Kendal Calling brings Biffy Clyro and Wolf Alice to Lowther Deer Park

Every summer, a corner of the Lowther estate near Penrith fills with tents, flags and tens of thousands of music fans. Kendal Calling has grown into one of the north's best-loved festivals, often called the "Glastonbury of the North" and drawing more than 40,000 visitors a year.

The 2026 edition ran at Lowther Deer Park from 30 July to 2 August, and the line-up announced on 16 December 2025 showed how far the festival has come. Biffy Clyro made their Kendal Calling debut, with organisers describing the Scottish rock band as one of the festival's biggest ever headliners. Their appearance was tied to their tenth studio album, Futique.

They were joined at the top of the bill by Wolf Alice, Two Door Cinema Club and The Kooks. The Kooks headlined the Thursday opening night, Two Door Cinema Club topped Friday while marking fifteen years of their album Tourist History, and Wolf Alice closed the festival on Sunday.

Further down the posters, the names kept coming, with plenty for every generation of music fan: Scissor Sisters, The Libertines, The Vaccines, Doves, Gabrielle, The Lathums and The Coral were all on the bill. Thursday night also featured The Cribs and Vanessa Carlton, giving early arrivals a strong reason to pitch up a day ahead.

Demand was striking. Organisers said 95 per cent of tickets had already gone before the line-up was even announced, with the final release going on sale on 17 December 2025. The festival also promised comedy and talks alongside the music, adding to its reputation as a weekend with something for every age.

What makes Kendal Calling special is its setting. Lowther Deer Park sits on the edge of the Lake District, so the stages are framed by parkland and fells rather than concrete, and many festivalgoers turn the weekend into a wider Cumbrian break.

For local music fans, it is a point of pride that a festival in Cumbria attracts acts of this size, and that so many people travel to the county each summer to see them.

Anyone hoping to go next year should keep an eye on the official Kendal Calling website and social channels for announcements, as tickets have a habit of selling out well before the gates open.