London’s Victoria Park turned up the volume Sunday as Outbreak Fest joined forces with All Points East for a sprawling day of alternative music led by Deftones.
The August 23 event brought together artists from across rock, punk, hardcore, hip-hop and experimental music, giving the traditionally eclectic All Points East calendar one of its heaviest days of the 2026 season.
Deftones held the headline position on the East Stage, bringing the California band’s atmospheric and aggressive sound to the festival’s biggest platform. Their closing appearance capped a lineup that demonstrated just how far the boundaries surrounding heavy music have expanded.
Before the headliners arrived, Australian punk force Amyl and the Sniffers took over the East Stage, following earlier appearances from Interpol, JPEGMAFIA and Basement.
IDLES were handed one of the day’s other prime spots, closing out the West Stage shortly before Deftones began their headline performance. The Bristol group sat comfortably within a bill that favored intensity but rarely settled into one particular style.
That variety was evident throughout Victoria Park.
AFI and Mannequin Pussy appeared on the West Stage, while the North Arena offered performances from Deafheaven, Show Me the Body, SALEM and EsDeeKid. Elsewhere, artists including Ecca Vandal, Blawan and Kenny Mason pushed the event further beyond conventional rock festival territory.
The London event also marked another step in Outbreak’s evolution. Known for its roots in hardcore, the festival has increasingly embraced artists from neighboring and sometimes dramatically different musical worlds.
Its partnership with All Points East made that expansion especially visible. Established alternative acts shared the program with newer performers and experimental artists, creating a festival day where guitar music remained central without becoming a restriction.
For Deftones, the headline position provided a fitting finale. Decades into their career, the band remains capable of sitting at the center of a modern alternative lineup while sharing space with artists who approach heavy music from very different directions.
And for Outbreak, taking over Victoria Park offered proof that its musical universe has become considerably larger than any single genre label can comfortably contain.
