Victorious Festival 2026: Basement Jaxx, The Streets, Brooke Combe and more

With the worst of the rain seemingly past us, this reviewer enters a breezy Southsea Common one last time for Victorious 2026.

First up is Brooke Combe, a cool and charismatic rising singer-songwriter. It’s remarkable to hear the contrast between her Northern Soul vocals and a strongly spoken Scottish brogue, yet this makes a short-but-sweet set with its laidback vibe all the more appealing. There is excitement to hear more from her in the future.

The Enemy are next, pulling in an impressive mid-afternoon crowd with their attitude-filled indie. As is often the way with festival sets, newer material has a fairly muted reaction, while classics like Be Somebody, and especially We’ll Live and Die in These Towns, more than make up for it, igniting flares as thousands holler along. This reviewer feels somewhat neutral about The Enemy, yet their impact on noughties indie kids is indisputable, based on their adoring crowd here.

Off to Under The Trees, an intimate area housing both newer and established names all weekend. Here, this reviewer catches the debut Victorious appearance of Yorkshire’s Fiona-Lee and her talented band, showcasing sparkling indie-rock with a hazy edge while tackling themes such as modern womanhood and adult disillusionment. With formative influences including Sam Fender and PJ Harvey, they ring clear in Lee’s music; the hope is that this is the start of more Victorious sets to come.

Back to the Common Stage, where The Streets cram two sets into one; first, Mike Skinner locks in for an intense performance as his live band rolls through 2004’s concept album A Grand Don’t Come for Free. Of course, Fit But You Know It is explosive, while the stunning breakup track Dry Your Eyes sees people on shoulders, reaching for the skies. Skinner finally greets the crowd as the second half launches into Turn the Page, amping up the energy as the rapper ventures off the stage (“What’s with all the aliens?” he asks, referring to the many inflatable extraterrestrials). Despite the heavens opening a few songs in, triggering screams and rushing under cover, Skinner shrugs it off and instructs people to warm up by dancing harder. For many reasons, The Streets’ set is a memorable one.

To conclude the weekend, this reviewer opts for the spectacle of Basement Jaxx headlining the Castle Stage with over an hour of house classics, amped up to 11 with incredible costumes, breathtaking dance routines and the mesmerising singing of their vocal trio. It’s pure nonstop euphoria, opening with the mighty Good Luck before big hits like Do Your Thing and Red Alert trigger a widespread display of flailing arms and glowsticks. Yet at the booming finale of Where’s Your Head At, the screams and jumps may have been felt in the Isle of Wight.

What bad luck for long-awaited rain to hit this weekend, yet Victorious never wavered for a second, with people of all ages enjoying it rain or shine. This reviewer counts themselves among them, for it was a wonderful festival, thoroughly enjoyed.

Gem Hurley
Photos: Victorious Festival/Carousel PR

For further information and future events, visit Victorious Festival’s website here.

Watch the video for Where’s Your Head At here: