Written by: Kai Eldridge, Music Discovery Editor, OnesToWatch
Key Takeaways
- Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ 2018 headline set set All Points East’s emotional benchmark with haunting, unforgettable intensity.
- Fred again.. turned Victoria Park into a euphoric open-air rave, blending garage, house, and raw vocal samples into a career-defining moment.
- LCD Soundsystem’s 2018 revival and Nia Archives’ 2023 jungle renaissance showcase All Points East’s strength in electronic music.
- Artists like Charli XCX, Turnstile, and Caroline Polachek used All Points East to springboard from cult favorites to mainstream fixtures.
- The 2026 lineup adds Lorde, Tyler, The Creator, Deftones, Twenty One Pilots, and PinkPantheress to this legacy. Discover more rising stars with OnesToWatch.
The 15 Most Legendary All Points East Performances
From the festival’s 2018 debut through the most anticipated 2026 bookings, these 15 sets trace All Points East’s rise as London’s home for career-defining performances. The ranking reflects cultural impact, crowd response, and lasting influence on the festival’s identity across indie, electronic, and genre-blurring artists.
1. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (2018) • 2. LCD Soundsystem (2018) • 3. Fred again.. • 4. Nia Archives (2023) • 5. The National (2018) • 6. Charli XCX (2022) • 7. Turnstile • 8. Caroline Polachek (2024) • 9. Overmono • 10. Jorja Smith • 11. Lorde (2026 Preview) • 12. Tyler, The Creator (2026 Preview) • 13. Deftones (2026 Preview) • 14. Twenty One Pilots (2026 Preview) • 15. PinkPantheress (2026 Preview)
Note: The performances below are organized by theme rather than strict numerical order. Each number matches its place in the overall Top 15 ranking above.
Electronic Highs That Defined Victoria Park Nights
Electronic music sits at the heart of All Points East’s identity, from rave-ready headliners to boundary-pushing underground acts. These three sets show how the festival turns Victoria Park into a dance floor without losing emotional depth.
3. Fred again.. – The Crowd-Melting Electronic Euphoria
Fred again.. delivered pure electronic bliss and turned Victoria Park into a massive outdoor rave. His blend of garage, house, and emotionally charged vocal samples created a wave of collective euphoria that had the crowd moving as one. The producer’s ability to build tension through live mixing and then release it in explosive drops demonstrated a mastery of live electronic performance that few peers can match, a skill that has established him as electronic music’s most exciting live performer.
Fan reactions on Reddit described the set as “life-changing” and “the moment electronic music peaked at festivals.” OnesToWatch spotlighted Fred again.. early in his rise, and his All Points East set captured that perfect balance of underground credibility and mainstream reach that defines modern festival dance music.
4. Nia Archives (2023) – The Jungle Revival That Sparked a Movement
Nia Archives brought jungle and drum & bass roaring back into the spotlight with her electrifying 2023 performance. She fused 90s rave nostalgia with contemporary R&B vocals, creating a sound that felt both rooted in history and sharply forward-looking. Her energy on stage was infectious and turned the set into a lesson in how to honor a genre’s past while rewriting its future.
This performance marked a turning point for UK underground music at major festivals. OnesToWatch had already highlighted Nia Archives as a rising force, and her All Points East moment confirmed that early belief. Her planned 2026 return points toward even bigger stages and cements her as one of electronic music’s most vital voices.
9. Overmono – The Techno Twins’ Hypnotic Masterpiece
Brothers Tom and Ed Russell delivered a hypnotic techno journey that charted their path from underground favorites to festival mainstays. Overmono performed at All Points East in 2021, 2022, and 2025, each time blending driving rhythms with melodic interludes to create a sound that felt both cerebral and deeply physical. Their control of pacing kept the crowd locked in for the full hour.
Overmono’s sets showed how sophisticated, detail-rich dance music can thrive on a big festival stage. Their presence in OnesToWatch coverage underlines the platform’s focus on electronic artists who treat live performance as a full narrative experience.
Indie Legends Who Shaped the Festival’s Identity
All Points East built its reputation on emotionally charged, musically rich performances from indie heavyweights. These sets defined what a headline night in Victoria Park should feel like.
1. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (2018) – The Haunting Debut That Set the Standard
Nick Cave’s inaugural All Points East headline performance remains the festival’s emotional high-water mark. The Australian icon delivered a career-spanning set that balanced his darkest material with moments of fragile beauty. His commanding presence and the Bad Seeds’ precision created an atmosphere of reverent intensity that held Victoria Park’s 40,000-strong crowd in complete silence.
The performance mixed deep cuts with classics, and Cave’s stories between songs added extra weight to each moment. This combination of artistic depth and emotional intensity established All Points East as a festival capable of hosting truly legendary performances, not just booking big names. Later editions have chased the standard set that night.
2. LCD Soundsystem (2018) – The Euphoric Revival
James Murphy and LCD Soundsystem’s 2018 performance captured the band in full command of their catalog and their audience. Their mix of punk urgency and dance floor release turned the park into one huge, moving crowd. Every song felt like a shared celebration of live music’s communal power.
Murphy’s dry, self-aware banter and the band’s tight playing reminded fans why LCD Soundsystem remains one of indie’s most beloved live acts. The emotional peak during “All My Friends” instantly entered festival lore and showed how a single song can unite tens of thousands of people.
5. The National (2018) – The Brooding Masterclass
The National delivered a brooding, atmospheric set that wrapped Victoria Park in layers of guitar, piano, and baritone vocals. The National performed at All Points East in 2018 and proved how intimate, carefully written songs can scale up to a huge outdoor stage without losing nuance.
The Cincinnati band’s performance showed that emotional honesty and meticulous arrangements can command a massive crowd as effectively as big hooks. Their presence in the lineup represents the indie rock craft that All Points East continues to champion. Check out OnesToWatch’s Top Artists To Watch in 2026 to discover who is carrying that torch next.
While legends like Cave, LCD Soundsystem, and The National set the artistic bar, All Points East also stands out for how it spots and elevates the next wave of headliners. The following performances show how the festival nurtures artists on the brink of breakthrough.
Emerging Breakouts Who Became Headliners
6. Charli XCX (2022) – The Pop Revolution
Charli XCX’s 2022 performance captured her shift from cult pop innovator to mainstream force. She combined hyperpop experimentation with undeniable hooks, creating a show that felt futuristic yet instantly singable. Her confident stage presence and sharp vocals confirmed her status as one of pop’s most influential figures.
The set highlighted Charli’s talent for stretching pop’s boundaries while still connecting with a wide audience. OnesToWatch’s early coverage of her work foreshadowed this moment, when she fully stepped into festival-headliner territory.
7. Turnstile – The Hardcore Crossover
Baltimore’s Turnstile brought hardcore punk energy to a crowd far beyond the usual scene. Their blend of heavy riffs, bright melodies, and open-hearted lyrics sparked a mosh pit that spread across the field. Frontman Brendan Yates’ charisma and the band’s tight playing showed how heavy music can feel welcoming instead of closed-off.
Their set marked a breakthrough for hardcore at large-scale festivals. It also underlined All Points East’s willingness to program heavier sounds alongside indie and electronic acts.
8. Caroline Polachek (2024) – The Art Pop Revelation
Former Chairlift vocalist Caroline Polachek delivered a visually and sonically rich solo set in 2024. Her ethereal vocals floated over intricate arrangements, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that still felt emotionally direct. The performance turned Victoria Park into something closer to a surreal theater than a typical festival field.
Polachek’s show proved how meticulous artistry and vocal control can hold a huge audience in quiet focus. Long featured on OnesToWatch playlists, she embodies the kind of boundary-pushing creativity the platform loves to highlight.
10. Jorja Smith (2026) – The R&B Renaissance
Jorja Smith is scheduled to perform at All Points East on 21 August 2026, a milestone moment for the Walsall-born singer. Her rich vocals and carefully crafted R&B arrangements create an atmosphere of soulful elegance that reflects years of steady growth. The booking recognizes her shift from promising newcomer to fully established star.
Smith’s upcoming set continues All Points East’s role in artist development, where early promise grows into headline stature. Her performance will underline how strong songwriting and vocal excellence remain the core of great live shows.
Smith’s August 2026 appearance is one of several major announcements that make the next edition feel like the festival’s most ambitious yet. Five additional headliners reveal the full scope of All Points East’s 2026 vision.
2026 Preview: The Future of All Points East
The 2026 lineup builds on the festival’s habit of pairing established icons with bold new voices. These five bookings echo the emotional depth of Nick Cave, the innovation of LCD Soundsystem, and the forward-thinking energy of Nia Archives and Fred again… Together they show how All Points East keeps evolving without losing its core identity.
11. Lorde (2026 Preview) – The Anticipated Return
Lorde is scheduled to perform on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the All Points East festival, marking a major return to the UK festival circuit. Her journey from teenage pop prodigy to nuanced art pop writer mirrors the festival’s own growth, with both favoring emotional honesty over formula.
12. Tyler, The Creator (2026 Preview) – The Double Header
Tyler, The Creator is scheduled to perform on both Friday, August 28, and Saturday, August 29, 2026. This rare double headline run reflects his huge drawing power and restless creativity, and it positions him as one of the defining voices of the weekend.
13. Deftones (2026 Preview) – The Metal Masters
Deftones is scheduled to perform on Sunday, August 23, 2026, bringing their atmospheric, emotionally charged metal to Victoria Park. Their set promises a cathartic release that fits naturally alongside the festival’s history of intense, immersive performances.
14. Twenty One Pilots (2026 Preview) – The Arena Energy
Twenty One Pilots is scheduled to perform on Sunday, August 30, 2026. Their mix of alternative rock, hip-hop, and electronic elements, paired with high-impact staging, will close the festival with full arena-level energy.
15. PinkPantheress (2026 Preview) – The Gen Z Phenomenon
PinkPantheress is scheduled to perform on Saturday, August 22, 2026. She represents a new generation blending nostalgic UK garage and drum & bass textures with modern pop songwriting, a sound that feels tailor-made for All Points East’s forward-facing crowd.
Why All Points East Keeps Delivering
All Points East consistently creates standout live music moments through careful curation and a 40,000 daily capacity that balances scale with intimacy. This manageable size lets the festival take creative risks, pairing legends with emerging artists in ways that feel intentional rather than token. The result is an environment where career-defining sets happen regularly, a tradition the 2026 edition with Lorde, Tyler, The Creator, Deftones, Twenty One Pilots, and PinkPantheress looks set to continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best All Points East sets by year?
Standout sets range from Nick Cave’s haunting 2018 debut to Fred again..’s electronic euphoria, Nia Archives’ 2023 jungle revival, and Jorja Smith’s anticipated R&B showcase in 2026. The upcoming edition continues this legacy with headliners such as Lorde, Tyler, The Creator, Deftones, Twenty One Pilots, and PinkPantheress. Each year blends established icons with rising artists who are still building their stories.
What do Reddit users say about All Points East’s best sets?
Reddit users regularly single out Fred again..’s performance as “life-changing” and describe Nick Cave’s 2018 set as emotionally overwhelming. Fans also praise the festival’s mix of mainstream headliners and underground favorites, noting that the variety keeps the weekend engaging without sacrificing quality.
Which electronic sets stand out at All Points East?
Fred again.. leads the conversation for electronic highlights, with Nia Archives’ jungle renaissance and Overmono’s hypnotic techno journey close behind. These sets show how electronic artists can translate studio detail into live energy and real-time connection with tens of thousands of people.
Which emerging artists have delivered breakthrough performances?
Nia Archives, Turnstile, Caroline Polachek, and Charli XCX all used All Points East as a springboard to larger stages. Their performances illustrate the festival’s role in artist development and its strong track record of elevating new talent before the rest of the world fully catches on.
What should fans expect from All Points East 2026?
The 2026 edition offers a wide spectrum of sounds, from Lorde’s art pop storytelling and Tyler, The Creator’s ambitious double headline run to Deftones’ atmospheric metal and PinkPantheress’ Gen Z club-pop. This mix of established names and fresh voices keeps All Points East aligned with its history of delivering emotionally charged, genre-spanning sets.
All Points East has grown into London’s essential festival for discovering the future of music while celebrating artists already at their peak. From Nick Cave’s emotional devastation to Fred again..’s rave-sized joy, these 15 performances capture the festival’s commitment to authentic artistry and powerful live shows. The 2026 lineup is poised to add new classics to that story, making the next edition a priority for serious music fans. Explore OnesToWatch’s Top Artists To Watch in 2026 and get ahead of the next wave of festival headliners. Discover your next favorite artist and the stories behind their rise. Explore OnesToWatch for exclusive in-depth content that maps the future of music.