Gala Festival 2026 Review

GALA Festival returned to Peckham Rye Park for its landmark 10th anniversary and once again proved why it is considered one of London's finest independent music festivals. Expanding to three days for the first time, the festival welcomed thousands of music lovers for a carefully curated celebration of grime, house, techno, disco and dance music culture, all while maintaining the community spirit that has defined GALA since day one.

The music was the clear star of the weekend. Friday saw Giggs deliver a huge homecoming set that brought a distinctly South London energy to the festival. The Rinse FM stage was a particular highlight, with D Double E and Novelist reminding everyone why they remain such influential figures in grime. Their performances were packed with energy, sharp lyricism and crowd pleasing moments. The Born & Bread stage was another standout, delivering a lively atmosphere that celebrated local sounds and culture, while Infinite Sounds kept the vibes flowing with a selection that had dancers locked in throughout the day.

Saturday shifted gears into a house and techno marathon, with Job Jobse and Saoirse providing some of the most talked about performances of the weekend. By Sunday, the atmosphere became more relaxed as disco and melodic sounds drifted across the park, giving festival goers the perfect soundtrack to close out the bank holiday.

One of the festival's most charming features remains the iconic hay bales scattered around the site. They have become a GALA tradition, offering the perfect place to relax between sets, catch up with friends or simply take in the atmosphere. The Patio stage was another major success, creating an intimate setting where audiences could get remarkably close to the DJs while still feeling connected to the wider crowd.

GALA also impressed with excellent sound systems, strong production and smooth organisation. While long water queues and occasional crowd congestion caused some frustration, they were minor issues in an otherwise outstanding weekend.

Ten years on, GALA continues to strike the perfect balance between underground credibility and festival fun. It feels authentic, community driven and full of personality. If this anniversary edition is anything to go by, the future looks very bright indeed.