TRNSMT Festival returns to Glasgow Green next week for another three days of live music, taking place earlier than usual on the weekend of 19th – 21st June. The 2026 lineup is as eclectic and wide-ranging as ever – spanning the kind of acts that fill Main Stages to the breakthrough names who are about to make everyone sit up and take notice. This year, it’s that latter group we’re most interested in.
Here’s our pick of the acts you need to make time for this weekend.
Brogeal
The Falkirk outfit are back at TRNSMT and this time they’re not messing about. Having spent the last few years steadily building one of the most devoted fanbases on the Scottish circuit – blending traditional folk, punk and indie into something entirely their own – Brogeal arrive at this year’s festival with serious momentum behind them after the release of their debut album ‘Tuesday Paper Club’. A band who just keep getting bigger and bigger, don’t miss their Main Stage debut on Saturday.
Alice Faye
An artist who has been steadily refining her craft for a number of years, Alice Faye arrives at TRNSMT 2026 as one of the most compelling singer-songwriters on the Scottish scene. Fresh from winning BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year 2026 and Sound of Young Scotland 2025, her music balances cinematic drama and chanson-inspired flair with intimate, confessional storytelling – and her voice is the kind that stops a crowd dead in its tracks.
Madra Salach
Few bands have generated as much intrigue in recent months as Madra Salach. The six-piece from Dublin developed their craft with a series of impomptu pub sessions in and around the Northside of the city, founded on a shared love of traditional and experimental Irish folk. Inspired by the likes of Lankum and The Pogues, their live show is utterly magnetic and has garnered them much plaudits. Their debut EP ‘It’s a Hell of an Age’ is now out, and it encapsulates everything that makes them such an exciting prospect – original, atmospheric and filled with heart and storytelling flair. Don’t miss their TRNSMT debut.
Westside Cowboy
Westside Cowboys’s live reputation now precedes them – their glorious amalgamation of country, alt-rock and folk (coined Britainicana) is thoughtful and melodic, yet loose and unpredictable. And it makes for a truly enthralling live show. Shifting from haunting, atmospheric moments to taut, melodic indie banger, they’re an infectious live band who are on an upwards trajectory.
BIIRD
BIIRD are an all-female trad supergroup that have been winning over the masses their infectious, high-energy live shows. Bringing the trad session vibe from the corner of a pub to a global audience, their energy is unmatched. Born out of a shared passion for keeping the tradition of Irish music alive, giving it a new look and keeping it on its toes, they’ve recently supported Ed Sheeran and played sold-out headline shows all over the UK and Ireland. Headlining the BBC Introducing stage on Sunday night, make sure you’re there.
James Emmanuel
Nigerian-born, Edinburgh-based James Emmanual channels the spirit of classic musical icons through his timeless soul music. From church choirs to the open mics and jam sessions of Edinburgh, he has spent time honing his craft and is now signed to the esteemed Decca Records. A powerful storyteller, his music is imbued with lived experience and deeply personal themes, led by a voice that’s rich, expressive, and unmistakably his own.
Tina Sandwich
Making her TRNSMT debut, Tina Sandwich and her band are a formidable live act – bringing a high-energy, tongue-in-cheek indie-rock sensibility to everything they do, underpinned by the singer’s sharp songwriting nous. A well-loved artist on the local scene, you can expect plenty indie sleaze bangers full of heart and a whole lot of fun. And this might be a chance to see some of her new music in action. Don’t miss out.
Tanzana
One of the most hotly tipped acts in Glasgow at the moment, Tanzana play the BBC Introducing Stage on Saturday as part of a stacked line-up of homegrown talent. Already making waves far beyond the refines of their hometown, they bring a dark mystique to their indie songwriting. Their songs are ambitious, playful, atmospheric – and always keep you guessing.
Mercy Girl
Glasgow four-piece Mercy Girl describe their sound as a blend of darkwave, EBM and electro pop – a pulsating, moody and ethereal concoction that has racked up thousands of streams online. They’ve not long completed a UK and European tour, and they return to their hometown for a slot on the BBC Introducing stage for a set that’s sure to blow the cobwebs away on Friday afternoon.
SOAPBOX
Loud, brash, unapologetic. Don’t forget to catch Soapbox on the BBC Introducing stage on Friday. The band are a well-oiled punk machine, having taken over stages all over the UK and Europe over the last 12 months. Fronted by the inimitable and often unpredictable Tom Rowan, they’re one of the best live bands in Glasgow right now – and they’re sure to make an impact at TRNSMT.
Basht
Dublin five-piece Basht have earned heaps of praise since they first emerged in 2021. With two EPs to their name, ‘Dirty White Lies’ from 2024 and ‘Bitter and Twisted’. they’re known for their dark, edgy guitar riffs, urgent vocals and emotionally nuanced lyrics – a grungy, post-punk concoction that translates into a compelling, high-energy live show.
Sister Madds
Sister Madds are sharp, witty and instantly memorable – full of indie pop hooks, jagged guitars and a punky sensibility. They recently shared their EP ‘Are You Hungry?’, and it’s full of tracks that will feel right at home on the BBC Introducing stage next Saturday.
Lacuna
Lacuna have had a quiet year by their standards, but their appearance at TRNSMT will mark off yet another milestone for the band. Known for their fun and infectious live shows, their music – atmospheric, dynamic and plaful – has helped them grow a devoted, word-of-mouth following. Having conquered many stages in and around Scotland, this will be another to mark off the list.
