Bathing Suits have been confirmed as the winners of The Steve Strange Award, as most exciting act from The Great Escape 2026.
The award is in memory of the late music agent, live music champion and longstanding supporter of emerging talent, and looks to celebrate one artist each year who is making a standout impact at The Great Escape festival.
With the victory, winners are given £5,000 cash to provide support as they take the next steps in their career. Previous winners have included Zetra, AGGRASOPPAR, Audio Books and more, and the 2026 winners are now confirmed as emerging Leeds electro-noise band Bathing Suits.
They were voted for by The Great Escape delegates after performing live at this year’s event, which ran between May 13 and 16 and welcomed over 20,000 attendees.
“Thank you Great Escape we are pumped to receive this award,” the band said. “I loved swinging upside down and naked in front of all of your smiling faces. Was the perfect chance to try out loads of new material that we’ve got waiting for you, can’t wait to come back very soon Brighton!”
Rory Bett, Managing Director of MAMA Group, added: “Bathing Suits embody the creativity and originality that the Steve Strange Award exists to champion. They are a band with an electrifying live presence, and we’re excited to support them at this important stage in their journey.”
This year’s event marked the 20th anniversary of The Great Escape and NME got in on the action by presenting two stages: a packed opening weekend on Wednesday night at The Deep End and a stacked NME Stage at The Old Market on Friday.
NME also shared a list of the Top 10 artists who performed at this year’s festival, which included Leeds dance-punk band Adult DVD, viral prog stars Angine de Poitrine, Gurriers, and the aforementioned Bathing Suits.
Check out the full list here.
