FKA Twigs To Curate Meltdown Festival 2027 At Southbank Centre

FKA twigs has been announced as the curator of Meltdown 2027, with the London festival set to run for 11 days from 10 to 20 June at the Southbank Centre. The British artist will lead a programme celebrating London’s cultural diversity, with early confirmed highlights including pianist Lang Lang, rock musician Patti Smith and composer Philip Glass.

The announcement also introduces Hometown Meltdown, a new nationwide initiative designed to support grassroots music venues across the UK. Running from December 2026 to March 2027, the project will bring artist-curated events to six cities, connecting established musicians with independent venues and local audiences.

FKA Twigs to lead Meltdown 2027 in London

FKA twigs, the singer, songwriter, dancer and multidisciplinary artist, will take charge of the 2027 edition of Meltdown, one of the Southbank Centre’s longstanding music festivals.

The 38-year-old artist plans to draw on her experiences growing up and developing her creative identity in London, bringing together different musical styles, artistic traditions and cultural influences.

Announcing her appointment, FKA twigs said:

I am honoured and excited to be curating Meltdown at the Southbank Centre.

She reflected on her journey through London’s creative communities, from her education at Croydon College to underground cabaret clubs and warehouse parties, as well as performing her operatic music in one of the capital’s largest arenas.

She continued:

The potent artistic and cultural landscape in London has raised me from Croydon College, to performing in underground cabaret clubs, dancing till sunrise in warehouses on the docks and last year being lucky enough to sing my operatic songs in one of the largest arenas in London.

Explaining her vision for the festival, she highlighted the city’s ability to bring together artists and communities from different backgrounds.

The cultural and artistic clash in this city is like no other. Where cultures, sounds, stories and traditions from all over the world meet, collide and transform one another. I intend to bring you a slice of all that has raised me and continues to inspire me: celebrating the diversity, freedom and creative energy that I believe makes London one of the world’s great capitals of music and the arts.

Lang Lang, Patti Smith and Philip Glass among early highlights

The first announced names for Meltdown 2027 include three artists with distinct approaches to music and performance.

• Lang Lang: The internationally recognised concert pianist, known for his classical performances.

• Patti Smith: The influential American singer, songwriter and poet whose work helped shape the relationship between rock music and punk.

• Philip Glass: The American composer associated with contemporary classical music and minimalism.

Further performers are expected to be announced as the programme develops. The final line-up will offer a fuller picture of how FKA twigs intends to bring together London’s different musical and artistic communities.

Mometown Meltdown brings artist-curated events to grassroots venues

Alongside the main London festival, the Southbank Centre has announced the inaugural Hometown Meltdown, a nationwide programme intended to highlight the role of grassroots music venues in the UK’s cultural landscape.

Running from December 2026 to March 2027, the initiative will feature six two-day events, each curated by an artist connected to the local area.

The announced programme spans Wales, England and Scotland, with independent venues hosting performances selected by the participating curators.

Hometown Meltdown 2026-2027: dates, venues and curators

The initial schedule includes the following events:

The December event featuring Kelly Lee Owens is the first in the series. The programme then moves between venues in Cornwall, Scotland and England before concluding in Sheffield in late March 2027.

The dates and venues provide an early outline of the project, although additional performers and programme details are still to be announced.

Music venue trust welcomes grassroots venue initiative

Beverley Whitrick, chief operating officer of Music Venue Trust, welcomed the announcement, highlighting the contribution independent venues make to the UK’s live music network.

She said:

Grassroots Music Venues are often overlooked in conversations about the cultural infrastructure for the UK, even though they provide access to incredible live music in well over 800 locations across the four nations.

Whitrick also praised the Southbank Centre for recognising the importance of these spaces and bringing them into a national cultural programme.

Not only is Hometown Meltdown an exciting project in terms of the curators, artists, venues and audiences it will bring together, but the Southbank Centre’s recognition and championing of these venues is a powerful statement about the music ecosystem.

The initiative places grassroots venues at the centre of a wider programme that connects artists, audiences and local music communities. Further line-up announcements are expected in due course.

Previous Meltdown curators include David Bowie and Harry Styles

Meltdown has a long history of inviting artists to shape its programme, with previous curators including David Bowie, Harry Styles, Patti Smith, Grace Jones and Robert Smith of The Cure.

Each edition gives its curator the opportunity to reflect their own musical interests and creative influences through a programme of performances and events.

FKA twigs’ appointment continues that tradition, while Hometown Meltdown extends the Southbank Centre’s approach beyond London by bringing artist-led programming to grassroots venues around the UK.

Further details about Meltdown 2027 and Hometown Meltdown are expected as the events approach.