All Points East's 2026 edition got off to a dusty start this weekend with two huge days which showcased the powerful female talent in the music industry right now.
Headlining a mouth wateringly good bill on Saturday, New Zealander Lorde told the crowd: "This is the best line up I’ve ever been part of".
She had curated the day and she wasn't wrong - the scheduling of Rose Gray, Sienna Spiro, Audrey Hobert and Pink Pantheress in quick succession had fans pinging around the site between sets to catch their favourite acts.
When they did, it raised a dust cloud which made the bandana-toting mob resemble a herd of wildebeest.
On Friday it was homegrown talent Jorja Smith - and Tems - who stole the show in Victoria Park, while on Saturday the east London green space was overtaken by groups of young women in tiny shorts and sequinned minis - not to mention a strong showing from the LGBTQ community and celebs including Millie Bobby Brown, Paul Mescal, and Louis Partridge.
Ultimately the ass kicking all-female band for Zara Larsson's uplifting melodic booty-shaking set was more the vibe of the day than Stranger Things star DJO's dude-heavy guitar rock on the West stage.
But the joy of APE is there's room for everyone - DJO aka Joe Keery played tunes from his acclaimed 2025 album, The Crux.
He was scheduled against a sweaty, high energy rave courtesy of Pink Pantheress - complete with writhing muscled dancers so the choice was clear but not too conflicted.
She brought out British singer-songwriter and producer MNEK for a surprise appearance on Shadows.
Earlier Larsson caught the mood of the summer's day as she delighted a crowd waving inflatable dolphins with her entourage of dancers in bright outfits.
The Swedish star bookended the set with her hit Midnight Sun, brought Pink Pantheress on stage for a first time ever live duet on Stateside - and delighted the crowds by bringing on an audience member to dance along to Lush Life.
A pitch perfect rendition of Symphony - her Clean Bandit collaboration - reminds you how much she's achieved at just 28.
Finally all stages but one were closed down for a tracksuit-clad two-time Grammy and BRIT Award-winner Lorde who started her set with a snatch of her breakthrough hit Royals.
As darkness fell, the slick show with lasers and dancers built to a heady climax with a set that took in Man Of The Year, Girl So Confusing, the dancefloor anthem Green Lights and a stripped back David which she described as a song about “trying to find my power".
Chatting to the crowd she recalled a previous visit to Victoria Park two years ago with someone she had a "big crush" on, adding: "Bring your crush to Victoria Park. There’s magic here."
Hits like Supercut and Team were also sung by the artist, who played at the first edition of All Points East in 2018 at just 21.
She wrapped up her set with Ribs, a song she described as the "oldest, most precious song" sending the crowds home dusty but happy.
The festival continued on Sunday August 23 with Deftones headlining Outbreak Fest.
Next weekend Tyler, The Creator will take the stage for a two-day headline slot at Victoria Park on Friday, August 28, and Saturday, August 29, followed by Twenty One Pilots on Sunday, August 30.
Share