Sofar Sounds is taking over Shoreditch again, bringing 77 emerging artists to ten venues for Sofar Fringe 2026. One wristband gets you into every space (subject to capacity), all within walking distance, and there’s no headline billing, so you spend the day wandering between genres and stumbling on acts you’d never have found otherwise.
We’ve written before about how London’s festivals still don’t book enough women, so it’s good to see Sofar Fringe flip the ratio: this year’s line-up is 61% women and non-binary performers to 39% men. The music spans soul, R&B, folk, hip-hop, jazz and electronic, with acts like Olivia Nelson, Ashaine White, Latir, Gabrielle Sey, J Casa, Quarry and Zoka The Author on the bill.
There’s plenty beyond the music too: comedy from Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Alexandra Haddow, Ali Woods and Daman Bamrah; poetry at Woodzy’s Writer’s Block; pop-up dance; and independent film screenings with director Q&As at Shoreditch Arts Club.
Key Information
Dates | Sat 17th October 2026
Address | 10 venues across Shoreditch, incl. Village Underground, The Courtyard Theatre, Old Street Records & Shoreditch Arts Club
For more information | @sofarsounds
