YES, we know, it’s mid-winter – but right now we all need something to look forward to, and we’re looking ahead to the end of July when Poole Harbour Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary, and the Kaiser Chiefs headline the main stage.

So, in this gloomy, cold, wet January, let’s try to imagine long summer days, enjoying a cold beer and listening to a great band. When festival-goers have been asked who they would most like to see beside the seaside in Poole, they have regularly asked for the Leeds hitmakers, so this year, the Kaiser Chiefs will make their Poole debut.

“We are really excited to bring the Kaiser Chiefs to Poole, it’s a good job Poole Harbour Festival doesn’t have a roof because they will definitely tear it off!” says festival organiser Serena Wren. “Every year we canvas the views of our audience and we get so many requests for Kaiser Chiefs – this will be a real treat for our tenth anniversary!”

Other big names already announced for the 2026 festival include indie rock trio Scouting For Girls, M People singer Heather Small, festival favourites Dodgy, UK garage legends Artful Dodger and 90s pop heart-throbs East 17 among the headline acts. The stellar DJ bill includes Groove Armada, Judge Jules, Seb Fontaine and The Prodigy’s Leeroy Thornhill.

The ‘seaside Glastonbury’ at Baiter Park on the shores of Poole Harbour Festival began as a community gathering for local people and now draws an audience of thousands from far and wide. Offsite camping is available, and shuttle buses will run on a continuous loop bringing people from Bournemouth, Westbourne, Branksome and Poole to the festival site.

Find out more at www.pooleharbourfestival.com