By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – London, the landscape of British electronic music is preparing for a monumental shift as one of the capital’s most influential queer clubbing institutions, ADONIS, prepares to transcend the confines of the traditional warehouse. In a move that signals a new era for the UK’s LGBTQ+ nightlife, the organizers have announced the launch of RUNWAY, a weekend-long camping festival slated for the summer of 2026. Set against the stark, industrial backdrop of a disused runway in the South of England, the event aims to bridge the gap between underground club culture and the immersive scale of a multi-day outdoor festival.
The announcement comes at a strategic moment for the UK festival circuit. Scheduled to take place from June 26th to 28th, 2026, RUNWAY will occupy the dates typically reserved for the Glastonbury Festival, which is set to observe a fallow year in 2026 to allow its land to recover. By stepping into this prestigious midsummer window, ADONIS is positioning itself not just as a niche gathering, but as a major destination for the electronic music community. With a projected capacity of 5,000 attendees, the event is being heralded as the first queer camping festival of its specific scale and focus in the United Kingdom, marking a significant evolution from the late-night basements and industrial units where the brand first found its footing.
Shay Malt, the visionary founder of both ADONIS and the newly conceived RUNWAY, has articulated a vision that goes far beyond simply moving a club night outdoors. For Malt, the festival format offers a blank canvas—literally and figuratively—that traditional venues cannot provide. He noted that the transition to a festival environment allows for the creation of an entire ecosystem, a "full fantasy" world where the limitations of brick-and-mortar spaces are removed. This expansion is about more than just physical space; it is about the creative autonomy to collaborate with queer talent across various disciplines to build a cohesive, immersive experience from the ground up.
The choice of venue—a disused runway—is particularly symbolic. In the history of rave culture, the repurposing of industrial and military infrastructure has always been a core tenet. By reclaiming a site designed for transit and machinery and transforming it into a site of queer joy and artistic expression, RUNWAY taps into a long-standing tradition of subversive celebration. While the exact coordinates remain a guarded secret, the festival has confirmed the location is situated somewhere in the South of England, adding an air of mystery and anticipation to the proceedings.
Musically, RUNWAY promises a curated journey through the various shades of contemporary electronic music, leaning heavily into the high-energy, inclusive sounds that have defined ADONIS over the years. The initial artist announcement features a global roster of talent, including Peach, the Canadian-born, London-based DJ known for her vibrant, rhythmically complex sets that effortlessly traverse house, techno, and disco. Joining her is Roza Terenzi, the Australian producer whose signature "wobbly" breakbeats and sophisticated electro have made her a staple of forward-thinking dance floors worldwide.
The lineup also features OK Williams, a DJ who has rapidly ascended the ranks of the UK scene through her versatile and unpredictable selections, and Leonce, whose work often explores the intersections of ballroom culture and industrial techno. Aurora Halal, the founder of New York’s Sustain-Release festival, will bring her brand of psychedelic, hardware-driven techno to the runway, alongside Gabrielle Kwarteng, whose sets are celebrated for their deep, soulful grooves and rhythmic diversity. Other notable names include BASHKKA, Cormac, and OMOLOKO, each representing a different facet of the global queer underground.
A cornerstone of the RUNWAY experience will be the presence of the ADONIS resident DJs. These are the artists who have cultivated the specific atmosphere of the club night since its inception, and their involvement ensures that the festival will retain the "family" feel that has made ADONIS a cult favorite. Among the residents scheduled to perform is GIDEÖN, a long-time activist and crate-digger whose deep knowledge of house and gospel-infused dance music has made him a legend in the scene, particularly through his work with the NYC Downlow at Glastonbury. Hannah Holland, a pioneer of the London queer scene through her Batty Bass label and club nights, will also be present, alongside the likes of Byron Yeates, Grace Sands, Marie Malarie, and Seb Odyssey. These residents are the sonic architects of the brand, and their presence on the RUNWAY lineup serves as a bridge between the intimate club experience and the expansive festival stage.
The cultural significance of RUNWAY cannot be overstated. While the UK has seen various LGBTQ+ festivals in the past, many have focused on pop-centric Pride celebrations or smaller-scale boutique events. RUNWAY represents a dedicated effort to bring the "club-first" mentality to a camping festival format. This means a focus on high-quality sound systems, extended set times, and a curation strategy that prioritizes musical innovation and community safety over commercial appeal. In a post-pandemic landscape where many independent venues have struggled to survive, the move toward large-scale, community-owned events represents a resilient shift in how queer spaces are maintained and expanded.
Furthermore, the timing of the festival provides a crucial alternative for music lovers during Glastonbury’s absence. Fallow years often leave a void in the UK’s summer calendar, and RUNWAY is poised to capture the attention of those seeking a more specialized, communal experience. By offering a camping component, the festival encourages a deeper level of immersion, allowing attendees to disconnect from the outside world and participate in a 48-hour cycle of music, performance, and social connection.
The "full fantasy" aspect mentioned by Shay Malt suggests that RUNWAY will be more than just a series of DJ sets. If the aesthetic of ADONIS’s club nights is any indication, attendees can expect high-concept production, art installations, and performance art that challenges traditional gender norms and celebrates queer identity in all its forms. The festival aims to be a site of radical self-expression, where the runway itself becomes a metaphor for visibility and pride.
As the festival circuit continues to evolve, there is an increasing demand for events that offer a sense of belonging and specific cultural alignment. RUNWAY is a direct response to this demand, providing a space where queer people and their allies can celebrate without the compromises often required in mainstream nightlife environments. The focus on "queer talent from start to finish" ensures that the economic and creative benefits of the festival remain within the community, fostering a sustainable model for future events.
Tickets for the event have already been made available through the DICE platform, and interest is expected to be high given the limited 5,000-person capacity. While more acts and specific details regarding the site’s layout and amenities are expected to be released in the coming months, the initial buzz surrounding RUNWAY suggests that it is already one of the most anticipated events of the 2026 season.
In conclusion, RUNWAY is more than just a new entry in the UK festival diary; it is a statement of intent from the ADONIS collective. By taking over a disused runway and turning it into a sanctuary for queer electronic music, Shay Malt and his team are charting a new course for the scene. It is a celebration of how far queer club culture has come—from the shadows of the underground to the vast, open spaces of the English countryside—and a bold look forward at what it can become when given the space to soar. For three days in June 2026, the South of England will witness a transformation, as industrial concrete gives way to a vibrant, living tapestry of sound and identity.