The perfect environment for fresh new bands to bust their chops. T T T T h h h h e e e e p p p p e e e e r r r r f f f f e e e e c c c c t t t t e e e e n n n n v v v v i i i i r r r r o o o o n n n n m m m m e e e e n n n n t t t t f f f f o o o o r r r r f f f f r r r r e e e e s s s s h h h h n n n n e e e e w w w w b b b b a a a a n n n n d d d d s s s s t t t t o o o o b b b b u u u u s s s s t t t t t t t t h h h h e e e e i i i i r r r r c c c c h h h h o o o o p p p p s s s s . . . .
150+ artists.
Three nights.
One festival pass.
Emerging and established artists play right across MediaCity.
- 150+ Artists
- 3 Nights
- 30+ Genres
Bands & DJs Across
- Amapiano
- Bass
- Classical
- Electronic
- Emo
- Experimental
- Folk
- Funk
- Fusion
- Garage Rock
- Hip Hop
- Indie
- Italo
- Jazz
- Jungle
- Metal
- Pop
- Post-Punk
- Progressive
- Punk
- R&B
- Rap
- Rock
- Rock & Roll
- Shoegaze
- Songwriter
- Soul
- South East Asian
- Techno
- World
Curators · First wave
Programmed with the best in new music
Meet the curatorsBeyond The Music 2026 is curated in partnership with the platforms, festivals and tastemakers championing emerging talent, both here in Manchester and worldwide.
The Lineup So Far
The lineup
40,000 Leagues // ALT BLK ERA // Another Country $$$$ // Bawo // Beam Noir // BEX // Blood Dealer // Bloodworm // Boo Kickz // Bruise Control // Che3kz // Cody Frost // Conduit // cruush // Cutscene // Dekaytah // Ewan Sim // Freya Beer // GANS // Gen and The Degenerates // Georgian // GETNER // Hana Lili // Holly Head // JayaHadADream // JD Cliffe // Lady Ice // Lei Hope // LIINES // Loren Heat // Marie Franc // Max White // Migraine Mowgli // Mouth Ulcers // Naomi Kalu // Nessa May // Nico Harmony // OneDa // Roukaya B // Ruby Duff // SILVERWINGKILLER // SpaceAcre // Superlative // Sweet Gene // Swivel // Tana // Teleshopping // The Slow Readers Club // The Small Fortunes // The Wran // The Zangwills // Third Kulture // Tom A. Smith // Treks // Venkappa // walt disco // Yetti Tabai
+ more to be announced
View the full lineupCurated By Oli Wilson
I'm proud to present such a mix of musical genres — from rap to classical, punk to RnB — that defines the modern Manchester sound. There is another music revolution pending here, and we are proud to be platforming it; not only by showcasing new artists, but by connecting them with the networks and tools they need to build a career.
— Oli Wilson, co-founder & lead music programmer
- Diverse & inclusive
Lineups that reflect the full breadth of new music.
- Underrepresented genres
Scenes prioritised, especially across Greater Manchester.
- Grassroots-to-stage
A submissions pathway for artists without teams.
- Networks & tools
Booked artists meet the industry, not just play the slot.
From Previous Editions
The festival, in their words
Press and artist reactions to the BTM festival programme.
The perfect environment for fresh new bands to bust their chops.
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Venues
Across MediaCity & Salford
You'll find us on outdoor stages and across the spaces of the MediaCity campus, from intimate rooms to the main stages. The full venue map is to follow.