Mangata Festival returns to Nottingham on Saturday 5 September 2026, and this year’s edition is shaping up to be their most ambitious yet. The organisers have announced 22 new bands alongside a venue expansion that sees the festival spread across three city centre locations: Rescue Rooms, Rock City, and The Tap & Tumbler.
The headline slot on the Main Stage at Rescue Rooms goes to ten56., a band whose raw aggression and crushing production have made them one of modern heavy music’s most uncompromising acts. They join previously announced acts Raised By Owls, Red Method, and In Search of Sun, with The Hara, Confessions of a Traitor, and Wolves Don’t Sleep also confirmed.
Over at Rock City, the Beta stage will be headlined by instrumental duo Nordic Giants, whose live shows are genuinely unlike anything else on the UK circuit. Ward XVI, Gürl, Dacara, and Firmament round out that bill alongside Hidden Mothers and Hundred Year Old Man.
The Red Room stage upstairs at Rescue Rooms belongs to Alpha Male Tea Party, long regarded as pioneers of the UK’s math rock scene. They’ll be joined by Sergeant Thunderhoof, Premier Jester, Gurt, Bad Milk Blood Robot, and Syncolima. Meanwhile, Giant Walker headlines the Black Cherry Lounge at Rock City, with The Grey, Tayne, Weller, and tealdeer completing that lineup.
For those watching their pennies, the Tap & Tumbler stage offers free entry, headlined by industrial metallers Anti-Clone with Glass Bridges and Tooth & Dagger.
Early bird tickets have sold out, but regular tickets remain available at £40 via the Mangata Festival website. Press accreditation applications are open via Jotform. Twelve more bands are still to be announced.
