boundaries 

“…Boundaries is most effective and affecting when it pushes hardest, as it captures something of Sunderland’s character, its Northern humour, coastal weirdness and industrial clang… It’s big, bold – and it doesn’t feel out of place…” The Wire Magazine‍ ‍‍ ‍

“ It was so exciting to be thrown onto such a wild and glorious bill, a right old stew of new artists rubbing shoulders with some real legends of the underground scene. Right from the off Boundaries had that elusive sense of 'MAGIC' in the air! “ Richard DAWSON

The festival is back for our 6th Edition and we are so excited to share news regarding programme & tickets below..

Hello!! I’m super excited to finally announce the first wave of artists performing at this year’s 6th edition of Boundaries Festival in Sunderland.

It’s been a long time coming and we really appreciate your patience, but as you can see, it was very, very worth the wait!!

Every year we want Boundaries to grow, bringing the most exciting, adventurous, bold and experimental artists from all over the world and all across the UK to Sunderland. This years edition is bigger and better than ever..
TICKET LINK AT THE BOTTOM!

This year’s programme is absolutely bursting with incredible talent, variety, deep ideas, different methods and unique visions. It’s a real pleasure to be involved in such a lineup — and we still have more to announce!!

BOUNDARIES 2026 FIRST WAVE OF ARTISTS:

For this year’s 6th edition we have the stunning Peruvian musician, producer and guitarist ALEJANDRA CARDENAS - (Ale Hop), bringing her trio of - GIBRANA CERVANTES - & - IGNACIO BRICENO - to perform music from her beautiful recent album " A Body Like Home ". Live, the music expands through guitars, violins, synths, wonderful textures, samples, feedback and field recordings — calm, immersive and deeply reflective. Something very special indeed.

We’re incredibly excited to welcome - S L I K B A C K - from Kenya, one of the most distinctive voices in experimental electronic music today!. His dark, physical and futuristic sound combines huge bass, fractured rhythms, distortion and otherworldly textures. Expect something excitingly intense and stunning!.

- NINA GARCIA - the French Colombian , joins us with her extraordinary approach to the electric guitar, using feedback, distortion, electronics and extended techniques to completely transform the instrument. Raw, abrasive, beautiful and unpredictable.

We’re delighted to have - Jessica Ekomane - joining us from Berlin. Her immersive electronic work explores electronics, noise, psychoacoustics, creating music that can be calm and chaotic all at once, while powerful and incredibly physical. Jessica will perform a very exciting 4 speaker Quadrophonic set.

A special collaboration comes from New Yorks & LOS ANGELES - Elori Saxl - - Henry Solomon -, bringing together Elori’s beautiful analogue electronic synth worlds with Henry’s expressive saxophone and improvisation. Taking from there recent debut collab album. This will be a very intimate meeting of electronics, melody and textural zones!

From Dublin we welcome - Dressing - performing solo. Electronics, manipulated sounds, tape loops and whatever come together in music that is playful, strange, warped and wonderfully difficult to pin down. Beautiful!

We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome London based, legendary British improvising saxophonist, - John Butcher - to Boundaries. His extraordinary performances explore his fascination with deeper resonance, overtones, silence and the physical possibilities of the saxophone. A true master of experimental improvisation.

- Kogumaza - UK trio recently started playing live again after a little hiatus, readying a new album. Their is a huge, hypnotic instrumental sound of guitars and drums. Drawing on heavier tones with feel and emotions, drone, repetition and slow-burning intensity of the riff, their music is heavy, immersive and completely absorbing.

And that’s just the first wave!!

As always, we’re constantly thinking about growth, new ideas and creating new experiences with every edition of Boundaries, so we’re super happy to be working with the newly built CULTURE HOUSE in Sunderland.

This exciting new space will host live performances, workshops and art screenings, adding another dimension to the festival and giving us even more opportunities to bring artists and audiences together.

Culture House now joins the rest of our brilliant venues involved this year — Pop Recs, Culture House, The City Hall and The Minster. Four incredible locations right in the middle of Sunderland City Centre all located next to one another!

We genuinely can’t thank all of the venues enough for their continued support. We always want the locations to complement the performances and create different experiences throughout the weekend and we’re incredibly excited about what every space will bring to this year’s edition.

We’re also really proud that Boundaries remains fully accessible, all-ages and affordable. We want all types of music and art to be something everyone can experience, regardless of age or income, so low-income tickets will be available alongside our regular ticket options.


The past five years have been a truly inspiring and rewarding experience and we’re still so very keen to keep creating and sharing these incredible experiences with each other or another 5 years!

For me, that’s what Boundaries is all about. It all works as one together...The artists, the venues, the audiences, the ideas, the sounds and the people behind it...creating these deeply invigorating and memorable moments.

I honestly can’t thank you all enough for being part of the past five years. What a ride!

Day tickets and the full day-by-day programme will be announced very soon.

If you could share this and spread the word to anyone you think might be interested in this year’s Boundaries, we would deeply and greatly appreciate it. It’s looking like a genuinely special and inspiring edition, and we honestly can’t wait to see you all.

2 DAY TICKET BELOW:

https://www.eventbrite.com/.../boundaries-fest-2026...

Just like last year we will have 4 have 4 ticketing options.

4 options: £25 / £35 / £45 / £55 SUPER SUPPORTER

Choosing a higher solidarity ticket helps us pay artists fairly, cover costs and keep Boundaries accessible for everyone. Every bit of extra support truly makes a difference. There will also be day passes available shortly. Thanks for your patience

See you in November.

Graeme
Boundaries Director

FRIDAY DAY TICKETS BELOW SOON..

SATURDAY DAY TICKETS BELOW SOON..

Boundaries Festival embodies the belief that art and creative expression should be accessible to everyone. By maintaining low entry prices, we hope to create an inclusive environment where people with similar interests can come together in a friendly, affordable, and inspiring space. 

Please share and spread the word to whoever you feel maybe interested in this year's Boundaries. 

We genuinely appreciate all the support getting the word out. 

There'll be more updates VERY VERY soon.. 

Thank you so much,

Team B x