After years of headlining global stages, Harry Styles is stepping into a new creative role as curator of the Meltdown Festival 2026. Taking place from 11th to 21st June at London’s Southbank Centre, the 31st edition of the iconic event will form part of the venue’s 75th anniversary celebrations—positioning it as one of the most anticipated arts events London will host next summer.
Styles follows in the footsteps of past curators including David Bowie, Patti Smith and Grace Jones, bringing a distinctly contemporary and cross-genre sensibility to the world’s longest-running artist-curated music festival. While the full line-up will be announced in spring, it has already been confirmed that Styles himself will perform an intimate headline show at the 2,700-seat venue—a striking contrast to his 12-night Wembley Stadium residency happening the same month.
In a statement, Styles shared: “I’m deeply honoured to curate the Meltdown festival, especially for the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary year. My goal as the curator is to share the music and art that I love, and to celebrate the rich history of the venue.”
According to organizers, his programme will reflect a broad range of influences—from pop, soul, electronic and rock to underground scenes and emerging British talent—creating a multi-layered cultural experience rather than a traditional concert series.
