The first wave of Sled Island 2026 artists is here!
Joining Sled Island’s previously announced guest curator, clipping., is English chamber folk ensemble Black Country, New Road, revered Canadian pop project HOMESHAKE, LA synth punks Sextile, fuzzy indie rock outfit feeble little horse, outlandish egg punk group Snõõper, lo-fi post-punk duo Sweeping Promises, NYC-based ambient pioneer Laraaji, and genre-bending dream pop artist Salami Rose Joe Louis (signed to Flying Lotus’ record label, Brainfeeder).
Also included in the first wave lineup is Nigerien desert rock band Etran de L’Aïr, a new solo project from multidisciplinary artist and Sled Island alum Thor Harris (Swans, Thor & Friends, Ben Frost), acclaimed lo-fi hip-hop artist DijahSB, indie pop singer-songwriter Emily Yacina, blackened death metal trio Suffering Hour, and Montreal slop rock group Tha Retail Simps.
Each year, Sled Island's guest curator helps to shape the festival's programming. This year, clipping. has handpicked an incredible collection of performers, including renowned abstract rapper billy woods (Armand Hammer), horrorcore noise rap artist Backxwash, accomplished experimental sound composer Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, Calgary hip-hip heroes Cartel Madras (opening for clipping. at The Palace Theatre), Australian free noise musician Granpa (Lucas Abela), gothic industrial artist Lana Del Rabies, and more still to be announced.
Capping off today’s announcement is a selection of outstanding emerging artists, including Denver-based experimental hip-hop group Wheelchair Sports Camp, ambient free jazz saxophonist Jairus Sharif, vehement post-rock outfit Jed Arbour, improvisational art punks Dial Up, conscious Calgary rapper KTheChosen, gritty synth punk four-piece CAT PISS, funky art rock project Pastel Blank, quirky post-punk ensemble Parisian Orgy, riot grrrl up-and-comers Rebel Grrrlz, and weirdo punk-meets-country group bugswallow.
Sled Island’s complete 2026 lineup will be announced in the coming months, including additional headliners, over 150 more bands, as well as comedy, art, special events and conference programming. For now, check out our Sled Island 2026 YouTube playlist!
Sled Island passes and tickets for clipping. with Cartel Madras are currently on sale at SledIsland.com. A limited number of single show tickets to newly announced Sled Island 2026 shows will go on sale Friday, March 6 at noon MST.
For more information and to check out the first wave lineup, visit SledIsland.com.
A huge shout out to Becca Lowe for this year's poster design!
Thank you to our sponsors and funders at Servus Credit Union, Calgary Downtown Association, Eighty-Eight Brewing, Dandy Brewing Company, The Beltline BLOX, Confluence Distilling, Structured Abstraction, Calgary Arts Development, The City of Calgary, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Government of Canada, FACTOR Canada, Rozsa Foundation, Calgary Hotel Association and SOCAN Foundation.
