Harry Styles is set to curate the 2026 Meltdown festival at London’s Southbank Centre, a role previously held by artists like Little Simz, Grace Jones, and David Bowie. The announcement, made on , coincides with the 75th anniversary of the iconic venue and marks the 31st edition of the festival.
Styles, 32, expressed his honor at being selected as curator, stating, “I’m deeply honoured to curate the Meltdown festival, especially for the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary year. My goal as the curator is to share the music and art that I love, and to celebrate the rich history of the venue.” He further emphasized the importance of music as a unifying force, noting, “We both share a passionate belief that music is a vital part of life. It brings us together, and the Southbank Centre has been at the heart of it, providing easy access to great music for the past 75 years. I’m incredibly grateful to Southbank for having me – it’s really exciting for me to have this opportunity in such an iconic venue.”
The Meltdown festival, known for its artist-led curation, has a long and distinguished history. Styles follows in the footsteps of a diverse range of influential musicians who have shaped the festival’s identity over the years. His selection represents a notable shift for the festival, as he is the most pop-oriented artist to take on the curatorial role, traditionally filled by figures from alternative and underground music scenes.
Beyond curating the festival, Styles will also deliver a rare intimate performance. This will be a stark contrast to his current tour supporting the upcoming album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, which includes a record-breaking 12 stops at Wembley Stadium, each with a capacity of approximately 90,000 fans. The Southbank Centre’s main auditorium, by comparison, seats 2,700.
The festival, running from to , will reflect Styles’s broad musical influences, encompassing pop, soul, electronic, rock, and underground scenes, as well as emerging British talent. A press release indicated that his curatorship will also focus on engaging younger audiences through interactive and free events, acknowledging evolving cultural experiences.
Mark Ball, artistic director of the Southbank Centre, highlighted the significance of Styles’s involvement, stating that the festival “feels like a natural expression of what the Southbank Centre exists to do, and we are delighted to become his creative playground in our anniversary year.” He also expressed excitement that Styles’s Meltdown would be central to the venue’s 75th-anniversary celebrations, championing youth, curiosity, and creative freedom.
Styles’s journey to this point has been marked by a successful transition from boy band stardom with One Direction to a critically acclaimed solo career. His debut self-titled album arrived in 2017, followed by Fine Line in 2019. He has garnered praise for his willingness to explore diverse musical inspirations, setting him apart from his former bandmates.
The announcement comes as Styles prepares to launch his tour in Amsterdam on , following a performance at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, where he is also an investor. The full lineup for the Meltdown festival and details regarding ticket sales are expected to be announced in the spring. The festival promises to be a significant cultural event, blending Styles’s personal artistic vision with the Southbank Centre’s legacy of providing accessible and diverse musical experiences.
The curatorship positions Styles as a significant figure in shaping the cultural landscape, extending his influence beyond his own musical output. It remains to be seen how his curatorial choices will shape the festival’s identity and introduce new artists to a wider audience, but the appointment signals a willingness to embrace a broader range of musical styles within the Meltdown framework.
