Depot in the Castle Returns to Cardiff Castle with Sugababes and The Wombats Headlining
Cardiff’s much loved home grown festival, Depot in the Castle, is set to return to the iconic grounds of Cardiff Castle on Saturday 25 July 2026. With the full line up now revealed, the event is shaping up to be one of the city’s biggest summer celebrations.
This year’s headline acts bring together pop royalty and indie favourites, with Sugababes joining The Wombats for an all day party of live music, street food and family friendly fun.
Sugababes first hit the charts back in 2000 with Overload and have since built one of the most recognisable pop catalogues of the last two decades. Tracks like Round Round, Freak Like Me and Push The Button have soundtracked countless nights out, and their famously tight harmonies remain a huge draw. Fresh from their biggest UK arena tour to date and a run of new releases including When The Rain Comes, Jungle and Weeds, they are set to bring both nostalgia and fresh energy to Cardiff Castle.
The Wombats return as headliners with a live reputation that has made them one of the UK’s most enduring indie bands. Arriving off the back of their sixth studio album Oh! The Ocean, fans can expect a hit filled set packed with crowd favourites such as Let’s Dance to Joy Division, Moving to New York, Greek Tragedy and Kill the Director.
The rest of the line up continues Depot in the Castle’s tradition of mixing big names with rising talent. Red Rum Clubwill bring their mariachi tinged Merseybeat sound to the Castle, known for huge singalongs and trumpet led hooks. Cardiff born singer songwriter Ben Ellis is also on the bill, continuing his strong run of hometown shows as his profile grows.
Also representing the city are Afro Cluster, whose high energy live sets draw from West African funk, Afrobeat and hip hop, along with local upstarts The Family Battenberg and Ian Davies.
Set in the heart of the city, Depot in the Castle is about more than just music. Alongside the live performances, festival goers can expect a strong line up of street food traders, family friendly activities and a relaxed summer atmosphere within the Castle walls.
Now firmly established as one of Wales’s standout summer events, the festival has welcomed some huge names in recent years. The 2025 edition was headlined by Jess Glynne, with previous line ups featuring Maxïmo Park, Sigma, Kate Nash, Professor Green and Goldie Lookin’ Chain.
