Festival Guide: Green Man Festival - Top Sets To Check Out 2026
Green Man, Wales’ largest independent festival, is returning to the breathtaking Brecon Beacons National Park between the 20th and 23rd of August this year. A festival full of some of the best music around, as well as comedy, science, art and more, it’s many people’s go-to summer festival. The line-up for Green Man 2026 is absolutely stacked, and with it also being a fallow year for Glastonbury, there’s no doubt that this is the festival everyone will want to be at.
Some big names on the line-up that are certainly not to be missed this year include Four Tet, who is known for his spectacular live shows, and Brit Award winners Wolf Alice, along with Mogwai, Baxter Dury, Cat Le Bon and Shame. However, the beauty of Green Man is their focus on more up-and-coming artists. It is a festival that encourages discovery, a place to find your next favourite artist or band, and there’s truly a never-ending list of acts to check out.
Five acts that are definitely worth checking out at this year’s Green Man are -
Prewn, aka Izzy Hagerup, an indie-rock artist who isn’t afraid to dive deep into the darker sides of human emotion. Her latest album, System, which came out towards the end of 2025, is incredibly raw, harrowing even, capturing the ugliest parts of depression and all that comes with it. “You know that my heart aches to get away from this shame”, a steady, unwavering voice sings on the track Forget, Izzy is both a talented vocalist and lyricist. With the support of her band, Prewn is known for her haunting and intense sound. Catch her playing at Green Man on the Saturday.
Leeds-based six-piece Adult DVD, who are playing on the Friday, are another band not to be missed. They’re a fusion of indie-rock and dance, and their energy live is infectious; they will get any crowd going. Adult DVD are a breath of fresh air; their tracks usually comprise funny, somewhat unserious lyrics, jagged guitars and chaotic disco beats. Bill Murray is a crowd favourite, but their recently released single A Cowboy On Aisle Three is guaranteed to cause a riot live.
Irish singer-songwriter Dove Ellis will hopefully already be on everyone’s watchlist, but if he’s not…there’s time to change that. All you need to do is give his debut album Blizzard, which came out at the end of 2025, one listen, and you’ll be completely sold. Dove Ellis, aka Thomas O’Donoghue, balances the fine line between indie and pop perfectly. His voice often ranges between a raw intensity and a gentle fragility, accompanied often by the guitar, sometimes a piano, scattered percussion. His lyrics are gorgeous, sometimes abstract; his writing talent on par with the likes of Cameron Winter, frontman of Geese (who Dove Ellis has supported, which should tell you everything you need to know really). Fans of the likes of Jeff Buckley, Lou Reed, and Black Country, New Road will lap him up. Dove Ellis is the perfect soundtrack to everyone’s Sunday at Green Man.
A duo that perhaps do not need recommending, as it’s likely they’ll have one of the biggest crowds there, is Getdown Services, but just in case they’ve somehow not been on your radar, they’re getting a mention. The Bristol duo have had one hell of a year, dominating most festivals across the UK and Europe last summer without even meaning to. The energy they bring to the stage is quite frankly unbelievable. They’re sarcastic, charismatic, hilarious…and their songs are great too. Packed full of disco funk grooves and post-punk chaos, their live sets are hectic, in the best way possible. There is no better way to kick off your weekend at Green Man than standing in a field watching Getdown Services, pint in hand, everyone dancing with their fingers in the air.
And finally, the band that MUST be on everyone’s list for the weekend is Madra Salach, the six-piece folk band from Dublin, Ireland, who have been steadily taking over the Irish music scene and beyond. Having just released their debut EP in January of this year, they’ve been making a name for themselves well before that with their absolutely unbelievable live performances. Madra Salach have taken folk music and spun it on its head, pulling “traditional folk” apart by the seams and adding their own experimental layers to it, the mandolin blending with the electronic sounds of the synth, crashing of drums, a level of depth created by the harmonium. All of it is tied together with frontman Paul Banks’ phenomenal vocals that will leave you close to tears. They are a band that will leave you feeling changed once you’ve witnessed them live. You can catch them on Friday, but there’s no doubt you’ll be left thinking about them for the rest of your Green Man weekend.
And because five acts doesn’t feel like quite enough, some honourable mentions that you should also check out include Fcukers, Mannequin Pussy, Sprints, Sorry, A Place To Bury Strangers, Seamus Fogarty, Panic Shack and Tyler Ballgame.
There’s truly something for everyone over this gigantic weekend. And while Green Man has always been known as an amazing festival, it’s safe to say that 2026 will definitely not disappoint, and will certainly fill the Glastonbury-shaped hole in many a festival-goer’s heart.
Words by Angela English
