Gala Festival 2026: The Starting Klaxon for Summer in London

Lauded as a highlight of the festival calendar, particularly by those living within the M25, Gala has seen its popularity continue to rise in recent years. Having never been before, the excitement was very real, particularly as this May bank holiday coincided with the first properly hot weather of the year. 

Having planned to attend on the Saturday, I had to endure tales from friends who were able to make it the previous day of a UK Rap extravaganza featuring Giggs, D Double E, Casisdead, amongst others. However, all the glowing reviews only added to our appetite for the day ahead. Arriving through a side entrance to a shady backstage bar with cold refreshments was a welcoming entry. A couple of crisp pints before stepping into the sunshine, and on to Saturday’s eclectic dance line-up. 

A quick pit-stop was made at Sydney-born, newly London-based Logic1000 for the end of her set; an ideal way to kick things off. We then settled over at the 1908 stage, occupied on the day by Berlin community radio station Refuge Worldwide. As the red tent provided respite from the blaring sun, Kia and Priori made us move with their hypnotic, dubby techno. A trip to the bar, then a squirt to the face from the kind of water sprayer you see at the hairdressers (whoever it was that brought that and offered it out freely, you are my hero. I honestly saw them about 7 times throughout the day - were they a figment of my imagination? A mirage due to the heat? A friend of a friend in the group I never got officially introduced to? No idea, but the joy they provided with their cold water-spray felt very real. Anyway, where were we?), and we wandered over to the Patio stage. Returning hosts, live music aficionados The Cause, served us up Sedef Adasï’s enjoyable acid-house wobblers for the next hour. Dancing our way through the early evening sunshine, it was one of those close-to-perfect moments in a day.

Our next stop was Donna’s, a stage I’d heard a lot about ahead of time, and it did not disappoint. Bashkka’s set was intoxicating. Blurring the lines of genre freely, it stood out as one of the best of the day, with the vibes in the crowd elevating things further. One unexpected moment came when, in the middle of the tent, the crowd parted biblically before two immaculately outfitted drag queens began strutting down the catwalk. With their green-accessorised fits, rhythmic movement and crowd-work, they took things up another gear when one did not expect there to be another gear in which for things to be taken. That’s a pretty ridiculous way to put that, but it was a pretty ridiculously good time. 

Taking things back, all the way to 1908, that’s where we decided to see out the day. Colombia’s electronic wizard Verraco did the honours, serenading the still full-of-energy crowd with a heavy set. Fusing latin rhythms with big bobbling basslines, his fearless approach to genres and penchant for hefty sounds created a thoroughly stimulating hour. 

With that, the day, and my first Gala experience was at an end. Music, outfits, drinks, sun, dance, cigarettes, sunglasses, water spray bottles, sun cream, and a whole lotta love. I think that just about sums it up. Gala was well-organised, excellently programmed, and had a friendly atmosphere. Oh, and the soundsystems were great, easily some of the best ones I’ve experienced in the London day festival scene (I’m looking at you, festival I won’t name and shame because I still want to get press tickets to attend it, but I think you know who you are, deep-down). Landing on a scorcher of a May bank holiday, that ‘London in summer’ feeling was viscous in the air. It truly felt like the best way to kick off the season. The only complaint you could come up with is not wanting it to be all over before midnight, which is a pretty good sign I’d say? See you this time next year.