From Turnstile’s rainy euphoria to Lorde’s pop spectacle and EsDeeKid nearly bringing the house (tent) down – here are the Wonderland team’s favourite sets of All Points East 2026.

Lorde

Since releasing her fourth studio album Virgin, Lorde has set out on her Ultrasound tour, stepping onto international stages with a newfound confidence fuelled by love, retrospection, and a magnetic energy. Towards the tail end of that tour was her All Points East sold-out headline show, a far cry and a proud accomplishment since her debut at the festival in 2018, on a much smaller stage. Kicking off with her infamous water bottle in hand and playing her 2013 breakout hit “Royals,” the Kiwi artist pranced about between lasers and floating cubes, switching between OG belters like “Team” and newer, future classics such as “What Was That”. And as a dodgy hot dog consumed 45 minutes or so before her show had me stepping out of the crowd for a tactical chunder, I thought of sixteen-year-old, angsty teenage me listening to “Perfect Places” whilst riding my bike in my small town, wondering how to get out, only just then realising Victoria Park soundtracked by Lorde was, in fact, the perfect place.

Juliette, Social Media Editor

Turnstile

Turnstile is one of the most compelling musical acts on the planet right now. Last year’s genre-defying NEVER ENOUGH changed the swing of modern heavy rock, presenting a quintet of depth and daring vision. On the same day they shared a remix version of the record, they appeared as a sub-headline on a stacked line-up, with only Tyler, the Creator himself appearing after him. It’s clear to see why – this set had everything: the perfect rain shower to scream your lungs out in; a Faye Webster appearance for “I CARE”; a ridiculously smooth electronic dance break; moshes popping up everywhere. And that’s without mentioning a transcendent, very tasteful cover of The Stone Roses’ classic, “I Wanna Be Adored”. Of all six days, my favourite performance. Shout out to Wunderhorse and Dove Ellis too, though.

Ben, Features Editor

EsDeeKid

I’ve never been to Liverpool or really met many people from there, but rapping along to EsDeeKid’s set had me wholeheartedly belting out my best attempt at a scouse accent, probably projectile spitting a lot more than I should’ve while doing so. No one in my line of sight stood still the entire time, orchestrating the crowd with his infectious energy as he performed his tiny but mighty discography that seamlessly slalomed from “4 Raws” to “LV Sandals”. And with the help of his favoured collaborator and good pal Rico Ace, the sheer raging intensity coming out of the North Arena couldn’t have been more booming – and maybe slightly hazardous. Safe to say I’m in the process of transitioning from fan to stan slowly but surely. 

Joe, Editorial & Social Writer

Jorja Smith 

The thing about a festival weekend, or a double-weekend run, that starts with a headline set from Jorja Smith is that the bar is set perhaps too high for the acts that follow. I’ve been a Jorja fan for years at this point – I saw her perform at an unfairly peak-time sun slot at Primavera Sound four years ago, then again at a small London venue around the release of her 2023 album Falling or Flying, and closing Glastonbury’s Woodsies last year. It’s never, and I repeat, never, a disappointment.

Jorja remains one of England’s queens of R&B and neo-soul, but despite her music – which is excellent, groovy, gets you dancing and in your feels all at the same time – it’s her stage presence, delightful public persona and masterfully curated collaborations that keep you coming back. And for All Points East, she might’ve played to her biggest and best crowd yet. On the day of the release of her latest album, What Are The Odds, she took over Victoria Park in a fringe-hemmed dress and showed, once again, why she remains one of our time’s greatest. A community choir joined her on stage for “Blue Lights”, before she brought out a stacked, B2B line-up of friends and collaborators: Odeal, Nia Archives, Katy B, Kyla, AJ Tracey and Loyle Carner. I’ll be talking about this set for the foreseeable future.

Sofia, Senior Online Editor

Yebba

No vocals have ever been sung like Yebba’s – and if they have, I’m yet to hear them. Belting, riffing and fluttering between floaty falsettos and grounded belts, she performed some of her beloved hits; from “Evergreen” to “Distance” and “Stand”, enchanting onlookers on the West Stage like a siren call. Despite the magnitude of the moment, the crowd still mirrored that of most of her performances: irrefutably intimate and personal. The compact, sea-like crowd and the endless cheering, finger snaps and clenched fists to hearts. Amongst the head-bobbing crowd, there wasn’t one soul left untouched at her set. My only criticism was that I wanted more, more, more!

Aswan, Assistant Editor