Three Days Deep: Punks Against Cancer 2026 Closes Out Strong at The Hairy Dog

Day 2 and 3 of Punks Against Cancer kept the same energy as the opening day, picking up right where it left off and running with it. Back inside The Hairy Dog, you could feel the atmosphere straight away, the same energy, the same crowd, all in for the same reason.

Saturday and Sunday were full all-dayer. Doors opened earlier in the afternoon, with bands running through half-hour sets, while the headliners were given closer to an hour. It gave the days more room to build, with people settling in and staying for longer runs of music.

Saturday’s lineup moved quickly but stayed varied. Angerland, Apocalypse Babies, Thee Acid Tongue, Vomit, Graffiti Club, The Reverends, Meansteed, On The Huh, The Insane, Cyanide Pills and The Skids all took their turn on stage, each keeping the day moving without losing attention. By the time it reached the headline slot, the room was full and fully switched on.

The Skids closed Saturday and showed exactly why they were top of the bill. Their sound sits in that classic punk space, big hooks, sharp guitars and choruses that carry across the room without effort. It turned into one of the biggest singalongs of the weekend, people already knowing every word and giving it straight back.

Sunday followed a similar format but leaned into a slightly heavier and more aggressive feel as it went on. Angry Agenda, Kid Klumsy, Urban Elite, Suckerpunch, Angry Itch, Tear Up, London Sewage Co, Unrivalled, Drongos for Europe and The Zipheads all played across the day, each adding something different without breaking the flow of it.

Tear Up stood out. Easily one of my personal favourites of the weekend. Coming out of Watford, they brought a set that felt properly direct, angry and aggressive. No filler, no overthinking it, just straight energy from start to finish. It landed hard in the room and felt like one of those sets people will remember afterwards.

The Zipheads shifted things slightly later in the day, bringing in a mix of ska and rockabilly that changed the pace without losing the crowd, giving the final stretch a different feel before the headline set.

Raffles ran across all three days, with bands donating merch throughout the weekend. It became part of the rhythm of the event, something people stayed for between sets as much as the music itself. Sunday stepped it up even further, with a guitar signed by all the bands playing that day alongside a larger bundle of merch, both getting a strong reaction from the room.

One of the things that stood out across the weekend was the people. We ended up speaking to loads of attendees between sets, and it wasn’t just locals. People had travelled in from all over the country to be there. Everyone had their own story, whether it was about the scene, the bands, or personal reasons tied to the cause. What came through every time was how much this event meant to them.

The weekend closed with Theatre of Hate. Their atmospheric, post-punk sound brought a different feel to the room, darker, more layered, with space in the music that carried across the venue. It was easily the most packed the room had been all weekend, people right up to the back.

After the weekend, the final total was announced via Facebook, £10,261 raised for Macmillan Cancer Support. That kind of money goes towards real support, including funding Macmillan nurses who help people and families dealing with cancer.

One final surprise on Sunday was the confirmation of Punks Against Cancer 2027. We caught up with the organisers, who told us they’re already in talks with bands for next year’s lineup. Early bird tickets are on sale now, grab them here

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