“It brings some of the best in local talent, and global artists - to the sunny South Coast; you might even find your new favourite band.” - Victorious Festival 2026 Review - By The Fans Magazine

Words & Review: Grace Wearn

Photography Credit (Unless Stated): Grace Wearn

Amongst both community and chaos, Victorious Festival brings some of the best in local talent, and global artists - to the sunny (I say this loosely) South Coast. From Friday - Sunday in the August UK bank holiday; you can catch a variety of many different artists and bands across dotted around stages across the site, on all 3 days. And who knows? if you venture outside of your usual preferred stage; you might even find your new favourite band.

Victorious Festival in my hometown of Portsmouth, has been and will continue to be magic. It brings the best of local talent and equally global artists, to the South Coast. It opens up further conversations about much needed continuous funding for our incredible Grassroots venues locally like The Wedgewood Rooms and KOLA, but also not far down the road - The Joiners & The 1865. These vital venues provide the needed platform for local artists to showcase their passion and talent - to new fans and existing.

Photography credit to Steven Stringer.

The Festival for myself personally as a avid lover of live music and community is incredible, it’s allowed me to see, in particular, global artists that would usually only tour with a London date and not an option for a tour date along the South Coast.

As a typical British Festival goes, the weather was interesting. The Friday was dry ground and heavy gusts throughout the whole day, albeit the face full of dirt from the gusts picking up the dry mud and dried grass; by the end of the day. But we still had an incredible time.

First on the bill of our Friday lineup to watch was Pixie Lott. And what an incredible woman. Her crimson ensemble, combined with chic white sunnies and a detachable flowy sleeve - she looked nothing short of angelic. She played both fan favourites and newer material, and honestly despite the heavy gusts - she looked like she was having an incredible time. The crowd really enjoyed her set, given the packed out stage.

Photography credit to Tom Langford.

Next up was Vengaboys, and my god what a set. Before they were announced to play the Festival, I found a video on an old SD card of me and my sister singing “Boom, Boom, Boom Boom!!” on karaoke when I was 6, and my sister was 1 - talk about an iconic full circle moment. Their set was just an hour of an absolute party, their fans of all diverse ages - everyone just had an absolutely incredible time. They were just fun, and they didn’t just play the classics from their discography; they included mash-ups where the crowd were more than keen to be involved.

Then came The Vaccines, which due to overlap with the above - we didn’t manage to catch their full set. They’ve played in Portsmouth around six times, so this may’ve felt almost familiar soil to them. I was fortunate enough to see them play Portsmouth Guildhall a few years back, so I’ve almost had a preview of what to expect in this set. As always, they have incredible vocals and percussion; and lots of crowd engagement towards their fans - old and new, but also engagement from the crowd to the band.

Photography credit to Elliot Mcrae.

The incredible Scissor Sisters were next on the bill for Friday, and incredible were they!! Wow!? They started with my personal favourite “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’”, which got everyone around us in the entirety of the crowd; ironically, dancing. It was full holographic, glitter and sequins - and I absolutely loved every minute. It was just so so fun, and got me curious to wondering whether they’d be checking out the local drag bar later that evening (which is incredible) - Hampshire Boulevard (HB)?!

Photography credit to Tom Langford.

Then came Richard Ashcroft, the main-stage (common stage) headliner for Friday. I’d never seen or really heard of Richard Ashcroft before that day, and he was just an absolute powerhouse. Whilst dedicating a stunning tribute to the late Dolly Parton, his vocals and band were incredible. It rained during “A Song For The Lovers”, which was just beautiful.

Photography credit to Elliot Mcrae.

For Saturday, the afternoon special guest was the legendary Dizzee Rascal, who we also briefly got to roundabout way meet whilst interviewing the lovely Lottery Winners. Dizzee Rascal set was just filled with wholesome energy, and the crowd was packed out to the brim to watch his set. Of course in typical British fashion, it down poured at parts during his set - and again in British fashion, the crowd just erupted into fun filled chaotic energy, it was brilliant. But despite this, the sun did appear as he introduced his song “Bonkers”, incredible.

Photography credit to Toby Price.

We then watched The Lottery Winners, whom earlier in the day - Thom stated to us he didn’t think they’d get any new fans from the set, which I strongly disagree with. The crowd was packed despite the absolute heaving downpour and heavy gusts, and they just had fun. Not only did the crowd have dedicated fans of theirs watching their set, but also many potential new fans - especially families with children, who just made a laugh and fun out of the questionable weather conditions, at the time. The Lottery Winners are unapologetically themselves, and that is one of the reasons why it makes them so astounding. I’d also like to add a massive thank you to Thom and Kate for taking your time to natter to us prior to your set. Their vocals combined with percussion and nothing short of fun, make them as a band, so special. As also such a strong female influence from a female founded and run magazine, Kate always absolutely shreds the bass guitar and vocals.

Photography credit to Russ Leggatt.

Then we had The Ibiza Band on the ‘Under The Trees’ stage, one of my friends - Shannon, is in the band and I’d been meaning to catch them live for a good while, and Victorious ended up being the perfect opportunity. They were absolutely incredible and one of my favourite sets from the weekend, and I am not just saying that because I have a friend in the band. The crowd packed out the smaller stage, even myself looking back at the crowd - I couldn’t see where it ended. Everyone had so much fun, incredible harmonies from all of them as well as the accompanying instruments and the talent radiating from those playing them. The first half of the set had technical sound issues, but that did not affect The Ibiza Band - they still sounded absolutely amazing and the crowd danced, sang and partied with every ounce of energy, regardless.

We then watched Kate Nash, a powerhouse of a voice for representing fairness and feminism in the music industry. Her ensemble almost was fairy like, had a song dedicated to her Irish heritage and opened up a further conversation about feminism.

Photography credit to Eliot Mcrae.

Another favourite of mine from the weekend was Jessie J’ set. I’ve personally been a fan of her discography for 15 years, so getting to finally see her live - was an honour. Her set was wholesome, breathtakingly talented, and just fun - she played my favourite song from her discography “Domino”, alongside classics like “Do It Like A Dude” and “Price Tag” amongst her newer material. What really stood out to me along the diverse ages of the crowd, was her saying to the crowd “look after each other! are you all ok out there?”, it was very humble of her - considering the gusts and rain was horrendous at the time.

Photography credit to Tom Langford.

BEE2, Bobby Friction And The Bhangra All Stars were probably my favourite set of the whole weekend because of how much I loved it. The crowd was so diverse, and both the artists and the crowd were incredibly energetic and enthusiastic so genuinely you just could not help but smile and dance with everyone. It’s what music is purely all about - community. Absolutely astounding.

Then were Nile Roger’s & Chic - which are just timeless. Their set was incredibly popular, and even seeing them live myself for a second time at Victorious Festival; myself and so many other fans did not realise the extensive catalogue of songs that Nile Roger’s has had involvement in, lyrically.

Photography credit to Manon Hardcastle.

We opted to watch Bastille on the Saturday evening at The Castle Stage, I saw them play Portsmouth Guildhall back in 2013 and they’ve actively been part of my playlists for years since and now. They were incredible albeit despite technical issues forcing them on stage 20 minutes as delay, from their expected start time. Core memories were made from every crowd goer who continued to brave the weather to watch their set; particularly children sat on their loved one’s shoulders to get a better view of the band’ set. Amazing.

Photography credit to Emma Wurfel.

On the Sunday, Asha Banks graced The Castle Stage to a packed out crowd; full of many of her dedicated fans who had creative signs in hopes of getting a small moment of extra attention or affection from Asha herself. As part of her set, she played her latest single “Biggest Fan”, and met fans afterwards - which was so wholesome and not common for a Festival of this size.

Photography credit to Russ Leggatt.

James Arthur was then on The Common Stage, belting harmonic fan favourites amongst in the crowd of a green inflatable alien. The alien was iconic. The crowd was packed, which cements and showcases his incredible talent.

Photography credit to Tom Langford.

Basement Jaxx then finalised the Castle Stage headliner for what has been an incredible 3 days of talented showcases across all stages. It was fun, there was mosh pits where a crowd goer was being thrown in the air with their consent almost like in a circus trampoline! I quote “their set was off the charts!” as the common theme in comments from their Victorious Festival recap reel. Their  production and stage set was also, incredible.

Photography credit to Tom Langford.

A special thanks to Lauren & James from Carousel for having us, we had an incredible time.