Simple Things Completes 2026 Line-Up
Simple Things has announced the full line-up for its 2026 edition, with Squid, Shabaka, Jeremy Deller and Cobrah confirmed as guest curators for the Bristol festival’s 12th year.
Simple Things has announced the full line-up for its 2026 edition, with Squid, Shabaka, Jeremy Deller and Cobrah confirmed as guest curators for the Bristol festival’s 12th year.
The multi-venue event returns to Bristol city centre on Saturday 7th November, taking over spaces including Bristol Beacon, Strange Brew, Rough Trade, The Island and the newly added skatepark venue Shredenhams. This year marks the first time Simple Things has introduced guest-curated line-ups, with each invited artist shaping their own pocket of the programme.
Cobrah’s curation leans into club music, hyperpop and ballroom-adjacent energy, with the Swedish artist bringing together COUCOU CHLOE, MUCHAS PROBLEMAS, DJ Latex and Only Fire. Squid, meanwhile, will take over The Island with a line-up rooted in the more abrasive edges of post-punk and experimental guitar music, including a rare solo set from the band’s Anton Pearson alongside Comfort, Minor Conflict and 13 Year Cicada.
Shabaka’s programme focuses on rhythm, percussion and avant-garde jazz, adding Ugandan collective Arsenal Mikebe and drummer-composer Sarathy Korwar to a bill that already included Joy Guidry. Jeremy Deller’s curation brings together folk, art-rock and rave history, with The Listening Project performing his Acid Brass project, alongside Circle Dance, Mermaid Chunky and Grubby Mitts.
The final wave of additions also includes Bristol experimental group MONOSUM, Belfast outfit Esmeralda Road and club artist PIXY. Elsewhere, Bristol promoters Temple Cloud will host a Cellars takeover headed up by Hannah Diamond, with Princess Elf Bar, e-kitty, kaiiotye, Leeds Ambient Trance Community, Ab Crab, DJ SLAM DUNK and Miracle D also appearing.
They join a wider bill that already features The Avalanches, Panda Bear & Sonic Boom, Moor Mother, Olof Dreijer, Cloud Nothings, Alewya, Mykki Blanco, Gold Panda, Nathan Fake, PVA, caroline, Big Brave, H31R, zzzahara and more.
Simple Things 2026 will also expand across the weekend, beginning with an opening party at Shredenhams on Friday 6th November, headlined by Psychedelic Porn Crumpets. A late-night afterparty will follow the main Saturday event across Strange Brew and The Island, co-hosted by Crack Magazine, Noods Radio and PTS, with further details still to be announced.
Tickets for Simple Things 2026 are on sale now via the festival’s official website.
