Call of the Wild Festival: 2026 Review & 2027 First Look

Call Of The Wild Festival Guide: The dust has finally settled on the Lincolnshire Showground, the tents are packed away, and the ringing in our ears has just about faded to a hum. Call of the Wild 2026 has officially wrapped up, firmly cementing its reputation as the UK’s premier independent rock and metal festival.

From 28 to 31 May 2026, the site became a bustling sanctuary for the underground rock community. It delivered four days of high-octane live music, unparalleled camaraderie, and a masterclass in how to run a grassroots festival.

2026: A Masterclass in Independent Rock

What makes Call of the Wild (or COTW to the regulars) so remarkably special is its unique balance of heritage heavyweights and pure breakthrough talent across the Kilmister, Southall Lawless, and Trailblazer stages. This year, the eclectic booking policy paid off beautifully.

Call Of The Wild Festival Guide – The Headliners Deliver

• Florence Black: Friday night’s charge was led by the Welsh trio, who tore through a grunge-infused, beautifully melodic rock set. Their massive sound proved exactly why they are currently one of the most talked-about live bands in the UK.
• Onslaught: Saturday night went down a drastically heavier route. The thrash metal legends delivered a ferocious, blistering set packed with technical precision and endless circle pits that shook the very foundations of the main arena.
• Von Hertzen Brothers: Closing out Sunday night, the Finnish progressive rock masters took the crowd on an expansive, genre-defying sonic journey. It was a theatrical, majestic, and emotionally resonant finale to an extraordinary weekend.

Highlights from the Field

Beyond the main event, the real magic happened in the discovery of rising contenders. Sleaze-trash supergroup The Needful Things alongside This House We Built kicked off the Thursday VIP Welcome Party in high style. Throughout the weekend, bands like Dead Zebras (complete with animal-print attire and a confetti cannon), the 70s-vibe melodic rockers Silveroller, and the legendary Wolfsbane kept energy levels at an absolute premium.

The site itself saw brilliant upgrades this year. From entering the arena through “Wolfie”—the massive inflatable wolf-head tunnel—to the newly expanded covered seating areas and unbelievably sensible bar prices, the organisers pulled out all the stops for the fan experience.

Relive the Magic with Rocknews Coverage

Did you miss a set, or do you just want to experience that spine-tingling energy all over again? We have you completely covered. The Rocknews team was on the ground all weekend, braving the pits and capturing the absolute best moments of the festival.

Looking Ahead: The Wild Calls for 2027

The team behind Call of the Wild refuses to rest on their laurels. Before the camping gear was even dry, the first major announcements for Call of the Wild 2027 officially dropped, proving that next year is aiming to be bigger, louder, and bolder.

Tickets Officially On Sale

5 June 2026

General weekend tickets, family bundles, and VIP passes went live via Gigantic and the main festival website following massive interest on-site.

The 2027 Festival Dates

27–30 May 2027

The festival is confirmed to return to its home at the Lincolnshire Showground, kicking off the 2027 UK summer festival season over the late May Bank Holiday weekend.

First Wave Line-up & Headliner Dropped

June 2026

The official announcement post dropped, confirming grassroots heroes These Wicked Rivers as a main stage headliner, alongside a stellar first wave of international and homegrown acts.

The 2027 Line-up: The First Wave

The selection of These Wicked Rivers as a 2027 headliner is a massive statement of intent. Known for their blues-soaked grit, soul-stirring hooks, and trademark vintage stage decor, their meteoric rise represents the exact spirit Call of the Wild champions. They are the new wave of British rock royalty, and their headline set promises to be an absolute milestone.

Joining them in the powerhouse first wave announcement are:

• Absolva: Manchester’s metal juggernauts, guaranteed to bring riffs big enough to shake the Showground.
• Rezet: Infusing the weekend with blistering German thrash metal energy.
• Shotgun Mistress: Bringing a heavy dose of high-octane hard rock straight from Australia.
• Cassidy Paris: The melodic rock starlet returning to the UK with her signature soaring choruses and magnetic charisma.
• Kissing Kaos: Serving up high-voltage alternative rock chaos.
• Wailing Banshee: Unleashing their distinctively dark, dramatic metal landscapes.
• Sydney Fate: Delivering Welsh melodic metalcore packed with emotional intensity.
• LN: A fresh, exciting new force ready to make a serious mark on the festival.

With bigger stages, louder nights, and a line-up built to celebrate the absolute best of the rock community, 2027 is already shaping up to be an unmissable weekend of rock ‘n’ roll escapism. Tickets are moving fast—secure yours now, and keep your eyes locked to Rocknews for breaking line-up additions as they land!