What started as a grassroots dance music event built by two friends has quickly become one of the North West’s fastest-growing independent festivals. Now, Hillside Festival is back in Bolton on Saturday 1 August with its biggest edition to date, while keeping the community feel that’s made it such a favourite since launching in 2023.
This year’s line-up is led by house music pioneers Inner City, alongside FLETCH and BLND, with a stacked bill of house and dance music talent set to soundtrack a full day of open-air partying.
For 2026, the festival has expanded almost every part of the experience. There’s a brand new second stage, custom-built shipping container bars, a bigger food offering, improved site access and upgraded production across the festival, all designed to make this the most ambitious event yet.
The site itself has also been enlarged to welcome between 1,000 and 1,500 people, giving organisers more room to grow without losing the close-knit atmosphere that’s helped the festival build its loyal following.
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