The year of Harry Styles continues to unfold at full throttle. After announcing his long-awaited musical return complete with a new album, a world tour, and a performance at the BRIT Awards, the global star has added yet another major cultural moment to his 2026 calendar. Styles is officially set to curate the 2026 edition of Meltdown Festival at London’s Southbank Centre.
Taking the artistic reins for 11 days, Styles will shape the annual multi-arts festival across the Southbank Centre’s 11-acre riverside campus from June 11 to 21, 2026. Known for handing full creative control to a single visionary each year, Meltdown has previously been curated by icons including David Bowie, Yoko Ono, Patti Smith and Nile Rodgers placing Styles in formidable company.
His curation is expected to reflect the eclectic influences woven throughout his own discography, spanning pop, soul, rock, and electronic sounds, while spotlighting emerging British talent alongside established names. True to Meltdown tradition, Styles will also headline one of the festival’s marquee concerts, offering fans another opportunity to see him perform live within a program shaped entirely by his artistic sensibility.
In a statement on his appointment, Styles shared his intention to celebrate both the music and the venue’s legacy, underscoring a shared belief in music as a vital cultural force. The 2026 edition carries additional significance, marking Meltdown’s milestone as the world’s longest-running artist-curated music festival during the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary year.
The full line-up and ticket release details are set to be announced in spring. If 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for Harry Styles, his Meltdown curatorship may well be its most culturally resonant chapter yet.
