We're delighted to announce that The Independent will return as the official news partner of The Great Escape 2026, marking the fourth consecutive year of this exciting collaboration.

The partnership kicks off this November with FIRST FIFTY, the live launch of The Great Escape, which takes over East London on Thursday 13th November 2025. Across eight carefully curated shows, FIRST FIFTY reveals the very first artists set to play next year's festival in Brighton.

As part of the celebrations, The Independent will host a special showcase at Folklore in Hoxton, spotlighting some of the most exciting new voices in music today. The line-up includes:

James Emmanuel - Scottish soul storyteller

Madra Salach - Dublin folk six-piece

Ashaine White - London neo-soul artist

Tickets go on sale for this show 10AM Friday 19th September.

Roisin O'Connor, Music Editor at The Independent, says:
"I'm so thrilled that The Independent is partnering with The Great Escape Festival for the fourth consecutive year, and that we are able to unveil such a brilliant lineup for our FIRST FIFTY show this November. Here at The Independent, we pride ourselves on our coverage of new and emerging artists, championing musicians we believe in from day one and introducing them to some new fans. The Great Escape share this ethos and have helped us curate a fantastic stage ahead of the main festival in 2026. See you there!"

Rory Bett, CEO of MAMA Festivals and VIP Nation Europe, adds:
"We're excited to continue our partnership with The Independent as our exclusive news partner for The Great Escape 2026. Its dedication to championing new music aligns perfectly with our mission to showcase the best emerging talent from around the world."

The Great Escape returns to Brighton from 13-16 May 2026, bringing together over 450 rising artists across 35+ venues, alongside the renowned TGE music industry conference. Tickets for the festival are on sale now HERE.

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