ALSO Festival announces its first wave line-up for 2026, featuring speakers like Claudia Hammond and Jamie Bartlett, along with a diverse musical program and unique wellness experiences.
ALSO Festival reveals first wave line-up for 2026
ALSO Festival has announced the first wave of speakers, performers, and experiences for its upcoming 13th edition, set to take place from 10th – 12th July 2026. The “ideas festival,” located at Park Farm in Compton Verney, Warwickshire, has revealed its theme for the year will be ‘O Fortuna’. Organisers are inviting attendees to explore luck, chance, and fate within the festival’s 50 acres of Capability Brown-landscaped surroundings. Tier 2 weekend tickets are currently available for purchase.
High-profile Speakers and Performers
Leading the ‘Ideas’ strand are award-winning writer and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind Claudia Hammond, and tech commentator Jamie Bartlett, who will guide audiences on communicating with AI. Other notable speakers confirmed include investigative journalist Oliver Bullough, neuroscientist Anne-Laure Le Cunff, and BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Emma Jane Unsworth.
On the comedy front, ALSO26 will feature multi-award-winning political comedian and activist Mark Thomas. He is joined by poet Luke Wright, who presents Later Life Letter, and comedy polymath Robin Ince, who returns to the Woods Stage.
Diverse Music Line-Up
While the major Saturday and Friday night musical headliners are yet to be announced, the initial music lineup promises a mix of discovery and genre-blending sounds. Attendees can expect performances from Sheep, Dog & Wolf (Daniel McBride), whose avant-pop compositions merge experimentalism with folk, and Jackson Roy. Special performances include Chris Coull’s jazz reimagining of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, and the return of the ‘Future Music Programme’, an Arts Council England-supported initiative designed to showcase early-career artists.
Culinary Delights and Wellness Experiences
Food remains a central pillar of the ALSO experience, with the festival confirming the arrival of Syrian-born chef Imad Alarnab. He will bring his Somerset House-based restaurant, Aram, to the fields for a special Sunday Long Table Lunch. The culinary programme also features a River Cottage Woodland Long Table Lunch, a Saturday night feast by Georgia Hearn, and the return of James Beard Award-winning chef James Whetlor for a Friday night French Bistro experience.
The wellness programme is set to be the festival’s most ambitious to date, centered around new lakeside ‘Sanctuary Sessions’. Offerings include wild swimming in the Capability Brown lake, an upgraded sauna with ice baths, and ‘Blue Mind’ theory experiences. Unique active sessions include ‘TrAiLdAnCe’—a 5km dance-run with Stornoway’s Oli Steadman—and diverse yoga sessions ranging from ‘Rasa Fire Yoga’ to ‘Scented Yoga’.
Family-Friendly Entertainment and Ticket Details
Family entertainment is provided by Playbox Theatre, offering musical theatre workshops, and the Patches Circus School. Tickets are on sale now via the official website, with adult weekend tickets priced at £180 and family tickets at £390. A volunteer ticket option is available for £75, requiring one shift of work. Day tickets are also available, and under 5s can attend for free.
Published on 28 January 2026 by UKFG
