All Points East 2026: Jorja Smith & Tems

The first weekend of All Points East 2026 kicked off with a bang, with two leading ladies taking the reins – Jorja Smith headlining and Tems as support. Their popularity among attendees was undeniable, with the crowd swaying in unison throughout an evening to remember.

Tems started things off in a gorgeous black beaded dress, immediately captivating the audience with her relaxed aura and effortless vocals. Known for her alternative afro-soul R’n’B, the Nigerian singer performed many of her classic numbers, including Love Me JeJe, which had the whole park dancing along. A notable moment came when she brought out rap sensation Dave for their collaborative track Raindance, which became a viral hit following its release and has remained in the Official Chart Top 100 for 43 weeks. Dave’s entrance was met with considerable delight and kept the energy high. Tems maintained a great buzz throughout, setting the stage nicely for Jorja Smith.

Jorja opened with an anticipatory backdrop featuring snippets from different radio stations hyping up the fans, before finally switching to a station featuring the headliner’s name. Her arrival was met with screams from the audience, particularly ear-piercing through fan favourites like Teenage Fantasy. The visuals were equally well chosen, with purples and pinks accompanying sultrier tracks, while reds reflected darker emotions, such as in Addicted.

There was no question as to Jorja’s confidence on stage. She strode back and forth with ease, consistently interacting with the crowd between tracks. Her black fitted dress, complete with beautiful feathering around the hem, further reflected the power she brought to the stage.

Other hits included Lost & Found, with attendees rarely standing still. Halfway through, Jorja plugged her brand-new studio album What Are the Odds, released that day, and reflected on how far she had come since starting out. A sweet video from her school days, showing her singing alongside a friend on guitar, made the moment particularly personal. Another highlight came when she brought on The Blue Lights Choir to perform Greatest Gift, a song dedicated to her younger self.

One slightly conflicting element was Jorja’s use of guest appearances. Collaborations such as Loyle Carner joining her for Loose Ends were touching and showed her desire to share the stage. However, past the halfway point, it began to feel like one too many features as she pulled out yet another and another, sometimes shifting focus away from the headliner herself. Despite this, Jorja managed to maintain a good connection with the audience, who continued chanting at full lung capacity.

Closing with classics including Be Honest, Jorja left the park on a high. Overall, she brought festivalgoers closer to her world while maintaining an atmosphere that some artists struggle to achieve on a festival stage. Jorja has no intention of stopping, and it’ll be interesting to see where she takes her fans next.

Emily Downie
Photos: Paul Boyling

For further information and future events, visit All Points East’s website here.

Watch the video for Be Honest here: