Boxout Fest 2026: Two Days, One City and a Celebration of Culture

That time of the year again. Boxout Fest returned to bring Birmingham to life for another huge weekend of music, culture and community. Taking over Luna Springs across Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August, Boxout once again demonstrated why it has become one of the most anticipated dates on Birmingham’s summer calendar.

For the fourth consecutive year, the festival sold out, welcoming Birmingham through its doors across two days packed with live performances, DJ sets and plenty of moments. This year’s line-up brought together some of the most recognisable names from across UK music alongside DJs who know exactly how to control a Boxout crowd. Wohdee, Donae’o, Tion Wayne, Kojo Funds and Amaria BB were among the artists appearing across the weekend, while Double Impact, Lamar G, Craig Reckless, Supa D + Terminal 4, DJ Larni, DJ Puffy and many more took charge behind the decks.

Yet, as anyone who has experienced Boxout will know, the festival has always been about more than the names on the line-up.

With the sun shining over Digbeth, Saturday provided the perfect start to the Boxout weekend. While the opening day carried a slightly more relaxed feel compared to the energy that would follow on Sunday, that certainly did not stop the crowd from making their presence felt. From early in the day, people came ready for the occasion. The venue quickly began filling up, while groups could be seen forming within the crowd to dance along to the DJ sets. At points, festival-goers were taking centre stage themselves, breaking into full dance routines as those around them joined in or watched on.

Mak 10 was one of the DJs who really began to turn things up. Despite appearing earlier in the day, his set attracted an already packed crowd, with plenty of movement throughout as Boxout began finding its rhythm. Double Impact also featured across the day as the soundtrack continued building towards Saturday’s headline performances. Birmingham’s own Wohdee received plenty of love from the home crowd. Representing the city on a major festival stage, her performance was met with a strong reception, bringing plenty of energy while giving those in attendance another local artist to get behind. Donae’o provided one of Saturday’s biggest throwback moments with 'Party Hard'. A record seemingly built for an environment like Boxout, its reaction was big enough to warrant multiple reloads, with the track reportedly being wheeled back several times as the crowd continued asking for more.

As the day progressed, the attention eventually turned towards Saturday’s headliners, Tion Wayne and Tim Duzit. Both embraced the crowd rather than keeping their performances confined to the stage, getting amongst those in attendance to create some of Saturday’s standout moments. Tion Wayne’s appearance proved particularly popular, with fans surrounding him as he made his way into the crowd. It captured much of what made Saturday work. With Wingstop and Red Bull also partnering with Boxout across the weekend, Saturday ultimately set the foundations for what was still to come… another packed day in Digbeth on Sunday.

One of the first things you notice at Boxout is the crowd. The festival has developed an identity of its own, reflected in the people who attend just as much as the artists who perform. Stylish summer outfits filled the venue throughout the weekend, while flags representing different nations and cultures could be seen proudly held above the crowd. There is a togetherness to Boxout that can be difficult to manufacture at a festival. People arrive ready to enjoy themselves, but there is also a shared appreciation for the music, sounds and cultures represented throughout the weekend.

That connection is strengthened by the curation of the line-up. The artists, DJs and hosts all feel deliberately selected for the audience in front of them. Whether the soundtrack switches between UK rap, R&B, Afrobeats, dancehall, amapiano or another crowd favourite, there is always a sense that BOXOUT understands who it is catering for. The result is a crowd that does not simply watch the festival. It becomes part of it.

With Saturday setting the standard, Sunday had plenty to live up to... Competition winner Nésa Thea had the responsibility of welcoming some of the earliest arrivals, starting her set as the doors opened. As the venue gradually filled, the energy began to build ahead of another packed day in Digbeth.

One of Sunday’s standout moments came courtesy of Kojo Funds. For a moment, it felt like 2018 all over again. Rolling back the years, Kojo ran through some of the records that helped establish him as one of the most distinctive artists of that era. Tracks including 'Dun Talkin' and 'Check' gave the crowd a heavy dose of nostalgia, proving how strongly those songs still connect years after their original release.

It was exactly the type of moment that works at Boxout, familiar enough to have thousands singing along, yet unexpected enough to become one of the weekend’s talking points.

Across both days, the stage presence was one of Boxout's biggest strengths. There was rarely a moment where the stage felt empty or disconnected from the audience. Artists brought personality to their performances, DJs constantly fed off the reaction of the crowd, while the hosts played an equally important role in maintaining the energy between sets. That constant interaction made a noticeable difference.

At its best, a festival should feel like an exchange of energy rather than a series of performances. Boxout managed to create exactly that. The people on stage continuously gave the crowd something to respond to, while those in attendance returned that energy throughout the weekend. It helped turn individual sets into part of one wider experience.

Boxout's community focus extends beyond festival weekend itself. Ahead of this year’s event, the festival collaborated with Pirate to launch a DJ competition, giving two emerging DJs the opportunity to earn a place on the Boxout line-up. DJ Ay and Nésa Thea emerged as the winners, earning the chance to perform in front of sold-out crowds across the weekend. For emerging creatives, opportunities like this can be invaluable.

It was not simply a chance to play a DJ set. Both winners were given a platform to showcase their ability in front of a huge audience, increase awareness around their individual brands and experience performing within a major festival environment. Initiatives like this reinforce what Boxout represents within Birmingham’s creative community. While major artists and established DJs might attract the headlines, creating genuine opportunities for upcoming talent ensures the next generation has a route onto those same stages.

Two sold-out days. Thousands of people. Artists, DJs, creatives and music lovers all sharing the same space. BOXOUT 2026 was another reminder of what can happen when Birmingham’s creative community is given somewhere to thrive.

Away from the stage, people were networking, reconnecting with familiar faces, discovering new creatives or simply enjoying a weekend surrounded by people who share an appreciation for the same culture.

That feels particularly important when considering the wider conversation surrounding Digbeth.

For years, the area has established itself as one of the beating hearts of Birmingham’s creative scene. Festivals like Boxout demonstrate why protecting that identity matters, particularly as development surrounding HS2 continues to reshape parts of the city. Development is inevitable for a growing city, but Birmingham’s progress should not come at the expense of the spaces that have helped its independent music, nightlife and creative communities flourish. Events like Boxout provide a compelling argument for keeping culture at the centre of Digbeth’s future.

Four consecutive years of sold-out festivals tells its own story. Boxout has created an experience that its audience continues to return to, combining strong line-ups with an atmosphere rooted in culture and community. 2026 delivered another two days full of music, memorable performances, new connections and most importantly, people simply having a good time. There will always be bigger artists to book, new DJs to discover and different ideas to introduce. Yet the challenge for Boxout might not necessarily be becoming bigger. It might be protecting exactly what has made the festival special in the first place.