North Yorkshire’s much-loved, independent all-ages festival Deer Shed have shared the first wave of acts performing at the 2026 edition, following this year’s sell-out 15th anniversary celebration. Leading today’s announcement are mainstage headliners Sleaford Mods, Everything Everything and Say She She, whilst the festival’s renowned comedy bill will be topped by acerbic stand up legend and friend of the festival, Stewart Lee and beloved British comedian and broadcaster Adam Buxtonand his band.
Abrasive, embittered and utterly enthralling; post-punk headliners Sleaford Mods deliver no-holds-barred explorations of working class life in austerity-era Britain over looping, loping minimal beats, all with a wry smile/rictus grin. Prolific producers and collaborators, their 12th album 2023’s UK Grim hit no. 3 in the UK Album Charts and received widespread critical acclaim whilst their highly anticipated 13th offering, The Demise of Planet X, is set for release in early 2026.
Joining them as Deer Shed headliners are Manchester art-rock legends Everything Everything, returning to the festival 10 years after their last Deer Shed performance, the band will be marking 10 years of their acclaimed second album ‘Get To Heaven’ at the festival.
Completing the top bill for next year are New Yorkers, Say She She who will make their UK festival headline debut at Deer Shed. The self-styled ‘discodelic soul’ of classically trained singers Piya Malik, Sabrina Mileo Cunningham and Nya Gazelle Brown has been a mainstay on US-tastemaking radio station KEXP as well as our own BBC6Music and, after an incredible performance at Glastonbury 2023, the trio are returning to the UK festival scene to celebrate the success of their third album, 2025’s Cut & Rewind.
Also announced today are special guests for next year’s Deer Shed Festival, The Twilight Sad and Fat Dog. Scottish gothic indie-rock veterans The Twilight Sad have been rattling eardrums for over twenty years, with five albums of folk-flecked noise rock that has constantly evolved to incorporate everything from krautrock and accordions to the industrial sounds of fire extinguishers, all the while helmed by James Graham’s inimitable baritone growl and uncompromising and deeply personal lyrics.
Joining them as special guests, Fat Dog burst onto the British music scene in 2020 with their formidable electro-punk live show after forming amidst the COVID-19 lockdowns. Having cut their teeth opening for bands including Viagra Boys, Sports Team and Yard Act, Fat Dog were named as one of DIY Magazine’s Class of 2024 shortly before their debut album WOOF. confirmed the band as a force to be reckoned with.
Elsewhere today’s lineup announcement includes the likes of bar italia, Working Men’s Club, Bill Ryder-Jones, Getdown Services, Sorry, Jasmine.4.T, Brógeal, The New Eves and many more.
The festival’s famous Big Top tent will be headlined by stand up icon Stewart Lee whose one-of-a-kind, self-reflexive comedy has made him one of the country’s most revered and in demand comedians. Last visiting in 2023 for a special screening and Q&A of his acclaimed ‘King Rocker’ documentary, Lee will return for his first stand-up set at Deer Shed.
Joining him in the Big Top this year will be The Adam Buxton Band, featuring brilliant comedian and podcaster performing songs from his recently released album ‘Buckle Up’, accompanied by an all-star live band featuring members of Metronomy, alongside stand up and Mash Report star Rachel Parris and Comedian’s Choice Award winning stand up Laura Lexx with much more still to be announced.
Deer Shed have also shared this year’s festival theme: Into The Labyrinth. Inviting attendees into their most adventurous journey yet, for Deer Shed 2026 the parkland will transform into a twisting, turning world of wonder, where every path leads to curiosity, creativity, and a few surprises along the way. At the heart of it all will sit the festival’s biggest build to date: a colossal maze packed with escape-room-style challenges, hidden clues, puzzles to crack, and magical moments waiting to be uncovered.
Today’s announcement follows this summer’s special 15th Anniversary edition of Deer Shed, which saw the completely independent and family-owned festival fully sold out as they celebrated with acts including Kae Tempest, The Big Moon, Wunderhorse and Idlewild whilst comedy giants like headliners Reggie Watts and Lucy Beaumont and 2024 Edinburgh Best Newcomer Frankie Monroe had the 10,000 capacity Baldersby Park site in stitches.
As well as incredible music and comedy lineups year on year, Deer Shed is also well known for bringing together some of the country’s most unique experiences and interactive events as well as its long-running Cinema, Theatre and Literary & Performance Arts programmes. Expect the return of fan favourites such as Wild Swimming in the Baldersby Park Lake, live action wrestling, skateboard masterclasses, tree climbing, fireside storytelling and singalongs with famous faces. Deer Shed have also revealed a wellbeing expansion for 2026, with an improved Wilderwild Retreat for saunas, ice baths, swimming & much more to be announced soon.
Refreshed and revitalised after its sell-out fifteenth birthday this year, with over 60% of 2026 tickets already sold and still as proudly independent as ever, the team behind Deer Shed festival are gearing up to transform Baldersby Park back into a labyrinth of colour and community that celebrates contemporary music, comedy and cultural creativity.
Tickets from: www.deershedfestival.com
