Sonic Boom Festival hailed a major success with 2026 return confirmed

Burton upon Trent’s biggest music festival has been hailed a major success as organisers confirm Sonic Boom will return on Saturday, 12 September 2026.

Thousands of residents and visitors filled the town centre for this year’s Sonic Boom Festival, which brought together live music, local talent and a strong sense of community. The free one-day event featured a main stage and Aftershock, a multi-venue showcase uniting national touring acts with Burton’s own rising stars.

For the first time, the line-up included an event supported by BBC Introducing, highlighting emerging grassroots artists and further establishing Sonic Boom as one of Staffordshire’s most exciting cultural highlights.

Sonic Boom Music CIC director, Chris Baldwin, said: “Burton has an incredible live music scene and Sonic Boom is its beating heart. By putting local artists alongside national names, right on our high street, we’re showing the world what the town can do. Families felt safe, young people felt seen and music lovers felt at home.

“It’s a triumph by all the partners, suppliers and volunteers who made the festival happen and with that I’m delighted to confirm that Sonic Boom Festival will return in 2026, with another bold line-up of artists and stages, along with continued support from East Staffordshire Borough Council.”

Cllr Paul Walker, cabinet member for Tourism and Cultural Development, added: “Sonic Boom is about creating a space where people feel safe, connected, and part of something. The feedback I’ve seen from our community this year has blown me away. Local people feel that Sonic Boom belongs to them and that’s exactly how it should be.”

This year’s festival also marked the unveiling of Burton upon Trent’s refreshed town identity, revealed through a specially commissioned short film, Burton upon Trent: Upon It All.

The film celebrates the town’s story through its people, history and ambition, reflecting the progress already underway and the pride of those shaping its future.

The announcement of Sonic Boom’s return cements its place in Burton’s cultural calendar and highlights its growing role in showcasing the town’s creativity, energy and regeneration to audiences across the region and beyond.

Further 2026 festival announcements will be available by visiting the website.