Bristol’s multi-venue celebration of new music returns bigger and better than ever…
Bristol’s beloved one-day, multi-venue festival Ritual Union is back and it’s set to be the biggest edition yet. Taking over the city on Saturday 28th March, the festival will once again combine the best emerging and established artists from across the UK’s vibrant music scene. Limited third release tickets are on sale now.
Spread across three of Bristol’s most iconic venues – Electric Bristol, Rough Trade, and Strange Brew – festival-goers can enjoy to an unforgettable day of discovery without ever straying far from the city’s heart.
Leading the first wave of announcements is KEO, the fast-rising alt-rock four-piece making serious waves on the live circuit. KEO’s sound bridges the gap between 90s grunge, shoegaze and modern alternative rock, taking cues from Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, and The Smashing Pumpkins, while nodding to contemporary acts like Wunderhorse and Fontaines D.C. The band have quickly become one of the most talked-about new names in the UK rock scene, following a standout summer that saw them take to the Rainbow Stage at BST Hyde Park alongside Kings of Leon, The Vaccines, and Paolo Nutini.
Joining KEO on the Ritual Union 2026 lineup is an eclectic mix of cutting-edge talent, including:
AIN’T
ANOTHER COUNTRY $$$$
AVICE CARO
BREICHIAU HIR
BRIAN NASTY
GIRL GROUP
GOON
HOT STAMP
JJ BULL
KEO
KNIVES
LEMONSUCKR
LUCY KRUGER & THE LOST BOYS
NOBODY’S DAD
MOST THINGS
OPAL MAG
PINA PALAU
SLAG
TATYANA
THE GUEST LIST
THISTLE.
TRAMPOLENE
YARD
For the first time, Ritual Union will be keeping the celebrations going late into the night with the launch of AFTERGLOW – the festival’s official afterparty. Festival-goers can expect an electrifying evening of cutting-edge electronic music and DJ sets that will light up Bristol after dark.
Leading the charge is Ninajirachi, one of Australia’s most exciting electronic exports who has already rapidly established herself as a global force in dance music. From remixing Princess Nokia, Deadmau5 and The Neptunes, to producing for Nike, Sega, and even Ableton, Ninajirachi’s production prowess bridges underground creativity and mainstream appeal. Her live sets – packed with euphoric, high-energy moments – promise to make AFTERGLOW an unforgettable addition to the Ritual Union experience.
Joining Ninajirachi at AFTERGLOW is KAVARI, the Glasgow-based artist and DJ renowned for her transgressive art, experimental sound design, and genre-defying performances. KAVARI has emerged as one of the most influential figures in the UK’s underground electronic scene, fusing industrial, ambient, club, EDM, and noise influences into a visceral and high-intensity sonic experience. Praised by Aphex Twin as producing “some of the most brilliant, most interesting kicking electronic music” in recent years, KAVARI’s innovative productions have been championed by DJ Mag, Mixmag, Boiler Room, and Gay Times, cementing her status as a defining voice in the evolution of British club culture.
With more artists still to be announced and the addition of AFTERGLOW for 2026, Ritual Union is shaping up to be its most ambitious year yet; celebrating the full spectrum of live and electronic music that makes Bristol’s scene one of the most exciting in the UK.
This will be a separate ticketed event, but festival-goers will receive a discount if they buy both a day and night ticket together.
Limited third release tickets are on sale now.