SOS Festival

SOS Festival 2026

SOS Festival returns to Oldham from 3–5 July 2026, bringing together an exciting weekend of rock, hard rock and metal across indoor and outdoor stages. Known for its friendly atmosphere and passionate community, the festival has become one of the North West's favourite independent rock events, attracting music fans from across the UK.

Celebrating both established performers and emerging talent, SOS Festival delivers a carefully curated line-up featuring everything from classic rock and melodic hard rock to modern metal and high-energy tribute acts. With live music running throughout the weekend, festival-goers can discover new bands alongside well-known favourites in an intimate setting that puts fans close to the action.

Unlike many large-scale festivals, SOS Festival offers a relaxed, welcoming experience where music takes centre stage. Visitors can enjoy quality food and drink, a great selection of real ales, merchandise stalls and a vibrant community of rock and metal fans, creating an atmosphere that keeps people returning year after year.

Conveniently located at Whittles in Oldham, just a short distance from Manchester, the festival is easy to reach by road and public transport. Whether you're a lifelong metal fan or simply looking for a weekend packed with outstanding live music, SOS Festival 2026 promises an unforgettable celebration of the UK's rock and metal scene.

Getting to Oldham

Oldham is conveniently close to Manchester – only about 7 miles (10 km) northeast of the city centre – so travelers often route through Manchester first. By car, take the M60 ring road or the M62 motorway toward Oldham. The A663 (Chadderton Road) connects the M62 and M60, providing a quick route. Once in Oldham, follow local signs toward Whittles at 57 Roscoe Street. Parking near Roscoe Street is limited, so it’s best to arrive early or use a nearby public car park. Taxis and ride-sharing services are also readily available and can drop you right at the venue entrance.

Traveling by Train and Tram

Oldham has no direct national rail station, but it is well-served by local transit. The simplest route is via Manchester: take a train to Piccadilly or Victoria, then hop on Greater Manchester’s Metrolink tram. The Pink and Grey tram lines run from Manchester to Oldham’s town centre in about 30 minutes. Oldham’s tram service extends to the Oldham Mumps stop, which is just a short bus or taxi ride from Roscoe Street. Additionally, Stagecoach and other buses run frequent routes from Manchester’s city centre to Oldham’s bus stations. Once you arrive in Oldham, it’s an easy walk (around 15 minutes) or a short ride to the Whittles venue.

Traveling by Air

If flying in, Manchester Airport (MAN) is the nearest major airport, about 16 miles south of Oldham – roughly an hour’s journey by public transit. From the airport, frequent trains run to Manchester’s city centre; from there, you can transfer to a tram bound for Oldham. You could also ride the tram from the airport via a city-center change, though it takes longer. National Express coaches on some schedules stop in Oldham too. Once you reach Oldham, local buses, taxis, or ride-share services can take you the short distance to 57 Roscoe Street.

Accommodation

Keep in mind that SOS Festival is an indoor city-venue event – there is no on-site camping. Attendees should book local lodging in advance. Oldham has several hotels within a short drive or tram ride of the venue, including options like a Premier Inn and a Holiday Inn. Manchester city centre also has many accommodations if Oldham’s rooms fill up. Manchester is only about a 20–30 minute train or tram ride away, making it easy to stay there. On busy summer weekends, hotels and B&Bs can fill quickly, so reserving early is recommended.