Slam Dunk South 2026 cheap last minute tickets, afterparties and best way to get back to London
With the hottest weekend of the year so far upon us, it’s perfect weather to wear your most sweltering all-black outfit, slap on the factor 50 and mosh to your favourite pop-punk bands in a field. That’s right, Slam Dunk Festival South is here – the UK’s largest independent rock festival showcasing some of the biggest names in pop-punk, emo, metalcore, hardcore and ska.
This year’s festival, which kicks off in Hatfield tomorrow (Saturday, May 23), features popular alternative names such as Good Charlotte, Knocked Loose, President, and the first ever official UK performance from Sublime, as well as homegrown favourites like Malevolence, Pest Control and A. If you fancy snapping up last-minute tickets, there are still plenty available.
Taking place just north of London in Hatfield Park, it’s straightforward enough to get to the festival on the train – simply hop aboard the direct 34-minute service from King’s Cross to Hatfield.
Good Charlotte are set to headline Slam Dunk Festival -Credit:Dave Simpson, WireImagevia Getty Images
However, for those living or staying the night in London, getting home afterwards on public transport can be a pain – particularly after a long day dancing in the heat. There will be trains running from Hatfield back to London until just before 1am, but bear in mind queues at Hatfield station can be lengthy right after the headline bands finish at around 10:20pm.
If you’d prefer to avoid the chaos and guarantee an easier route back to London, your best bet is to pre-book a seat on a shuttle bus. You can book a ticket for £13.20 on the Slam Dunk website here, which will take you from Hatfield Train Station to Camden Town. Shuttles run between 10pm and 1am, and while you may still face a lengthy queue, you’ll be guaranteed a seat.
For anyone with specific accessibility requirements or questions, you can find out more on the Slam Dunk website’s accessibility page here.
Afterparties
The festival is running a number of afterparties for anyone who wants to keep the night going after the event, in both Hatfield and Camden. Shuttle buses are running to both locations once the festival itself ends – but as mentioned, you will need to buy a ticket in advance.
The Camden afterparties include a club event at the Electric Ballroom, which is hosting a Facedown takeover with a live performance from Fall Out Boy tribute Fell Out Boy. There will also be a Slam Dunk and ‘guilty pleasures’ room.
The event also includes Camden Rocks at Underworld, and a metal and hardcore club night at The Black Heart. You can access all of the venues by purchasing a wristband for £11 on the Slam Dunk website here.
Last-minute tickets
Tickets for the 1-day festival are currently still on sale on the Slam Dunk website here for £139. This does not include a shuttle bus ticket, which you will need to purchase separately. Slam Dunk Festival tickets can also be bought via the Dice app.
Alternatively, at the time of writing there are plenty of Slam Dunk tickets available through fan-to-fan resale on Twickets for as little as £114.
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