Rock en Seine might just be the music event of the year: A down-low on what to expect from this year’s lineup

Since it began in 2003, the Rock en Seine festival has hosted some of the biggest names in music and platformed countless newcomers. With a daily capacity of 40,000 and four different stages, the festival draws a huge crowd, creating an undoubtedly electric atmosphere. The festival is also home to exhibitions, events, and talks. 

Rock en Seine is held at the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, a historical park just outside Paris and will take place this year across five days from 26 to 30 August.  

So, who will be taking the stage? 

Day One

On Wednesday 26 August, Rock en Seine kicks off with headliner Tyler the Creator. The festival has also confirmed that this will be Tyler the Creator’s only live show in France for 2026, making his headliner slot a national exclusive. After the release of his 2025 album Don’t Tap The Glass, and his beloved 2024 record CHROMAKOPIA, Tyler the Creator has plenty of material to bring a brilliant set to Rock en Seine.  

Ravyn Lenae and Sombr will be supporting Tyler the Creator on Wednesday. After an exceptionally successful 2025, both artists will bring plenty of crowds to the stage for their sets. Fans of Sombr should expect to hear all the hits from his 2025 album I Barely Know Her, and Ravyn Lenae will surely be performing her viral single ‘Love Me Not’ along with tracks from her insanely underrated 2024 record Bird’s Eye. 

French-Korean artist Miki is also bringing vibes akin to Caroline Polachek and Oklou to Wednesday’s lineup, so this opening day of Rock en Seine is bound begin with an unforgettable energy.  

Day Two

The second day of the festival will welcome New Zealand’s superstar Lorde. Fresh off her Ultrasound world tour, Lorde will be bringing her new x-ray inspired aesthetic and raw lyrical vulnerability to the Rock en Seine stage with songs from her latest record, Virgin.  

Also performing on Thursday is DJO, known in the world of television as Stranger Things star Joe Keery. He will be bringing a sound that the festival calls ‘strokes-adjacent’ as he plays his beloved song ‘End of Beginning’ with tracks from his new project, The Crux.  

Joining Lorde and DJO is Tash Sultana, a solo artist proficient in a plethora of instruments and known for their masterful use of sound loops, and the multitalented singer and dancer Sam Quealy. 

Day Three

Friday’s lineup is filled with British and Irish icons. Mercury Prize winning and multi-instrumental Irish talent CMAT, British indie band Wet Leg and the legendary Scottish trio Biffy Clyz will be playing, with the latter performing their hits alongside music from their tenth album, Futique.  

Franz Ferdinand are on the lineup for the festival’s third day, bringing with them a musical legacy of over twenty years. Hearing ‘Take Me Out’ in the idyllic Domaine National de Saint-Cloud will be an unmissable experience, but if that isn’t enough, The Black Keys will be returning to Rock en Seine after 14 years to play tracks off of their upcoming album, Peaches!.  

Also playing on Friday are Kurt Vile & The Violators and Wilco. 

Lastly, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds will round out this monumental Friday evening with a set bound to capture the crowd completely.  

Day Four

Deftones are the big name for the Saturday lineup. With ten albums of material to play with, they will undoubtedly provide exactly what fans are hoping for. Their most recent album, Private Music, was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 68th Grammy Awards and is acclaimed by fans and critics alike.  

They’ll be joined by a whole host of stellar acts, including Turnstile, with their punk-infused yet multi-genre sound, and Mannequin Pussy, bringing their raw, gritty lyricism and indie-rock atmosphere. Saturday night is set to be spectacular.  

Also on Saturday will be music from Amyl & The Sniffers, Landmvrks, Lambrini Girls, Fcukers, and Afi. 

Day Five

The Cure will conclude the festival, playing their critically acclaimed 2024 album Songs of a Lost World to a French festival audience for the first time. The band may also play new music, after revealing in 2025 that they have already recorded songs for a follow-up album to their 2024 record. 

Dry Cleaning and Bertrand Belin are set to perform on this final day of the festival, and Slowdive will be back for their second appearance at the festival since their reunion in 2014, playing their three original projects Just for a Day (1991), Souvlaki (1993) and Pygmalion (1995) alongside music from their more recent records.  

Interpol is also in Sunday night’s lineup, playing Rock en Seine for their third time.