Get ready to head to the track! The Leeds legends are returning to the July Course for a massive Summer Saturday Live performance.
The summer of 2026 just got a whole lot louder. Newmarket Racecourses has officially confirmed that indie-rock titans Kaiser Chiefs will headline Summer Saturday Live on 22nd August, marking their highly anticipated return to the venue for the first time since 2019.
The announcement is the final piece of the puzzle for the upcoming season, completing a powerhouse line-up that includes everything from 90s pop royalty to modern rap icons.
20 Years of Employment
The timing could not be more perfect. 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the band’s seminal debut album Employment, and fans can expect a setlist packed with the anthems that defined a generation.
Fronted by the ever-energetic Ricky Wilson, the Brit Award-winning quintet featuring Simon Rix, Andrew ‘Whitey’ White, Nick ‘Peanut’ Baines, and Vijay Mistry boast a back catalogue that reads like a greatest hits of the 2000s. From the floor-filling “I Predict A Riot” and “Oh My God” to the chart-topping “Ruby”, the Kaiser Chiefs are world-renowned for their high-octane live shows.
With eight studio albums and over eight million records sold, the band has shared stages with the likes of U2 and Foo Fighters. Now, they are bringing that stadium-sized energy back to the East of England.
The Full 2026 Season: A Genre-Bending Summer
Sophie Able, Newmarket Racecourses Director, says the 2026 roster is one of their strongest yet. “The line-up for Newmarket Nights in 2026 is now complete and incredibly strong, offering something for everyone,” she noted.
Check out the full summer schedule:
| Date | Headliner | Vibe Check |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 19th June | FIVE | 90s pop nostalgia at its finest. |
| Friday 26th June | Basement Jaxx | Genre-bending house and dance-punk. |
| Friday 17th July | Madness | The ultimate British ska and pop party. |
| Friday 31st July | Aitch | Platinum-selling rap from the Mancunian star. |
| Friday 7th August | Jessie J | Powerhouse vocals and new hits from Don’t Tease Me… |
| Friday 14th August | Craig David’s TS5 | Garage, R&B, and serious summer party vibes. |
| Saturday 22nd August | Kaiser Chiefs | Indie-rock anthems to close the season. |
Pop Scoop founder and editor. Ex showbiz/tech editor at the Cyprus Mail. Former sub-editor at Archant. Former art director Sky TV. Co-founder of Kool Magazine and freelanced for the BBC, Channel 4, Warner Bros and the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation.
