Harry Styles Curates Meltdown Festival

- Meltdown is the longest-running artist-curated music festival in the world, having been held annually at London's Southbank Centre since 1993. The 2026 edition, curated by Styles, will be the 31st iteration of the festival and is scheduled to run for 11 days from June 11 to June 21. - The role of curator involves hand-picking the entire lineup for the multi-arts festival, which spans music, art, and film across the Southbank Centre's 11-acre site. The event will also coincide with the 75th anniversary of the Southbank Centre. - Previous curators include influential artists such as Robert Smith of The Cure (2018), M.I.A. (2017), Patti Smith (2005), and Morrissey (2004). In 1998, DJ John Peel was the first non-musician to curate, shifting the festival's focus from classical to contemporary and indie music. - The festival has a history of hosting iconic and unexpected performances, including the reunion of the New York Dolls during Morrissey's 2004 Meltdown and what would be Jeff Buckley's final UK performance in 1995, curated by Elvis Costello. - As is tradition for the guest curator, Styles will perform a headline concert during the festival. This will be a notably intimate show, as the Southbank Centre's main auditorium seats 2,700, a fraction of the 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium where he recently completed a 12-show run. - Styles' lineup is expected to reflect his known musical influences, which range from pop and rock to funk and soul. He has previously performed with artists such as Stevie Nicks, Shania Twain, and Lizzo.