Lovebox Festival 2026 Guide
Your planning guide to Lovebox 2026 at Dreamland, Margate — tickets, lineup by day, hotels and travel.
Tip: Lovebox is back for 2026 in a seaside theme-park setting — plan your train home early and bring a layer for later.
Quick links
Lineup by day · Tickets · Overview · Who it’s for · Dates & location · Hotels · Getting there · First-timer tips · Common mistakes · What people say · Related festivals · Map · FAQs · Final booking links
Lovebox Festival 2026 is a dance-led, two-day day festival at Dreamland, Margate (Kent) with multiple stages across the venue. It runs on Friday 29 May 2026 and Saturday 30 May 2026 — ideal if you want seaside rave energy and an easy London day trip option, without camping.
If you’re deciding whether it’s worth it, here’s the simple test: Lovebox is for you if you want big, feel-good headline moments (plus proper club-history bookings) and you’re happy with a “tickets → train → hotel” plan. Where people get it wrong is leaving travel and hotels too late — Margate weekends can book up quickly once the lineup lands.
How we build this guide: WarnFestivals pages are written by festival-goers and focused on the decisions that matter — tickets, travel and where to stay. We prioritise official sources (promoter/venue/Ticketmaster) and add real-world planning tips so you can decide if the festival is right for you. Some links may be affiliate links, which help support the site at no extra cost to you.
Last updated: 26 January 2026. Dates, venue and lineup checked against Dreamland’s official Lovebox page and the Ticketmaster lineup page.
Lineup by day (2026)
Lineup below is announced so far. Set times usually drop closer to the event, so use this as your “who’s on which day” plan.
Headline artists: Rudimental (Fri) · Scissor Sisters (Sat) · plus Friendly Fires, Soul II Soul (Live), Armand Van Helden and more
Friday 29 May 2026
- Rudimental (headline)
- Armand Van Helden
- Groove Armada (DJ set)
- Girls Don’t Sync
- DJ EZ
- David Rodigan
- Mike Skinner (DJ set)
- 4am Kru
- Goldie B2B Special Request
- Hot Blood
- Emily Rawson (Supa Dupa Fly)
- Jaw-G
- Abbie Neill
Saturday 30 May 2026
- Scissor Sisters (headline)
- Friendly Fires
- Soul II Soul (Live)
- Jayda G
- Dan Shake
- Horse Meat Disco
- Storm Mollison
- Dance Dance Dance
Headliners preview
Rudimental is built for big crowd energy: euphoric singalongs, drum-and-bass moments, and a headline slot that tends to feel like one long “hands in the air” finale.
Scissor Sisters brings pure party theatre — high-impact hits, glittery throwback vibes, and the kind of set that turns Dreamland into one giant dancefloor.
Armand Van Helden is a proper club-history booking: iconic house tracks, heavy grooves, and a DJ set that’s perfect for the “seaside rave” feel.
Friendly Fires hits the sweet spot between indie and dance: feel-good rhythms, big choruses, and a live set that suits a sunny coastal weekend.
Soul II Soul (Live) adds a classic UK dance legacy moment — a warm, singalong set that gives the day real variety beyond straight club nights.
Official lineup pages: Ticketmaster lineup · Official event page (Dreamland) · Resident Advisor listing
Tickets for Lovebox Festival 2026
Tickets are Ticketmaster only for Lovebox, with Friday day, Saturday day and a weekend ticket option. If you’re coming from London for the day, a day ticket is the cleanest plan. If you’re making a weekend of it, book your hotel early in Margate or nearby towns.
Quick choice: pick a day ticket if you’re doing one headline and heading home, or a weekend ticket if you’re staying over and want the full two-day run.
Official ticket link:
Tip: Stick to Ticketmaster for official tickets and updates. Avoid random social sellers.
- Ticket style: Day tickets (Fri / Sat) + weekend ticket
- Camping: No (this is a day festival at Dreamland)
- Common add-ons: VIP options, accessible tickets, and parking (where offered)
Tickets tip: the biggest mistake is sorting travel and hotels last. Margate weekends can book quickly when major events land.
Overview – what makes Lovebox special
Lovebox has a proper backstory. It began in London as a club night in 2002, then grew into a major outdoor festival (including years in Victoria Park), before taking a long break after the last London editions.
Now it’s back for 2026 after a long hiatus, reimagined on the coast at Dreamland in Margate. That means a different kind of Lovebox: seaside setting, multiple Dreamland spaces, and a very “doable” festival plan — arrive by train, enjoy the music, then head back to a hotel rather than a campsite.
What makes Lovebox different in 2026?
- It’s a landmark venue: Dreamland is a seaside theme park, so the setting feels more like a “day out + festival” than a normal field event.
- It’s built for hotels, not camping: you can do the whole weekend with a proper bed (Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate or Canterbury).
- It’s easy to split the weekend: one day ticket, one headline, then home — perfect if you want festival energy without the full commitment.
What’s Dreamland like for a festival day? Dreamland is a seaside theme park venue, so it feels more like a “proper day out” than a field festival — lots of clear landmarks and an easy place to set a meeting point.
- Good to know: expect the biggest pinch points at entry (bag checks) and at the end when everyone leaves at once.
- Station plan: if you’re training it, agree your “meet after” spot before the headliner ends so your group doesn’t get split.
- Coastal reality: it can feel cooler later — a light layer makes the journey home much nicer.
Official venue info: Dreamland visitor guidance
- Best for: Dance fans, groups, and anyone who wants a big festival lineup without camping
- Vibe: Seaside party with classic Lovebox energy
- Set-up: Day festival at Dreamland with multiple stages/spaces across the venue
Who it’s for (and who it’s not)
This is for you if…
- You want dance, club and party sounds with big headline slots
- You like the idea of staying in a town (food, pubs, beach) instead of camping
- You want an easy London day trip with a clear “arrive / rave / home” plan
Not ideal if…
- You only enjoy camping festivals with a full-on campsite community
- You hate late-night travel planning — queues can happen after the headline set
- You want a quiet weekend break (Margate gets lively on big event nights)
Dates & location
- Dates: Friday 29 May 2026 and Saturday 30 May 2026
- Where: Dreamland, Margate, Kent, CT9 1XJ
- Camping: No – this is a day festival, so plan hotels in Margate/Broadstairs/Ramsgate/Canterbury
Hotels (because there’s no camping)
For the easiest weekend, stay in Margate so you can walk or take a short taxi after the music. Broadstairs and Ramsgate are great nearby options (often better value), and Canterbury is a smart base if you want a bigger range of hotels with a straightforward train ride to the coast.
Stay closest: Margate
- Shortest journey home after the last set
- Best if you want a relaxed “walk back / quick taxi” finish
- Book early — popular weekends can sell fast
More choice: Broadstairs / Ramsgate / Canterbury
- Often better value, with plenty of places to stay
- Easy hop along the coast (Broadstairs/Ramsgate) or a simple rail base (Canterbury)
- Plan your return journey after the headliner (late trains/taxis get busy)
Hotel tip: if you’re arriving by train, pick somewhere close to Margate station to make late-night returns simpler.
Getting there
By train
Margate station is the main one to aim for. It’s a straightforward option from London, and it’s usually the easiest way to avoid parking stress. Expect queues after the headline set, so check return trains before you arrive.
By car
Driving can work, but parking in coastal towns gets busy on big weekends. If you drive, arrive earlier, use official car parks where available, and build in extra time for leaving after the music.
By shuttle / coach
Coach and shuttle options can change year to year. If you want organised travel, keep an eye on Dreamland’s visitor guidance and Ticketmaster updates.
Helpful: Official travel guidance (Dreamland) · Return announcement (Resident Advisor)
First-timer tips
- Sort travel early: check return trains (or pre-book a taxi) before you get to Dreamland.
- Dress for the coast: it can be warm in the crowd, then cooler later — bring a light layer.
- Arrive with time: you’ll avoid peak entry queues and have time to find your bearings.
- Pick a meeting point: agree a simple spot to regroup if your group splits up.
- Bring a power bank: you’ll want battery for tickets, maps and late-night travel.
Common mistakes (easy to avoid)
- Leaving your journey home until the last minute and getting caught in queues.
- Assuming you’ll find a decent hotel in Margate late — prices rise fast on big weekends.
- Not checking the latest entry details before you go (re-entry and ID rules can matter).
- Underestimating the “seaside chill” after dark — a layer makes a huge difference.
What people say (the vibe)
Lovebox is usually described as a party-first festival — big names, big crowd moments, and a soundtrack that leans heavily into dance and feel-good classics. The 2026 move to Dreamland keeps that energy, but adds a different flavour: seaside air, a venue with character, and a more “weekend break” feeling than a muddy field.
This section is designed to help first-timers understand the feel before committing — we keep it general and refine it as the event develops.
Festival location map
Address: Dreamland, Margate, Kent, CT9 1XJ
Tip: save the pin in Google Maps and screenshot your route before you travel (signal can be patchy when crowds leave together).
FAQs
Is Lovebox Festival 2026 in London?
No — Lovebox has a London history, but the 2026 edition is at Dreamland in Margate, Kent.
Is Lovebox Festival 2026 a camping festival?
No. This is a day festival, so most people stay in Margate or nearby towns like Broadstairs, Ramsgate or Canterbury.
Where can I see the latest lineup by day?
Use the Ticketmaster lineup page and the official Dreamland event page for updates.
Is Lovebox 18+ and can you re-enter?
Entry rules are set by the organiser and ticket terms. For this event, check the official event page for the latest details (including ID requirements and re-entry guidance).
More help: Official event details (Dreamland)
Ready to plan Lovebox Festival 2026?
Start with tickets, then lock in your hotel base (Margate if you want it easiest), then plan your train home so you’re not scrambling after the headliner.
Tip: Margate weekends can book quickly when major events land — booking accommodation early keeps the whole weekend calmer.
Key info
- Where: Dreamland, Margate, Kent
- Address: CT9 1XJ
- When: 29–30 May 2026
- Type: Day festival (no camping)
- Tickets: Ticketmaster only (day + weekend tickets)
- Main hub: Margate station (easy from London)
Best quick tip: decide your “home plan” before you arrive — either a return train checked, or a hotel within easy reach of the station.