Somerset House Summer Series with American Express has announced the first details of its 2026 festival
- Feb 25
- 7 min read
Somerset House Summer Series with American Express has announced the first details of its 2026 festival - returning to one of the UK's most stunning cultural locations this July with a multiple night lineup of trailblazers and figureheads across genre, scene, era and style. Somerset House Summer Series is the arts destination's flagship live music experience, a cornerstone of its year-round programming since 2003, taking place in its iconic open-air courtyard.
Artists echoing Somerset House's ethos as the home of cultural innovators are invited from across the globe to perform.As a place of joy and discovery at the meeting point of artistic and social innovation, Summer Series offers a unique and rare opportunity to catch artists play special, intimate shows in one of London's true jaw-dropping spaces - with the likes of Rosalia, Adele, Patti Smith, Amy Winehouse, Olivia Dean, black midi, Jorja Smith, St. Vincent, Tems, Giggs, beabadoobee and many more bringing one-off events to the heart of London over the years.2026's Summer Series line up reflects individuality and creative expression found across a vast array of genres.
Carefully selected in honour of their pioneering, cross-disciplinary cultural work, this year's artists represent originality and reflect their communities in a way that is completely unique to them. This year's invited headliners include Naïka, Palace, Thee Sacred Souls, Lightning Seeds, The Cribs, Agnes Obel, Black Country, New Road, Venna, Raf-Saperra, The Flaming Lips, and Benjamin ClementineLooking ahead to Somerset House Summer Series in 2026, Matthew Cook, Head of Live Events at Somerset House, says: "We're delighted to unveil the curated headliners for this year's Somerset House Summer Series. Featuring artists spanning a variety of genres and generations, this year's edition promises to deliver spectacular performances, in the unique setting of the Somerset House open-air courtyard.
"From creative trailblazers who have led the way for bold new genres, innovators whose impact can be felt across a vast array of musicians today, distinctly individual talents who continue to surprise, and future greats carving out their own path - Somerset House Summer Series once again stands as a testament to the power of the Arts. We can't wait to welcome artists and fans to our home this summer."
Somerset House Summer Series will feature as part of Somerset House's summer offering. Also presented will be HOLY POP!, a new exhibition exploring how fan devotion to pop stars and cult icons shapes identity, values and community, and has become a contemporary form of worship. Featuring art, memorabilia and photographs, HOLY POP! will uncover how community is created through the ritual idolisation of celebrities and figures such as David Bowie, Britney Spears, Aaliyah, Prince, George Michael and more. Full information can be found here.American Express® is the Headline Sponsor and Official Payment Partner of Somerset House Summer Series.
SOMERSET HOUSE SUMMER SERIES 2026 LINE-UP
16th July
A breakthrough pop sensation comes to Somerset House Summer Series in 2026 with Naïka bringing her intoxicating blend of modern sound to the iconic courtyard. Merging genre into a stunning voice of her own, her rise to the very top has seen her amass a huge, devoted following, and debut album 'ECLESIA' signals the beginning of her boldest era to date. Naïka will open this year's series on Thursday 16th July with her biggest UK headline show yet.
Looking ahead to her Somerset House Summer Series show, Naïka said: "I'm so excited to be back in London and to perform in such an intimate setting. London has always shown me so much love, I can't wait to share this moment with everyone."
17th July
Palace head to Somerset House this summer with a discography that has seen them become a cherished force in a new wave of British guitar bands. With memorable appearances at festivals such as Glastonbury and Coachella, to their sold-out headline show at London's Hammersmith Apollo capping-off their last tour – the start of this new chapter under the London stars at Somerset House is a combination destined to be something special.
18th July
Thee Sacred Souls bring their warming blend of classic and contemporary Americana soul to Somerset House next summer for a night of soaring bliss that marks their unstoppable rise over the past few years. Across two stunning albums released through the acclaimed Daptone Records (including 2024's swooning 'Got A Story To Tell'), their mirroring of a classic sound complete with a fresh twist has seen them reap countless fans alongside star turns on the beloved NPR's Tiny Desk series and the revered COLORS session series.
19th July
One of the UK's greatest songwriters Ian Broudie comes to the Somerset House courtyard, as the Lightning Seeds play Summer Series. Crafting timeless anthems such as 'The Life Of Riley', 'Pure', 'Lucky You' and the generational 'Three Lions' - Lightning Seeds have become a seminal and beloved band soundtracking the beautiful cracks and mannerisms in British life. With a special show under summer skies, it promises to be a magical occasion, toasting a true icon in UK music.
Speaking about playing as a part of Somerset House Summer Series, Ian Broudie of Lightning Seeds says: "We are very excited to headline one of London's grandest and most iconic venues. It's going to be a very special day and we can't wait".
20th July
One of the most influential and beloved bands in UK Indie history, The Cribs head to Somerset House Summer Series for a special London headline show. Since emerging from Wakefield in the early 2000s, their stature as a blazing live force has rung true with anthems such as 'Mens Needs', 'Hey Scenesters', 'We Share The Same Skies', I'm A Realist', 'Mirror Kissers' and tracks from their latest album 'Selling A Vibe' - which became the highest-charting album of their career when released earlier this year.
21st July
Agnes Obel brings her stunning and all-encompassing soundscape to Somerset House Summer Series in 2026, following a rapturously received return to the stage including a headline turn at London's Royal Albert Hall. A true modern great, her performance at Somerset House is primed to be an emotional and breathtaking night for an artist unafraid to carve her own world and welcome everyone to it.
22nd July
Sitting as one of the most influential bands of the past decade for guitar-music coming out of London and the UK as a whole, Black Country, New Road head to Somerset House this summer. Pushing at the boundaries of what a band can be, their acclaimed work has seen them become a pillar of 21st century alternative music - with latest album 'Forever Howlong' signalling a stunning new chapter that saw them headline a sold-out night at London's Brixton Academy. Black Country, New Road add a huge summer headline stage to their story in a city whose scenes have been shaped around their every move.
Speaking about their show at this year's Somerset House Summer Series, Black Country, New Road say: "We are very excited to be playing at Somerset House. It is one of London's most beautiful and prestigious courtyard venues. Some of us have very fond memories of a summer's evening some years ago seeing our friends performing on the same stage. The sun was going down over the Thames and it was very loud. We hope to recapture some of the same magic we felt that evening."
23rd July
A defining figure in modern British jazz, Grammy-award winning saxophonist Venna brings a hotly anticipated headline show to Somerset House Summer Series this summer. After previously collaborating with the likes of Beyonce, Burna Boy and Wizkid, Venna's acclaimed debut album 'MALIK' arrived at the end of 2025 featuring collaborations with the likes of Jorja Smith and Leon Thomas. Promising to be a jaw-dropping display of an innovative force in modern music, expect Somerset House to be enraptured come July when Venna brings a showstopping masterclass to the courtyard.
24th July
At the forefront of boundary-breaking culture when it comes to Punjabi music, Raf-Saperra presents a very special night at Somerset House Summer Series, capturing a rise that has seen him become a blazing new light for an entire genre. Combining that traditional Punjabi folk bedrock with modern hip-hop bite, he heads to Somerset House fresh from headline dates across the UK and Europe. His turn at Somerset House promises to not only be defining in his career but an entire scene of artists redefining modern culture and bringing it to the world.
25th July
When it comes to defining cultural innovators, there's not many who can come close to Wayne Coyne and The Flaming Lips. For over 40 years, their experimentation has refused to sit still across seminal albums such as 'The Soft Bulletin', 'Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots', and many more. With a live show that has been celebrated as one music fans simply need to see at least once in their lifetime, The Flaming Lips bring their pioneering experience to Somerset House next summer.
26th July
A distinctive figure in modern British music, the Mercury Prize-winning Benjamin Clementine makes a welcome return to the Somerset House Summer Series as one of only a handful of artists to have been invited back to headline the series in its storied history. Captivating and with an ability to cut to the core of human emotion, his singular vision as a composer and storyteller has led to a string of incredible releases including his latest album 'Sir Introvert and the Featherweights'.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets will be priced between £30.00 - £60.00
The American Express® Cardmember presale will take place at 10am on Tuesday 3rd March 2026.
The Somerset House Subscriber Presale will take place at 10am on Thursday 5th March 2026.
Tickets for Somerset House Summer Series will go on General Sale at 10am on Friday 6th March 2026.
THURSDAY 16TH JULY - NAÏKA
FRIDAY 17TH JULY - PALACE
SATURDAY 18TH JULY - THEE SACRED SOULS
SUNDAY 19TH JULY - LIGHTNING SEEDS
MONDAY 20TH JULY - THE CRIBS
TUESDAY 21ST JULY - AGNES OBEL
WEDNESDAY 22ND JULY - BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD
THURSDAY 23RD JULY - VENNA
FRIDAY 24TH JULY - RAF-SAPERRA
SATURDAY 25TH JULY - THE FLAMING LIPS
SUNDAY 26TH JULY - BENJAMIN CLEMENTINE
American Express is the Headline Sponsor and Official Payment Partner of Somerset House Summer Series.
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