The latest landmark in Harry Styles’ new campaign is here, with the singer newly announced as the 31st curator of Meltdown Festival.
Joining past curators including Little Simz (2025), Chaka Khan (2024), Grace Jones, David Bowie, Patti Smith, David Byrne, Yoko Ono, Nile Rodgers, MIA and more, Styles’ edition will run between June 11-21 this year.
Styles gets the gig in the 75th anniversary year of the Southbank Centre, with the line-up – including a headline set from the artist – to be announced in the coming weeks.
“I’m deeply honoured to curate the Meltdown festival, especially for the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary year,” said Styles, who starred on the cover of The Sunday Times Magazine yesterday (February 15).
Styles said his “goal as the curator is to share the music and art that I love, and to celebrate the rich history of the venue”.
I’m incredibly grateful to Southbank for having me, it’s really exciting for me to have this opportunity in such an iconic venue
Harry Styles
“We both share a passionate belief that music is a vital part of life,” the singer added. “It brings us together and the Southbank Centre has been at the heart of it, providing easy access to great music for the past 75 years. I’m incredibly grateful to Southbank for having me, it’s really exciting for me to have this opportunity in such an iconic venue.”
Mark Ball, artistic director of the Southbank Centre, said:“Harry Styles is an iconic British artist with a global influence whose impact extends across artistic disciplines, generations and borders. We are thrilled and excited that Harry Styles’ Meltdown sits at the heart of a 75th anniversary year that champions young people, their curiosity and creative freedom. Throughout our 75-year history, the Southbank Centre has existed to give our greatest artists a platform to take creative risks and present work that pushes contemporary culture into new and unexpected directions. Harry Styles’ Meltdown feels like a natural expression of what the Southbank Centre exists to do, and we are delighted to become his creative playground in our anniversary year.”
Harry Styles’ Meltdown feels like a natural expression of what the Southbank Centre exists to do
Mark Ball, The Southbank Centre
Jane Beese, head of contemporary music at the venue, commented: “It’s a real privilege to welcome an artist with the cultural impact and presence of Harry Styles as curator of Meltdown in our 75th anniversary year at the Southbank Centre. His openness, warmth and instinct for collaboration feel perfectly aligned with the spirit at the heart of the festival. We’re excited to see his vision play out across the whole site, creating space for connection, discovery and joy, and inviting audiences into a Meltdown that reflects the breadth, playfulness and generosity of his artistic world.”
His openness, warmth and instinct for collaboration feel perfectly aligned with the spirit at the heart of the festival
Jane Beese, The Southbank Centre
Harry Styles hit No.1 in the UK and America with comeback single Aperture and releases his fourth album Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. on March 6. He plays the BRITs on February 28 and this summer’s Together, Together tour includes a record-breaking 12 performances at Wembley Stadium.
PHOTO: Laura Coulson
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