Live Review + Gallery | Love Supreme Festival 2026

Love Supreme Festival 2026

Glynde Place, East Sussex

Photography by Zach McDowell

Ava Manthorpe

I’m a concert photographer and writer from Brighton. I love cats coffee and cameras.

Love Supreme Jazz Festival returned for 2026 with a stacked lineup featuring De La Soul, Loyle Carner, Ezra Collective and much more

From legendary jazz purists to the modern pioneers of neo soul, this year’s Love Supreme Jazz Festival proved once again why it remains the crown jewel of the UK summer music scene. With three days of sunshine and legendary headline sets from artists such as Loyle Carner, Ezra Collective, and De La Soul, the festival welcomed a multi-generational crowd united by a shared obsession with groove.

It was impossible not to get swept up in the festival’s infectious and soulful spirit, especially as the Friday was massively expanded compared to previous opening days. With all stages open and a major headliner leading the charge, the festival officially dubbed the day the ‘temple of joy.’

Starting the weekend off strong under the sunshine, Annie and the Caldwells took to the North Downs stage for a perfect late-afternoon act. The family band, hailing all the way from West Point, Mississippi, delivered a truly beautiful set filled with smooth keys and tones. The stage setup consisted of Annie and the three Caldwells, whose groovy and soulful gospel notes combined to create a beautiful disco funk sound.

Having never played Love Supreme before, Kokoroko made their highly anticipated festival debut and proved to be the definition of perfect summer music. They immediately connected with the crowd, taking time to speak to the audience and introducing material from their new album. During their set, they brought some really interesting sounds to the stage, blending in unique synths and a cover of ‘Natural High‘ by Bloodstone.

During his set, Guvna B brought a massive amount of energy, backed by a loud live band and great backing singers. He kept the performance incredibly interactive; a major highlight was his rapping over a backing cover of Lovely Day by Bill Withers where he asked the crowd to sing along as loud as they could. He even spent time teaching the crowd how to two step, resulting in a brilliant moment where the entire crowd were stepping side to side in perfect time.

Duran Bernarr delivered a masterclass in stage presence, bringing remarkably unique energy, immaculate rhythm, and a sharp, trendy aesthetic defined by his sunglasses and a striking visual contrast, his band dressed in all white while he took centre stage in black. His performance showcased beautiful vocals and an impressive voice range.

Granted extra time on stage, Bernarr maximised his set by leaning heavily into his singing, navigating an interesting, genre-fluid mix that shifted seamlessly from soulful melodies to lower key rap. Bernarr has a deeply interactive approach to crowd engagement, fostering a powerful sense of community by asking audience members to check on those around them and encouraging everyone to look at the people around them and say, “I’m proud of you.” Though the set felt quite long toward the end, it remained a thoroughly compelling and cool display of artistry.

For their first time headlining Love Supreme, Ezra Collective turned the festival into a massive, rammed dance party and celebration. They showed immense love and gratitude to the festival throughout the set and earlier in the day the band did a Q&A talk and interview with The Guardian and journalist Ammar Kalia.

The band reminisced being on a tiny stage at Love Supreme years and years ago with not even having their name on the lineup and now they are here headlining the main stage on a Friday night. The production value was incredible, showing everyone on a massive black and white screen that made the live performance look like a sleek music video.The energy peaked during a stunning appearance by special guest Leona Lewis.

Performing a high energy set packed with meme sounds and absolute classics, Anderson .Paak (as DJ Pee .Wee) took the crowd on a journey through the 70s and 80s, playing hit after hit from each era including a massive crowd pleasing moment with ABBA. The performance featured stunning live vocals, including a massive sing-along to ‘Leave the Door Open.’ In a brilliant bit of showmanship, a trumpet player suddenly arrived right through the middle of the crowd to deliver a massive solo before jumping on the mic to rap alongside Anderson.

Bringing a glamorous 80s disco vibe to the festival, Loose Ends delivered a very funky set that had absolutely everyone dancing. The two main singers showed incredible chemistry, dancing together across the stage while wearing matching black and white outfits that sparkled like a disco ball. Backed by strong vocals and a relentlessly groovy rhythm, the performance was woven together by stories spoken over the music, keeping the glittery, nostalgic energy flowing seamlessly from start to finish.

Drawing a distinctly younger crowd that completely packed out the tent, Kofi Stone delivered a masterclass in laid back hip-hop. The absolute highlight of the set came when he dropped the beat entirely, rapping with no backing to deliver a deeply poetic message centred around peace and rejecting evil.

Drawing a packed crowd into a busy tent, Knats delivered an entirely unconventional performance that stood out for its sharp, experimental edge. They pushed artistic boundaries by weaving highly unusual elements into their set, including moments of screaming and spoken-word dialogue during the tracks. It was a distinctly individual and memorable showcase that proved they aren’t afraid to challenge standard festival expectations.

Jalen Ngonda’s set was nothing short of euphoric, grounded by a remarkably powerful vocal display and beautiful keyboard melodies. His breath control and vocal strength were on full display as he held notes for an incredibly long time, completely mesmerising everyone in attendance. In addition to showcasing his musicianship by playing the piano during the set, he added a brilliant, personalised touch by seamlessly improvising the words “Love Supreme” right into his lyrics, which absolutely delighted the crowd.

Coming off the massive momentum of selling out four consecutive nights at London’s Brixton Academy, Loyle Carner brought a radiant energy to his headline slot. The stage design was stunning, utilising a warm palette of orange lighting, dramatic spotlight rays, and thick smoke that allowed him to stand out as a central figure while still highlighting the individual members of his band. His physical presence on stage shifted naturally throughout the night; he spent plenty of time moving and dancing across the stage, but balanced that high energy by sitting down for a few deeply intimate segments.

The musical pacing was masterful, highlighted by a long, sweeping piano solo that flowed flawlessly into a performance of ‘Nobody Knows.‘ Later in the evening, he surprised the audience by bringing out the actual chef Yotam Ottolenghi, who happened to be running an on-site restaurant at the festival to share the stage during a performance of his hit song ‘Ottolenghi.’ Beyond the music, Carner’s sharp crowd awareness became a defining moment of the night. When an emergency required the music to come to a sudden halt because an audience member passed out, he instantly de-escalated the tension and kept the field grounded by reciting a moving poem while medical staff handled the situation. It was a headline set that successfully made a massive festival field feel incredibly intimate.

Bringing a beautifully breezy aesthetic to the festival, London based soft rock duo Young Gun Silver Fox captured the warmth of the afternoon sun right through their instruments. Their set was defined by light, jangly guitars that channeled a classic, nostalgic West Coast sound. For select tracks, a crisp live horn section occasionally joined them on stage, elevating their laid back melodies and perfectly complementing the bright, summertime atmosphere.

Multi-instrumentalist and producer Ben Carr, performing under his moniker CARRTOONS, took the stage with a phenomenal all-star band. Anchored by his own heavily identifiable, groovy baselines and enriched by soulful guest vocals, the set felt entirely premium. The performance featured his regular collaborator Kiefer on keys who treated fans to his own dedicated set later in the afternoon and leaned into a brilliant mix of classic staples alongside brand new track premieres. Sonically, the smooth retro textures gave the impression of a deeply chilled out 80s or 90s waiting room experience, effectively transporting the audience into a state of pure, relaxed immersion.

Emerging talent and Tomorrow’s Warriors alumnus David Kayode delivered a masterfully dynamic set driven by hypnotic jazz rhythms. Proving himself to be an absolute master of wind instrumentation, Kayode effortlessly shifted between the saxophone and the flute, steering his tight five-piece band with precision. The ensemble tapped into the pocket almost instantly, locking into the groove to jam relentlessly. Driven forward by complex, driving drum rhythms, set brilliantly balanced intense energy with beautifully peaceful, reflective moments scattered within the controlled chaos.

Festival favourites Sister Sledge made a triumphant return, commanding a massive crowd just like their previous appearances. The group has spent decades perfecting the art of the massive outdoor dance party and their sets are historically celebratory, designed to turn a festival field into a giant disco, relying heavily on a deep catalog of universally known anthems like ‘We Are Family’ and ‘He’s the Greatest Dancer.‘

A hallmark of a Sister Sledge show is their emphasis on legacy and unity they always treat the stage like a grand family reunion, keeping the performance deeply personal by introducing each family member on stage to sing a distinct part. This blend of massive pop hits, high energy and genuine family warmth ensured the crowd remained completely captivated.

Widely recognised as Anderson .Paak’s exceptional backing group, the Free Nationals stepped fully into the spotlight at Love Supreme, delivering an incredibly funky and interactive set to a relaxed, sun drenched crowd. The band balanced their smooth grooves, culminating in a dramatic, high energy moment where a guitar was thrown across the stage.

To end the festival on a high, hip-hop pioneers De La Soul brought a remarkably cool vibe and endless energy to the main stage, jumping around with a full live band and effortlessly hyping up the crowd. Rising to prominence in the late 1980s as key members of the Native Tongues collective, the group revolutionised hip-hop with their eclectic sampling, jazz infused beats, and witty, conscious lyrics. Decades later, their live sets remain a powerful testament to that legacy, seamlessly blending classic boom bap nostalgia with the raw energy of a full live instrumentation setup.

Their stage presence was incredibly funny and sharp, keeping the audience laughing with banter about growing older, swearing, and promising to give a pound to each child when Vincent swore. Their crowd control was absolute. At one point, they demanded everyone put their hands up, completely stopping the performance if they spotted even a single person slacking. It was a masterclass in classic hip-hop showmanship that kept the entire field completely locked in, proving that their ability to command a festival audience is just as potent today as it was at the start of their career.

The 2026 edition of the Love Supreme Jazz Festival delivered a spectacular three-day celebration of music, blending legendary icons with the absolute best of contemporary jazz, soul, and hip-hop. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Glynde Place, the weekend showcased a rich diversity of sounds, uniting a multi generational crowd through incredible live instrumentation and an infectious, high energy festival atmosphere.