Harry Styles To Curate London’s 2026 Meltdown Festival
After a near three year long hiatus, Harry Styles was propelled back into the mainstream earlier this month, following the release of his new single Aperture and the announcement of a world tour for his upcoming album. Building on that momentum, it has now been confirmed that he will be following in the footsteps of the likes of David Bowie, Chaka Khan and Patti Smith, as he prepares to curate 2026’s Meltdown Festival at London’s Southbank Centre.
The Southbank announces Harry Styles as its new Meltdown curator
Following The Southbank’s recent announcement, Style’s has expressed his gratitude, writing that he is “deeply honoured” to be organising the festival as it celebrates its 75th year.
His curatorship is set to draw upon an eclectic array of influences from pop, soul, electronic and rock, through to showcasing emerging British talent. However, perhaps most excitingly, the festival will feature a headline concert put on by Styles himself.
On taking on this new role, the Aperture singer has been quick to share his excitement. In an official statement, he said: “I’m deeply honoured to curate the Meltdown festival, especially for the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary year.”
Harry Styles says he is “incredibly grateful”
The statement continued: “My goal as the curator is to share the music and art that I love, and to celebrate the rich history of the venue.
“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.”
My goal as the curator is to share the music and art that I love, and to celebrate the rich history of the venue.
When will Meltdown take place?
This news follows the former One Direction member’s announcement of the release of his fourth studio album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally, which is set to drop this March. He will also be touring this album from May onwards, with shows spanning London, New York, Melbourne, Sao Paulo and beyond.
Style’s Meltdown Festival takeover will intersect with his London tour dates, with the event taking place from Thursday June 11th until Sunday June 12th.
