Running at 8 venues within Stockton town centre, and featuring over 60 touring and local artists, Stockton Calling has become a red-letter day on the calendar of many music fans. The festival attracts a crowd of around 2,000 music fans into Stockton town centre for the day - boosting trade across local pubs, restaurants and food outlets as people making a beeline for the town.
The first headliner for 2026 will be previously Mercury Prize nominated indie rockers Hard-Fi – playing at the top of the bill in ARC.
Alex Ferris of ARC, is pleased at Hard-Fi’s appearance;
“The Stockton Calling team have been looking at Hard-Fi since they re-uniting in 2022 – so we’re delighted that everything has come together and we’ve been able to get them in for 2026.
“They’re the ideal band to announce as our first headliner and we’re thrilled to bring them to Stockton-on-Tees.”
More line up information will start to be released soon, but tickets are now on sale for those keen to buy early – or to pop tickets into the Xmas stockings of their friends and family.
Last year’s Stockton Calling featured appearances from Maximo Park, Finn Forster, The Paddingtons, Lizzie Esau, Melanie Baker, EV, Rolla, and Picture Parlour – with local favourites George Bailey, Loren Heat, Eyeconic, and Avalanche Party, who played one of their last gigs before sadly splitting last year.
Once again, tickets are being held at the 2024 price of £40 for the full day, giving access to all venues. The £40 ticket price includes all booking fees.
Over recent years, Stockton Calling has begun to attract interest from an increasing number of younger artists looking to play – which in turn has created interest from younger audiences. New for 2026, the festival organisers have introduced a reduced-price ticket for under 18’s – offered to music fans aged 14 to 17 years old – priced at £25 including booking fees.
Chris Cobain of Tees Music Alliance, explained about the new initiative;
“All of the festival partners have put a lot of work in recent years into welcoming more young people into our venues, so it seemed like a logical follow on to do the same with Stockton Calling.
“We know that a £40 ticket is a big investment for young people – many of which haven’t been to an event of this size before. By supporting music fans when they are young, we hope that we’ll be able to encourage them to attend local gigs and festivals when they are older.”
Anyone over the age of 14 can purchase a ticket – but ticket holders aged 14 or 15 must be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult. A responsible adult is someone over the age of 25 who knows the person aged 14 or 15 and that can be responsible for their actions and welfare during their time at the festival.
Responsible adults can accompany up to 3 people aged 14 or 15. This number may be increased by contacting the festival organisers.
These reduced-price tickets are sold on the basis that the attendee is between the ages of 14 and 17 on the date of the festival.
Stockton Calling is co promoted by Tees Music Alliance, ARC and KU Promotions - and the festival sees 8 stages being presented in a range of venues across the town centre, featuring 60+ artists performing from early afternoon onwards.
Tickets for 2026 are available now at www.stocktoncalling.co.uk - selling at the same price as last year, £40 for the full day including all booking fees. Customers will be directed to Stockton Calling’s new ticketing partner, Fatsoma where purchases can be made.
