Cardiff Music City Festival 2026 ends on a high after bringing thousands of music fans to the capital
Monday, 19 October 2026
Cardiff Music City Festival has wrapped up after a hugely successful third year, bringing visionary icons, cult favourites, new and local talent, plus thousands of music fans to city’s venues.
During the two-week festival over 100 events, including gigs, talks, installations and pop-up experiences were hosted at more than 20 venues, including the Canopi, Tramshed, Paradise Garden, District, Porter’s, the Globe, Acapela, CULTVR, Clwb Ifor Bach and Wales Millennium Centre.
The festival opened with a one-off performance from local cult heroes Acid Casuals at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and closed after a packed fortnight celebrating the breadth and diversity of Cardiff’s music scene.
Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “Music is Cardiff’s beating heart, and you could hear that loud and clear during this year’s festival. As well as delivering unforgettable experiences for audiences, the festival supports our independent venues, creates opportunities for local artists and shines a spotlight on the incredible strength of Cardiff’s music scene.”
Welsh Government Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport, Heledd Fychan, said: “Cardiff Music City Festival continues to demonstrate Wales’ capital as a vibrant and vital home for music – and that’s why we’ve supported this year’s festival, helping to showcase the incredible talent across our music scene, from grassroots artists to internationally renowned names. This investment reflects our commitment to backing our live music sector, supporting independent venues and ensuring Cardiff continues to be recognised as a true music city on the world stage.”
Now in its third year, the festival once again brought together some of Wales’ leading music events, with Sŵn, Llais and the Welsh Music Prize all forming part of the programme alongside specially curated events across the city centre and wider Cardiff.
Highlights included Dafydd Owain receiving the Welsh Music Prize, a first ever performance in Wales from the iconic Laurie Anderson at Llais, plus standout Sŵn Festival sets from artists including 2026 Mercury nominee Dove Ellis, Working Men’s Club, Westside Cowboy, Bathing Suits, and Honeyglaze. At the Gate, Melin Melyn topped a bill of Welsh talent including Morn and Internet Fatigue while DIY punk culture took centre stage at Arthole.
There was also a packed programme of events including a seven hour sound installation at the Temple of Peace, industry panels and masterclasses featuring Bristol post-punk act Getdown Services, Kayus Bankole of Young Fathers, and Idles guitarist Lee Kiernan.
Cardiff Music City Night Market also returned, transforming Cardiff’s historic central market into an after-hours music hub with local alternative radio station Radio Sudd programming three evenings of DJs and live music featuring Panic Shack, The Orielles, John Mouse and Cerys Hafana.
Supported by Welsh Government and Cardiff Council, Cardiff Music City Festival forms a key part of the city’s long-term Music City strategy which has seen the Council provide grant funding to Cardiff’s grassroots venues, develop schemes to encourage new promoters, support artists and musicians with grants, partner with Music Venue Trust on a scheme to provide grassroots venues with high quality backline equipment, secure the future of St David’s Hall, and support the delivery of the new Arena in Cardiff Bay.
The festival will return for its fourth year in autumn 2027.
