NorthSide Festival unveiled an initial lineup for 2026 – (Denmark)

NorthSide Festival is proud to present a genre-crossing, bold, and diverse line-up in 2026, which highlights the fact that the festival is one of the most progressive in more than just Denmark, but the entire region. Topping the bill is Aphaca, who is the most demanded artist of NorthSide in the whole history of the festival. The band has been requested more than three times as much as the number two most sought-after act, and it is a testament to the sheer accumulated momentum and the emotional attachment that the band has established with the fans nationwide.

Aphaca: A Dance as Well as a Band

The tale of Aphaca is one of friendship, sincerity and a song that is not only nostalgic but also one that is indisputably up to date. Created in 2019 by Rumle Hueg Kaeerso (vocals), Bertram Ask Plauborg (bass), Bertil Engberg Nielsen (keyboards) and Noah Elias Rasmussen (drums), the band has created a musical universe of the blending of modern pop with young poetry, nostalgia and an unusual sense of community. Their music reflects the short, bright living of youthhood – emotions to which all ages have related.

After the breakthrough of the end of 2024 with the song Smelter under the moon, Aphaca no longer plays in small places but on some of the largest stages in Denmark. The band has released follow-up singles such as Til solen er sort, Et sted hvor vi var de firste, and En dr om et menneske, and is now one of the hottest played and discussed new artists in the country. Their 2025 Parken show sold out in four days, which confirms their positioning as a generational phenomenon.

The album will be followed by the release of the second album, VILD UNGDOM, an emotional and filled with energy exploration of the meaning of growing up in the world that is constantly changing in 2026. This album will be the backdrop of a Northside show which the organisers have termed as one of the most expected shows in the history of the festival.

An International List of Superstars, Prolifics and Edge-Cases

NorthSide 2026 also includes a very impressive roster of foreign artists alongside Aphaca. Jack white (US) is a revolutionary leader in the history of music, being one of the most inventive artists in the field of modern music at the top of the list of the bill because of his revolutionary impact through The White Stripes and in his forceful solo career. His shows have been famous in terms of unpredictability in music, bare strength and unrestricted guitar playing.

He is accompanied by Skepta (UK), an innovator that has influenced and grown the global grime movement over the last ten years. His live performances are intense, culture-filled and explosive. The three international headliners are completed by Father John Misty (US), a lush producer, sharp lyricism and theatrics that is a blend of romance, satire and existential narration.

Another new generation of international innovators is also welcomed at the festival:

• Ashnikko (US) – the blue-haired pop provoke combining hyperpop, punk and hip-hop.
• Baxter Dury (UK) a deadpan indie storyteller who has won enough of a cult following to make a name.
• CMAT (IE) – the Irish sensation with the mixture of country, pop, humour and boundless melodics.

Second Wave of Announcements Nordic Strength and New Energy

The latest artist announcement of NorthSide just continues to expand the sonic range of the festival. At the top of the list of new artists is IDLES (UK), which is one of the most crucial and uncompromising bands in Britain. The political nature of their performances combined with their vulnerability and cathartic sound ensure that their concerts are memorable.

A Danish pop star Tobias Rahim is also added to the list. Rahim has achieved an immeasurably important influence on his generation, with a catalogue of emotional anthems such as the so-called STOR MAND and Elsker når du smiler, attracting very large audiences with its sincere and genuine songwriting.

The announcement goes on to say:

• Viagra Boys (SE) – anarchic, sweaty and unpredictable punk.
• Jonah Blacksmith – film folk-rock shot through with feeling and sense of shared space.
• Ashes of Billy– moving on with his dark, intense rock sound.
• Elias Ronnelft– experimenting with lyrical post-Iceage.
• Rigmor – bringing Scandinavian melancholy and great melodies.
• Skullcrusher (US) – with soft-edged folk that delivers a dreamy sound.
• Østen – the new generation of Danish songwriters.

Festival With a Vision: Culture, Community and Sustainability

On top of the musical programming, NorthSide has been able to enhance its image as a sustainably-built, community-based, and futuristic festival. Having its site in Eskelunden, the festival has moved to a level where it can host mass performances with high degree of environmental responsibility such as waste disposal, green energy and sustainable food affiliates. These promises are the key pillars of the NorthSide identity in 2026 and the future.

NorthSide also strives to make its audiences feel that they are a part of something bigger a cultural meeting point where the generations, genres, and communities intertwine. It will be a time of experiences shared, emotional narrative and high-quality live music with all of these factors that will create 2026 as a festival of fan-incredible momentum, a global line-up.

NorthSide 2026 Full Preliminary Line-Up

• Aphaca
• IDLES (UK)
• Jack White (US)
• Skepta (UK)
• Thomas Helmig
• Tobias Rahim
• Father John Misty (US)
• Ashnikko (US)
• Baxter Dury (UK)
• CMAT (IE)
• Jonah Blacksmith
• Viagra Boys (SE)
• Ashes of Billy
• Elias Rønnefelt
• Rigmor
• Skullcrusher (US)
• Østen

Tickets
NorthSide 2026 will be held at Eskelunden in Aarhus, Denmark from June 4-6, 2026.
Northside tickets are currently on sale. At northside.dk/tickets, fans will gain access to Aphaca and the entire line-up, and plenty of artists are yet to step on the stage.