It’s the run-up to The London International Ska Festival once again with just over a month and a half to go until Easter weekend 2026 when the event will have its incredible 38th anniversary in London. Not only is it the second longest-running London music festival, it is the world’s longest-running and most famous ska festival championing ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, 2 Tone and beyond. This year’s festival also marks a number of other significant Jamaican music-related anniversaries – the 50th anniversary of Misty In Roots and Rock Against Racism, the 60th anniversary of the rocksteady genre itself and the 25th anniversary of festival founder Sean Flowerdew’s own band – Pama International who have releases planned throughout ’26.
The festival will occupy some familiar venues once again this year – Camden’s Electric Ballroom, The 100 Club, The Dixie Queen paddle steamer and The Dome in Tufnell Park, with more announcements on the way. Headliners include; Misty In Roots, The Selecter, Cimarons (the UK’s first reggae band currently basking in the critical acclaim for their documentary Harder Than Rock) and Jamaican legends Keith & Tex, Roy Panton & Yvonne Harrison. There will also be DJ sets from Madness’s Lee Thompson and lifelong friend of Terry Hall of The Specials (not to mention Bend It Like Beckham director) Gurinder Chadha and a host of others. Other highlights include the 50th anniversary Rock Against Racism show starring Misty In Roots, Cimarons, Rhoda Dakar and DJ Debbie Golt, Phoenix City All-stars performing The Clash In Dub, The Selecter performing on the Dixie Queen paddle steamer on Good Friday, Keith & Tex and Roy Panton & Yvonne Harrison performing on the Dixie Queen the next day, the HOT100 opening night (which stars 10 DJs spinning their favourite 10 tunes) and gigs by both Scottish sensation Pork Pie and the recently reformed all-female ska stars The Deltones.
THE LONDON INTERNATIONAL SKA FESTIVAL 2026 – full programme
Day 1 – Thursday 2nd April’26
HOT100 – 10 DJs, musicians, producers, crews each select their 10 favourite ska, rocksteady, reggae & 2 Tone dance floor killers including:
– Lee Thompson (Madness)
– Rim Bim (Jah Youth sound/Misty In Roots)
– Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham director)
– Boz Boorer
– Prince Chesbo & Spider J (Potato 5)
– Anna Vodka (NL)
– Nicki & J Bonner (USA)
– Pammi D & Angies D (Vinyl Magic)
– Nisa Mohamed (SG)
Downstairs at the Dome, Tufnell Park, London N19 (7pm)
Day 2 – Good Friday 3rd April’26
The Selecter, Pama Int’l Hi-Fi & guests and DJ Nanker P
Dixie Queen paddle steamer, Butlers Wharf Pier, London SE1 (Boards 12.15pm / sails 1pm-5pm)
Pork Pie, The Deltones & The False Dots
pus DJs Wozzer, Sally Brown & Ska Vision
The 100 Club, Oxford Street, London W1 (7.30pm)
Day 3 – Saturday 4th April’26
Rock Steady 60… celebrating Rock Steady’s 60th anniversary with
Keith & Tex, Roy Panton & Yvonne Harrison
plus DJs Oxman, Nicki & J Bonner (USA) & Freddy Reggae (Berlin)
Dixie Queen paddle steamer, Butlers Wharf Pier, London SE1 (Boards 12.15pm / sails 1pm-5pm)
Rock Against Racism 50th anniversary starring
Misty In Roots, Cimarons, Phoenix City All-stars x The Clash in Dub ft. Rhoda Dakar
plus DJ Debbie Golt & more tba
The Electric Ballroom, London NW1. 6pm-11pm
Closing party tba