There is a very specific kind of electricity that hums through the air in early February, and it isn’t just the winter chill. For festival-goers across the UK and Europe, it’s the season where the Belgian giant Pukkelpop starts dropping names like heavy-duty confetti. This week, the festival team decided to turn the hype up to eleven, delivering a three-day knockout sequence of announcements on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of February that has effectively laid out the blueprint for an unforgettable weekend in Hasselt.
The momentum truly shifted on Tuesday, the 3rd of February, with a double-header that felt like a love letter to the alternative scene. After the heartbreak of a last-minute cancellation in 2023, the news that FLORENCE + THE MACHINE is returning to lead the charge on Saturday, 22nd August, was met with a collective sigh of relief and a surge of excitement. There is something profoundly “Pukkelpop” about FLORENCE WELCH twirling across that stage; her baroque indie-pop energy has always found a spiritual home in the fields of Kiewit. But the day had a second edge to it—the legendary DEFTONES were also confirmed. It’s a booking that perfectly captures the festival’s cross-generational appeal. Whether you’re an original fan from the nineties or a member of the younger “lowercase energy” generation currently rediscovering Sacramento’s finest via the algorithm, the prospect of hearing those ethereal yet crushing riffs under the Belgian sky is a massive draw.
Not content with just a taste of indie and metal, Wednesday, the 4th of February, saw the festival lean hard into high-octane energy. The announcement of YUNGBLUD and TURNSTILE joining the bill sent the social feeds into a proper frenzy. YUNGBLUD is essentially the poster boy for the modern festival experience—loud, unapologetic, and fiercely connected to his audience—making him a perfect fit for a crowd that prides itself on being “young and wild.” Pairing him with TURNSTILE is a masterstroke of curation. The Baltimore hardcore outfit has spent the last few years redefining what a heavy band can look like on a mainstream stage, and their sets are famously some of the most visceral, sweat-soaked experiences in the world right now. If you aren’t in the pit for that one, you’re doing it wrong.
Just when we thought we could catch our breath, Thursday, the 5th of February, delivered the “everything all at once” treatment. This was the day for the electronic heads and the indie sleaze devotees, headlined by the news that the iconic UNDERWORLD will be bringing their timeless rave energy back to the festival. There is something transcendental about “Born Slippy” at 1:00 am, and in 2026, it remains an essential bucket-list moment. They weren’t alone in the dance department either; MAJOR LAZER are set to bring their global carnival vibe, while the rising Dutch techno star KI/KI promises to turn the Boiler Room into a high-speed sanctuary.
The indie contingent was further bolstered on Thursday with the inclusion of GEESE, a band that represents the very best of the new-wave revival, and ROXY DEKKER, who has been dominating charts and TikTok feeds alike with her infectious pop hooks. These names join a roster that already includes the likes of TYLER, THE CREATOR, SOMBR and ZARA LARSSON, creating a line-up that feels remarkably balanced. From the drum and bass fury of a PENDULUM DJ set to the house grooves of ADRIATIQUE, the sheer variety on offer is a testament to why Pukkelpop remains a staple for UK fans willing to make the hop across the Channel.
As the dust settles on these three days of madness, the picture for the 20th to the 23rd of August is looking clearer and incredibly busy. The combination of established icons like FLORENCE + THE MACHINE and UNDERWORLD alongside the raw intensity of TURNSTILE and the global pop of ZARA LARSSON suggests that Pukkelpop 2026 isn’t just trying to be a festival; it’s trying to be a cultural moment. With more names likely lurking in the shadows and ticket sales already under intense pressure, the advice is simple: don’t wait. The August hills are calling, and they’ve never sounded quite this loud.
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