Victorious Festival 2026 review: A mixed bag of weather - but still plenty of fun for this fabulous festival

There’s nothing more British than being obsessed by the weather. And this weekend was no different at a Victorious Festival which seemed to battle with the elements while declaring that the show must go on.

Despite the wind (Friday); wind and rain (Saturday); and more wind, rain (Sunday) it was another great year for the Portsmouth event which continues to showcase our city’s passion for music and fun.

Now of course the changes to the layout and slightly smaller footprint was a major talking point before Victorious event began. But I for one was delighted to reduce my step count this year and not have aching legs by the end of the weekend. It was a long walk from one end of the site to the other you know!

And actually the festival flowed really well between the different stages, giving people more of a chance to watch one half of one act, and then bomb it to another stage to see the second half of another if they just couldn't decide who to watch.

It was great to finally see Richard Ashcroft take the stage at Victorious after covid restrictions saw him duck out in 2021, and he was given a hugely warm welcome as Friday’s opening headliner on the Common Stage.

There was also a welcome return this year for the likes of Kasabian, Nile Rodgers and Chic and The Streets, giving those who missed them the first time round to catch them this time - or just enjoy them again. With Nile very much helping to bring a brilliant nostalgic feel to make you all warm and fuzzy.

Not being above a bit of cheese, I loved (maybe a bit too much) watching the Vengaboys on the Friday who very much brought the party to a buzzing Southsea Common, as did Dizzee Rascal who did his best to steal the show this weekend with his fun and bass. Yes Dizzee, We want bass!

And of course the Scissor Scissors are an absolute delight as always and helped to bring more colour to the festival, which also (thankfully) was graced by the stunning Bastille after a midweek medical scare.

But back to the weather. Yes it played havoc with some of the sets and caused a few technical and sound delays. The absolutely brilliant Jessie J told an adoring crowd that she felt like Elphaba and was about to be carried off by the wind during her Common Stage appearance. Though it was great to find out (at the same time as she did) what a ‘wind shield’ was.

And Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, who mysteriously failed to show for their slot, also later blamed their absence on the weather on social media posts.

I was gutted that the Band Stand Field was left empty for most of the weekend (and not just because I couldn’t get a bacon sarnie and a post of tea at the Twisted Tea Rooms). It was not what we wanted for Portsmouth’s 100 year of being a city. Especially as it looked so brilliantly nostalgic the day before.

But I loved the Under the Tree stage this year - much more sheltered from the wind - which not only featured comedy hip hip legends Goldie Lookin’ Chain, but also Vote Pedro who play a plethora of sing-along-favourites, but do so while playing instruments and dressing up in a traditional Mexican Band Costume! Mad, but brilliant.

She’s Got Brass were so much fun on the World Music Stage, though the sound from the stage did drown out The People’s Lounge a little bit this year. Probably just needed a bit more separation methinks, and that area would have been perfect.

And local and Road to Victorious favourites also shone this weekend, including this year’s winner Matt Hennessy, previous winners Crystal Tides and MacKenzie, and Hampshire’s Marley Blandford who headlined in the re-creation of Little Johnny Russell’s.

Speaking of which - that was great to see and it brought back the nostalgia of many a past night out in Southsea.

In an ideal world this year it needed to be even bigger so we had a bit more shelter in between acts! Maybe covering the whole of the common actually would have been ideal? No, okay, worth a try.

But despite the weather (which we can never control) it was another fantastic year for Victorious, and I can't wait to see what next year brings.... hopefully a bit less wind please Mr Weatherman!