Andover is already looking ahead with excitement as the dates for Andover Rocks 2026 have been announced.
Following the resounding success of this year’s festival, which raised over £5,000 for local music therapy projects, the much-loved community event will return from 27th to 29th March 2026 – promising to be bigger, bolder, and even more uplifting.
This year’s festival saw 345 performers take to stages across the town, filling Andover with live music and an electric atmosphere. With every musician giving their time for free, venues buzzing with activity, and crowds turning out in force, Andover Rocks 2025 proved the power of music in bringing people together while supporting mental health through creative expression.
Festival founder and organiser Marie Ponting, who first launched the event in 2017, reflected on the success of this year and the exciting plans ahead:
“After the success of bringing Rocks back for 2025, we’re going to do it again in 2026!! We are throwing in a few surprises as well as raising the vibration with our usual creativity and beautiful musicianship Andover has to offer.”
Marie was inspired to create the festival after her own journey with postnatal depression, discovering how music could be a powerful tool for healing. Since then, Andover Rocks has grown into a cornerstone of the town’s cultural calendar, raising funds to deliver workshops, music therapy sessions, and creative projects that provide vital support for those struggling with their mental health.
While details of next year’s performers and venues are yet to be announced, organisers are promising a vibrant line-up and some unexpected twists that will make the 2026 festival unforgettable.
With Andover Rocks now firmly established as a celebration of both music and community spirit, the countdown is officially on. One thing is certain – come March 2026, Andover will once again be alive with sound, creativity, and connection.
Andover Radio and Love Andover will once again be at the heart of the festival, supporting the event and helping to spread the word across the town.
“Andover Rocks isn’t just about brilliant music – it’s about the whole town coming alive. We at Andover Radio & Love Andover love being right in the middle of the action, and trust me, 2026 is going to be louder, prouder, and even more fun. If you thought last year was buzzing, just wait and see what’s coming next! Plus, anyone who knows me knows I’ll be doing my bit to support the pubs along the way. The beauty of Rocks is that it’s not just great for the musicians and the crowds – it’s fantastic for our local venues too. It gives them a real boost, fills the rooms with energy, and shows off just how important they are to Andover’s community spirit.”
