Rock N Roll Circus 2026: Richard Ashcroft Announced as Sunday Headliner

As you will well be aware of by now if you're plugged into our content, or the Sheffield events space in general, Rock N Roll Circus will return to Don Valley Bowl for the 2026 August Bank Holiday weekend (Friday 28 – Sunday 30 August). Well, organisers have today confirmed another major headline name as the festival gears up for its biggest edition yet.

Richard Ashcroft will headline on Sunday 30 August, joining previously announced Friday headliners The Streets, with the Saturday headliner to be announced very soon.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest British frontmen of his generation, Ashcroft has enjoyed a monumental resurgence in recent years. A staple of the UK Festival Circuit, having headlined Tramlines here in Sheffield in 2023, In 2025 he joined Oasis’ global reunion tour as special guest, performing to stadiums across the world - including nightly, show-stopping renditions of the iconic anthem 'Bittersweet Symphony'. His long-standing connection with the Gallagher brothers, and own musical genius, has firmly embedded Ashcroft at the heart of Britpop and British rock mythology.

Now, fresh from that worldwide run and the release of his acclaimed new album Lovin’ You, Ashcroft brings decades of era-defining music to Sheffield again next Summer. From 'Lucky Man' and 'Sonnet' to 'The Drugs Don’t Work' and solo classics like 'A Song For The Lovers', his live performances remain some of the most powerful and emotionally resonant in British music. His Rock N Roll Circus headline appearance is set to be one of the standout moments of the 2026 festival season, as well as the whole year here in the Steel City.

Supporting Ashcroft on the Sunday bill are Scottish festival giants The Fratellis, armed with huge indie anthems and fresh from their Costello Music anniversary shows. Cast, one of the most important guitar bands, fronted by John Power of The La’s who also toured with Oasis recently, will also grace The Big Top at Don Valley Bowl in August 2026. Their presence adds a major thread of UK indie and Britpop heritage to the line-up.

Festival Director Ali O’Reilly said of this announcement: 

“Richard Ashcroft is a towering figure in British music and a phenomenal live performer, so we’re thrilled to be bringing him to Sheffield for 2026. It is shaping up to be our biggest and most exciting year yet. Sheffield always brings incredible energy to Rock N Roll Circus, and we can’t wait to return to Don Valley Bowl for another unforgettable weekend.”

Meanwhile, The Streets - confirmed as headliner earlier this month for Friday 28 August - will perform their landmark album A Grand Don’t Come For Free in full for the first time. Tickets are on sale now and selling fast, fuelled by national demand for Mike Skinner’s anticipated 2026 UK tour. Known for incredible live performances that blur the lines between rave, theatre and rap storytelling, The Streets’ Big Top appearance is already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about live moments of next summer. So grab your tickets here.

Rock N Roll Circus continues to push the bounds of what's expected at a UK festival, fusing world-class musical artists with aerialists, acrobats, fire performers, workshops and street theatre. With the main stage housed inside the Big Top, every show feels immersive, intimate and weather-proof.

With Ashcroft and The Streets now confirmed - and Saturday’s headliner on the horizon - organisers promise to unveil further artists and circus programming in the coming weeks. In the meantime, presale for this unmissable day begins on 3rd December, with general sale opening on 5th December, you can sign up for presale here. For any and all updates keep an eye on our socials or head to the Rock N Roll Circus Website.