It wouldn’t be Sŵn without a fat helping of Welsh liquid gold (translation: rain), now would it? With the heavens threatening to open over Cardiff on the festival’s first night, October’s familiar downpours would soon be a reality. Thankfully, one of Sŵn’s biggest blessings is that its venues are rarely more than a stone’s throw apart, making it easy enough to dodge the storm and take shelter in the city’s many pubs, bars and clubs. Wellies weren’t necessarily an essential, but certainly might've come in handy as the 2026 edition excitedly got under way.
Back for another year, Cardiff’s celebration of new music once again promised three days of fresh discoveries, rising talent and late-night adventures across the city. From intimate backrooms to packed-out venues, Sŵn has long made a name for itself as a champion of the next wave, bringing together the sounds and faces that will no doubt be filling bigger stages in the years to come.
With the rain showing little to no sign of letting up, there was only one thing for it: to head inside and see what this year’s festival had to offer.
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