Mind the Gap, mind the headliners: You’re now approaching All Points East

Written by Mia Samson

Summer is here and festival season is fast approaching, and perhaps none is more anticipated and loved by Londoners alike than All Points East.

Credit: @allpointseastuk via Instagram

In less than a decade, All Points East has gone from an ambitious, yuppie newcomer to one of the UK’s most essential musical festivals. Every year Victoria Park comes together and celebrates anything alternative. From indie to electronic, hip hop and pop, it attracts some of the biggest names and tens of thousands of fans to East London.

The reason why All Points East is so popular is because it is a festival experience unlike any other—it feels distinctly urban. You arrive by tube, you grab food from markets and spend the day watching incredible music and then knock off to a pub or kebab shop. It’s a festival experience that could only really exist in London.

What got Victoria Park shaking?

When All Points East launched in 2018 people were of course sceptical. Replacing the much loved Lovebox and Citadel festivals was not an easy job but when the first lineup consisted of LCD Soundsystem, The xx and Björk, they were off to a very promising start.

Rather than competing with the big leagues of Glastonbury and Reading, All Points East followed its own lane. Each day feels like its own festival within itself with each day dedicated to different genres of music. This approach gave the festival its very own secret weapon.

Several performances stand out from the festival's short history.

Björk’s headline appearance in the debut year of the festival set the tone, proving that All Points East wasn’t afraid to book artists that challenged the audiences they were performing to.

A year later, The Chemical Brothers transformed Victoria Park into one giant outdoor rave. Their dizzying visuals and relentless set reminded everyone why they remain one of the greatest live electronic acts on the planet.

Then there was The Strokes in 2023. With Julian Casablancas doing what he does best — being equal parts chaotic and brilliant — their appearance felt like one of those rare festival bookings people would still be talking about years later.

The festival has also become known for championing homegrown talent. East London's own Loyle Carner delivered a headline set in 2024 that felt less like a gig and more like a celebration of the city itself, while the return of The Maccabees in 2025 gave indie fans exactly the emotional reunion they had been waiting for.

No tent, no Problem

Part of what makes All Points East so special is its refusal to play by the traditional festival rulebook.

There are no muddy campsites. No wrestling with tent poles. No waking up at 7am because your neighbour has decided to start blasting drum and bass from a portable speaker.

Instead, the festival embraces its surroundings. Victoria Park becomes a temporary playground where music fans can spend the day soaking up the atmosphere before heading back into the city when the music stops.

In many ways, All Points East feels less like an escape from London and more like a celebration of it.

Who's worth leaving the bar for this year?

This year's lineup is one of the festival's most eclectic yet, jumping from indie sleaze revival and alternative pop to hardcore, hip-hop and R&B.

If you're lucky enough to have tickets for Lorde's day, she's the obvious headline attraction. Fresh from her latest era, her return to Victoria Park feels like one of the biggest pop bookings the festival has landed in years. The supporting cast isn't bad either, with PinkPantheress bringing her internet-breaking blend of UK garage, drum and bass and bedroom pop, while Djo continues his transformation from Stranger Things actor to genuinely brilliant indie musician.

For those after something a little heavier, the Outbreak collaboration day is stacked. Deftones headline alongside IDLES, Amyl and The Sniffers and Interpol in what could well be the loudest day Victoria Park has ever seen. If you're only planning on seeing one set before the headliner, make it IDLES. Few bands do organised chaos quite as well.

Hip-hop fans are spoilt for choice with Tyler, The Creator's takeover. Tyler remains one of the most inventive live performers around, but don't sleep on Turnstile, who continue to blur the lines between hardcore, punk and alternative rock, or Mariah The Scientist, whose star seems to be growing by the week.

Meanwhile, the opening night curated by Jorja Smith and Tems might just be the sleeper hit of the entire festival. Alongside two of contemporary R&B's most exciting voices, you've got Nia Archives, Ayra Starr, DJ EZ and Uncle Waffles all on the bill. In other words: arrive early and stay late.

Crystal ball gazing: What’s to come in 2027?

Predicting festival line-ups is a dangerous game. One minute you're convinced you've cracked the code, the next All Points East announces a headline set from an artist nobody saw coming.

That said, there are a few trends that I think are likely to continue into 2027 and artists waiting to make their appearance.

The festival's love affair with artist-curated days shows no signs of slowing down. Rather than throwing together a random collection of names, All Points East has built its reputation on creating line-ups that feel carefully considered and tailored to specific audiences. Expect more takeovers, more niche programming and more days that feel like festivals within festivals.

Electronic music will almost certainly continue to play a major role. The success of artists like Barry Can't Swim, Nia Archives and Jamie xx in recent years has shown there's a huge appetite for dance-focused line-ups in the capital.

As for potential headline acts, there are a few names that feel like natural fits. Fontaines D.C. seems destined for a future headline slot, while Fred again.. feels almost too obvious for a festival so closely tied to London culture. Charli xcx would undoubtedly bring one of the biggest crowds Victoria Park has ever seen, and Sampha's blend of soul, electronic music and South London cool feels perfectly suited to the festival's identity.

Of course, if All Points East has taught us anything over the last eight years, it's to expect the unexpected. Whether it's a surprise reunion, an exclusive UK performance or a left-field booking that gets everyone talking, the festival has made a habit of staying one step ahead.

Whatever ends up on the poster, don't be surprised if Victoria Park once again becomes the centre of the musical universe for a few weekends next summer.