Sound City announces its first headline act for 2026

Jalen Ngonda has been announced as the first headliner to play at Sound City 2026.

Contemporary soul sensation, and former Liverpool resident, Jalen Ngonda is returning to Merseyside to play the festival and the ornate Grand Central Hall next spring. The UK’s pioneering multi-venue festival of new music discovery, having offered early-career showcases to the likes of The 1975, Charli XCX, Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and The xx over almost two decades, returns to the internationally-renowned music city over Sat 2 – Sun 3 May 2026. 

A former student at the Paul McCartney-founded Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Ngonda’s rise from being a prodigious, Motown-obsessed teenager in Maryland to still-rising, award-winning figurehead of a classic soul revival passed through multiple Liverpool venues. Having spoken openly about how the city changed his life, performing at Sound City twice in 2017 and 2018 after booking a one-way ticket to England in 2014, Ngonda’s ‘homecoming’ will prove to be an unmissable, emotional and busy landmark show during another memorable weekend of live music. 

Ngonda’s last live outing in Liverpool was in front of just 250 people at the now closed Jimmy’s Bar in 2023. Grand Central Hall’s stunning The Dome main hall stands ready to welcome 3,500 people for his overdue return next May. 

Jalen Ngonda pre-empts his appearance by saying:

“Coming back to Liverpool is long overdue and to return and play such a beautiful venue as Grand Central Hall for Sound City will be a true highlight of next year. I get to reconnect and pay tribute to the city and everyone I met there, all of whom are genuine music people. I found that out over my years living and studying there. 

“So much has happened since the last time I played the festival in 2018, so I can’t wait to catch up and see how much we’ve grown since we were last together. It’ll be truly special.”

Sound City’s Managing Director, Becky Ayres, says:

“Welcoming Jalen Ngonda back to Sound City as our 2026 headliner perfectly captures what our festival is all about: discovering and championing new artists, and giving them the platform to go on to achieve No. 1 records, sell-out tours, and global acclaim.

“Jalen’s lush, soulful style first graced our stages back in 2017 and seeing him return as a true international success is a full-circle moment that embodies the Sound City spirit. We can’t wait to welcome him home to the centre of the music universe, Liverpool, in 2026. Sound City remains the UK’s definitive festival for new music discovery, where the next generation of stars take their first steps toward the world stage.”

Welcoming thousands of excited seekers of the buzziest bands and solo artists to Liverpool earlier this year, the 2025 edition of Sound City saw talents including Arkayla, The Guest List, Brogeal and TTSSFU taking to intimate stages in front of capacity audiences alongside headliners, The Royston Club, Dylan John Thomas and Corella. Building year-on-year to beat previous line-ups and keep Sound City beyond the curve of new talent discovery, this year’s full, to-be-confirmed festival line-up promises less of the same and even more of the unexpected.

Sound City will once again open Liverpool’s venue stages to all go-getting, grassroots artists through the Apply To Play system. Powered by the 2026 Apply to Play sponsor TuneCore, building on 2025’s TuneCore Scouse House takeover, and Amplead, the application platform provider, the opportunity for any artist to be considered for a slot at the festival is set to open soon.

Alongside supporting artists at the earliest stages of their careers, the future-facing Sound City+ Conference, supported by key festival partner, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) alongside PRS, PPL, PRSF, AIM and UK Music, providing a forum for leading figures from across the music industry to share their knowledge and experience. Returning to open the Sound City 2026 weekend on Fri 1 May 2026, the conference and networking event will build on 2025’s successes, which saw speeches from Warner Music’s Isabel Garvey and Mayor Of The Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotherham make waves, alongside contributions from representatives of organisations including the Musicians Union.

Counting as one of, if not the biggest gathering of music professionals in the festival and industry conference calendar, with Early Bird Tickets SOLD OUT, Sound City+ takes place with the involvement and support of partners including main festival, conference, training, talent development and community engagement funder Arts Council England, thanks to National Lottery players. Sound City is also grateful for the support and partnership of CAPLL.

Ayres adds:

“The intersection of music and technology has never been more exciting. Every year at Sound City+, we empower every attendee to walk away with real, tangible skills to supercharge their careers. From hands-on A&R sessions and digital deep dives to live production workshops, the Sound City+ Conference is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn, connect, and collaborate with the biggest names shaping the industry today – right in the heart of the world capital of pop music: Liverpool.

“Whether you’re an artist, manager, or future industry leader, Sound City+ is where the future of music comes together.”

Sound City remains the UK’s lead festival for Keychange, the global movement focused on the restructuring of the music industry to achieve gender equality. Aiming to achieving a gender balance across all Sound City events and initiatives, equal representation of women and diverse genders is a determined feature of every Sound City weekend. 

Find more information on the Sound City website.

Find more great music events across Liverpool on our calendar.

Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide. 

From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.