The Underdog 2026 | Grand Final

WE NEED BANDS X Synthetica Present:

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THE UNDERDOG 2026 · THE GRAND FINAL

🔥 The Underdog Is Back For 2026! 🔥

After a record-breaking 2025, Bristol’s most electrifying battle of the bands returns - bigger, louder, and wilder than ever!

The Heats will see hundreds of local musicians go head-to-head for one of just eighteen golden spots at the Thekla Semi-Finals. From there, our finalists will fight for glory - and a massive prize haul, including:

💷 £1,000 cash - no strings attached
🎙️ Two full days in a professional recording studio
👕 50 custom-printed band t-shirts
📸 A killer promo photoshoot
🚌 A mini South West tour

Since launching in 2015, The Underdog has become a Bristol institution - the go-to series for up-and-coming talent and a true alternative to the big-name competitions. Past events have rocked legendary venues like O2 Academy, Thekla, The Fleece, Exchange, The Thunderbolt, and Zed Alley.

This year, 72 bands from across the South West and Wales will throw down in our biggest showdown yet. But when the dust settles… There can only be one Underdog Champion. 🏆

📱 Follow the action and join the hype: #UnderdogBristol

⚠️ Please Note: Only one ticket can be claimed per person (you cannot buy multiple tickets for the extra votes).

The BANDS:
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Please note – bands are listed here in alphabetical order and do not reflect the running order of the event.

✪ AKIRA
Indie Rock · Pop · Hip-Hop

https://linktr.ee/AKIRA_artist

WATCH: https://youtu.be/3yjKq9Enj2s

FOR FANS OF: The Wombats, Twenty One Pilots, Loyle Carner

✪ ALIBI
Alt Rock

https://linktr.ee/weareyouralibi.band

LISTEN: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4REF2j74KXeS8e1TFgr4l2
WATCH: https://youtu.be/xA5LokSWCUw

FOR FANS OF: Soundgarden, Mammoth, Halestorm

✪ BALLOON TOMB
Party Punk

www.instagram.com/balloon_tomb/

WATCH: https://youtu.be/ndp_DEFbhbI

FOR FANS OF: Rage Against the Machine, Idles, Limp Bizkit

✪ OPEN RETURN
Indie Rock

https://linktr.ee/open.return

LISTEN: https://open.spotify.com/track/5qRoEw6TnbGBFhlu8xBJn4
WATCH: https://youtu.be/_RSedjws61Y

FOR FANS OF: Foo Fighters, Foals, Bad Nerves

✪ SEB LONGHORN
Folk Rock

https://linktr.ee/seblonghorn

LISTEN: https://youtu.be/MrImpgJt9LA
WATCH: https://youtu.be/pNlNYkKiBUY

FOR FANS OF: Paul Simon, Belle and Sebastian, Frank Turner

✪ SNAKE IN THE FOOTSPA
Indie Rock

https://hoo.be/snakeinthefootspa

LISTEN: https://spotify.link/14IJm2n2R...
WATCH: https://youtu.be/Nznq7e8Qu9k

FOR FANS OF: Catfish and The Bottlemen, The Royston Club, The Kooks

The INFO:
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WHERE? ⇾ o2 Academy Bristol
https://www.academymusicgroup.com/o2academybristol/
Frogmore St, Bristol BS1 5NA

WHEN? ⇾ Friday 5th June

WHAT TIME? ⇾ 6:30pm-11:00pm

HOW MUCH? ⇾
Artist Pre-Sales (5X Votes) · SOLD OUT!
Super Early Birds (4X Votes) · £14.00 + BF
Early Birds (3X Votes) · £14.00 + BF
General Release (2X Votes) ·  £15 + BF

Please Note: Only one ticket can be claimed per person (you cannot buy multiple tickets for the extra votes).

Follow All The Action:
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Search #UnderdogBristol on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with all The Underdog 2026 news, or follow us on social media via:

www.instagram.com/UnderdogBristol
www.facebook.com/UnderdogBristol

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