RICHARD ASHCROFT, THE FRATELLIS AND CAST ANNOUNCED FOR SHEFFIELD’S ROCK N ROLL CIRCUS

Rock N Roll Circus will return to Don Valley Bowl, Sheffield for the 2026 August Bank Holiday weekend (Friday 28 – Sunday 30 August) - and organisers have today confirmed another major headline name as the festival gears up for its biggest edition yet.

Richard Ashcroft will headline on Sunday 30 August, joining previously announced Friday headliners The Streets, with the Saturday headliner to be announced very soon.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest British frontmen of his generation, Ashcroft has enjoyed a monumental resurgence in recent years. In 2025 he joined Oasis’ global reunion tour as special guest, performing to stadiums across the world - including nightly, show-stopping renditions of Bittersweet Symphony. His long-standing connection with the Gallagher brothers - Noel Gallagher famously wrote Cast No Shadow about him - has firmly embedded Ashcroft at the heart of Britpop and British rock mythology.

Now, fresh from that worldwide run and the release of his acclaimed new album Lovin’ You, Ashcroft brings decades of era-defining music to Sheffield. From Lucky Man and Sonnet to The Drugs Don’t Work and solo classics like A Song For The Lovers, his live performances remain some of the most powerful and emotionally resonant in British music. His Rock N Roll Circus headline appearance is set to be one of the standout moments of the 2026 festival season.

Supporting Ashcroft on the Sunday bill are Scottish festival giants The Fratellis, armed with huge indie anthems and fresh from their Costello Music anniversary shows, and Cast, one of the most important guitar bands, fronted by John Power of The La’s who also toured with Oasis recently. Their presence adds a major thread of UK indie and Britpop heritage to the 2026 line-up.

Meanwhile, The Streets - confirmed earlier this month for Friday 28 August - will perform their landmark album A Grand Don’t Come For Free in full for the first time. Tickets are on sale now and selling fast, fuelled by national demand for Mike Skinner’s anticipated 2026 UK tour. Known for incredible live performances that blur the lines between rave, theatre and rap storytelling, The Streets’ Big Top appearance is already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about live moments of next summer.

Festival Director Ali O’Reilly said: “Richard Ashcroft is a towering figure in British music and a phenomenal live performer, so we’re thrilled to be bringing him to Sheffield for 2026. It is shaping up to be our biggest and most exciting year yet. Sheffield always brings incredible energy to Rock N Roll Circus, and we can’t wait to return to Don Valley Bowl for another unforgettable weekend.”

Now firmly established as one of the UK’s most unique live events, Rock N Roll Circus fuses world-class artists with aerialists, acrobats, fire performers, workshops and street theatre. With the main stage housed inside the Big Top, every show feels immersive, intimate and weather-proof.

With Ashcroft and The Streets now confirmed - and Saturday’s headliner on the horizon - organisers will unveil further artists and circus programming in the coming weeks.

TICKET INFORMATION

Presale opens Wednesday 3rd December 2025 –9am BST

General sale opens Friday 5th December 2025 – 9am BST

Venue: Don Valley Bowl, Sheffield

Tickets & info