No Play Festival returns for its fourth year! Saturday 5th September

SPY, SPACED and Pest Control:

No Play Festival announces its first wave of artists.

Saturday 5th September 2026 • Liverpool City Centre

Returning for a fourth year, No Play Festival continues its annual, September showcase of the alternative scene. With five stages across Liverpool city centre and, for the first time ever, a skate shop pre-show, this independent metro-fest shows no signs of

slowing down.

Whilst a headliner is yet to be revealed, SPY will undoubtedly be a tough act to follow. The Bay Area quintet’s hyper-fast brand of intense hardcore punk has seen them tour with Deafheaven across Australia and even Merseyside’s own, Loathe across the US.

Joining them on this tour is SPACED. Forged in New York’s proud hardcore scene but far from purists, they brand their style “far-out hardcore”. The festival will mark a Liverpool debut for both bands as fans get treated to a flavour of both the east and west coast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7DdQY2QNvI

Pest Control are another name of note for hardcore fans. A more local addition, the Leeds crew will bring their fast and furious blend of crossover thrash to the festival.

But it’s not all about hardcore at No Play - the emo stage will also see its share of US talent as Michigan’s Liquid Mike join the lineup. It’s their first time in the UK (they support Drug Church on a run of shows across Europe), bringing their unique, riff-fuelled brand of emo to the festival.

No Play Festival likes to step things up every year and 2026 is no exception. They’ve announced their first ever pre-show taking place at the infamous Liverpool skate shop: Lost Art. With just 75 tickets available, the show promises a much more intimate

experience akin to the festival’s smaller stages (though perhaps with an artist who would feel more at home on the main stage!)

“We wanted to do something really silly and fun and Lost Art felt like the right place to do that,” says No Play’s Ted MacDonald, “In our first year, Loathe played a secret basement show and we wanted to bring that ‘surprise set’ energy back… create a

‘you-had-to-be-there’ moment. We’ve had some crazy shows already with Lost Art with both Haywire and Undeath, we know this one is going to be another one for the books.”

It’s easy to just look at the biggest names on the bill but No Play Festival have long been a champion of local and upcoming talent. Local trans-fronted hardcore band, Witherhorde, will be making their festival debut this year alongside a wealth of upcoming national talent such as imissyoualready, Nylon, Jetski and Pale Sailor.

No Play Festival 2026 will take place across 5 venues in Liverpool city centre on Saturday 5th September.

Tickets are on general sale now, available from: noplayfestival.gigantic.com

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