay the foundation of pop culture.” She adds, “The festival has always been an extension of the Isle of Wight’s rich cultural history. From Lewis Carroll and Tennyson to Julia Margaret Cameron, the island has been a source of inspiration for artists through time. We always try to honour that by presenting the very best music has to offer, giving people an unforgettable festival experience in the process.”
This UK headline follows hot on the heels of The Cure’s earlier 2026 festival confirmations: Nova Rock in Austria on June 12 and Rock en Seine in Paris on August 30. Together with their newly announced Primavera Sound (Barcelona) appearance, the Isle of Wight booking strongly suggests The Cure are aiming for a full European festival tour—crossing the Channel to ensure their U.K. fan base isn’t left out.
The Isle of Wight appearance is especially notable because The Cure have not been frequent headliners of major U.K. festivals in recent years, with their 2019 Glastonbury appearance and 20th Anniversary Hyde Park show being the only exceptions. Also included in the band’s forthcoming schedule, Robert Smith has also been announced as the guest curator for 2026’s Teenage Cancer Trust concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.
On the studio front, speculation over new music remains active. Robert Smith has previously stated in recent interviews that the follow-up to 2024’s Songs of a Lost World is “virtually finished” and could arrive before next summer’s festivals kick off. The band’s last official release was the 2025 charity remix album Mixes of a Lost World, featuring contributions from artists such as Four Tet, Paul Oakenfold, Orbital, Chino Moreno, Trentemøller, and more, with proceeds benefiting War Child UK.
Tickets & Festival Info
- Primavera Sound Barcelona (June 3–7, 2026): passes via primaverasound.com
- Nova Rock (June 11–14, 2026, Nickelsdorf): passes via novarock.at
- Isle of Wight (June 18–21, 2026, Seaclose Park, Newport): passes and ticketing via the official Isle of Wight Festival site
- Rock en Seine (Aug. 26–30, 2026, Paris): The Cure headlining Aug. 30—via rockenseine.com
With now four major festival confirmations spanning U.K., Austria, France, and Spain, it is increasingly clear that The Cure are shaping 2026 as a pan-European festival summer—with U.K. audiences finally included.
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