Stockton Calling: Final 500 tickets now on sale

HARD-FI, THE MOLOTOVS, PIT PONY AND THE GUEST LIST LEAD STOCKTON CALLING 2026 AS STAGE TIMES ARE REVEALED

With just days to go, organisers of Stockton Calling 2026 have revealed Manchester’s The Guest List will join the festival line-up as well as the full stage times and final plans for the North East’s biggest Easter weekend music event. 

Now in its 15th year, the much-loved festival returns with its trademark mix of national names, breakthrough acts and the very best of North East talent, transforming Stockton-on-Tees into a one-day, multi-venue celebration of live music.

Across seven stages and venues, more than 60 artists will perform from early afternoon until late evening, with crowds expected to move between ARC, ARC-2, KU Stockton, The Social Room, The Georgian Theatre, The Green Room and The Link throughout the day.

The action kicks off at 1.30pm, when Risco and Kate Fallin open the festival across the venues, setting the tone for a packed afternoon of new music discoveries before the evening builds towards a series of headline moments.

Among the standout performances announced in the stage times are Hard-Fi, who will bring their era-defining indie anthems to ARC at 9pm in a rare and highly anticipated live appearance. Over at KU Stockton, hometown favourites Young Rebel Set take the stage at 10pm, continuing their emotional comeback run after a powerful return to live music last year.

Meanwhile, the night reaches its explosive finale at The Social Room, where sibling duo The Molotovs headline at 10.30pm, delivering their sharp-edged rock and roll energy to close the festival in style.

Newly added to the line-up are Manchester’s fast-rising indie outfit The Guest List, who slot into a prime 8.30pm set at KU Stockton. The band have been building serious buzz thanks to their punchy songwriting and infectious live shows, making their Stockton Calling appearance one of the most anticipated debut slots on the bill.

Elsewhere on the line-up, Newcastle’s acclaimed alt-rock outfit Pit Pony bring their fierce, politically charged sound to the festival, continuing a huge run of shows that has seen them emerge as one of the North East’s most important guitar bands in recent years.

With the official schedule now released, fans can begin plotting their routes across Stockton’s venues to make sure they catch the artists they’ve been waiting for - while still leaving room for the unexpected discoveries that have become a hallmark of the festival.

Festival organisers say the response to this year’s line-up has already been huge.

Chris Cobain, of Tees Music Alliance, said the stage time reveal marks the moment the excitement really begins to build.

He said: “When the running order comes out, that’s when people really start getting into festival mode. Suddenly everyone’s sharing their plans and discovering bands they might not have heard before. Stockton Calling has always been about that sense of discovery, and this year’s schedule will provide just that.”

Jimmy Beck, of KU Promotions, added: “What’s exciting about this year is the strength of the music right across the bill. You’ve got established bands like Hard-Fi coming in, but also artists like The Molotovs, Pit Pony and The Guest List who are building real momentum at the moment. Stockton Calling has always been about putting those artists side by side and letting the audience experience it all in one day. When you look at the schedule now, it feels like it’s going to be a really strong year.”

Artists across the line-up have also been speaking about their excitement ahead of the festival.

With thousands of fans expected to descend on Stockton town centre, Stockton Calling once again promises a day packed with discovery, big live moments and the energy of a town centre taken over by music.

Fans can now view the full stage schedule via the festival’s schedule graphic and begin planning their route around the venues.

Final tickets for Stockton Calling 2026 are now on sale at £40 for a full day ticket including booking fees, with a limited number of £25 under-18 tickets available for music fans aged 14-17. 

As in previous years, anyone aged 14 or 15 must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 25 or over.

STOCKTON CALLING 2026

Saturday 4 April – Easter Weekend

Seven venues. One town. All day. All in.

Tickets: www.stocktoncalling.co.uk