Darker Waves Festival Announces 2026 Lineup Led by Morrissey

Huntington Beach, California, organizers of the Darker Waves Festival announced on Wednesday a 2026 lineup headlined by Morrissey and The Smashing Pumpkins, bringing together more than 35 alternative, post-punk, new wave and punk acts for a one-day oceanfront event on November 14 at Huntington City Beach.

The festival, returning after a three-year hiatus, will feature performances across three stages along the shoreline near Huntington Street and Pacific Coast Highway. Joining the headliners are veteran acts including Simple Minds, Bad Religion, Adam Ant, The Psychedelic Furs, Soft Cell, The Damned, Manic Street Preachers and Gary Numan. Additional performers include Silversun Pickups, Buzzcocks, EMF, Circle Jerks, Spacehog, Marky Ramone, Missing Persons, Modern English, The Motels, Christian Death, Cold Cave, TRST, Mariachi El Bronx, Gene, The Sounds and Purest Form, among others. Festival organizers shared the news on social media, posting, "Long time, no see."

Tickets go on sale Thursday with a presale starting at 10 a.m. Pacific time, offering early access to the lowest-priced general admission options for one hour. Fans can sign up for the festival's SMS list at...