Dance party organisers Krankbrother has just announced its first 2026 headliner as DJ and producer Sammy Virji.
Described as the “prince of UK garage“ and “dance music’s next golden boy”, he will head up an all day summer rave in the North London park on August 7, 2026 – joined by a line-up of his favourite artists and friends.
Founded in 2009 by London based DJ brothers Danny and Kieran Clancy, Krankbrother is renowned for putting on immersive dance parties and festivals with the latest DJs and electronic music acts.
But campaign group Haringey Tree Protectors previously complained that five days of drum’n’bass, techno, house, and trance raves held in August were the “worst ever” for causing damage, including branches hacked off to make way for fences and vehicle access, and large patches of dead, dry grass.
Responding to news that the festival is returning next year, they said: “Krankbrother is the wrong festival in the wrong place at the wrong time in a public park at the height of summer when residents, many of whom are in flats with no gardens, need green space the most.
“The council seem determined to continue to milk the park for profit at all environmental costs. Soil compaction – by machines, vans, stages, thousands of party goers – is a slow killer of trees and this is what is happening to the historic trees and ecology on the northside.
“This unnecessary event, year on year, is damaging the precious ecosystems of Finsbury Park.”
Sammy Virji released his second album Same Day Cleaning in September and his headline show will bring his blend of garage, speed garage, bassline, and high-energy club tracks to the full day outdoor gig.
Over the years, groups such as the tree protectors and The Friends of Finsbury Park have campaigned against renting the park out for public events including a Tough Mudder in 2023 which left the park churned up.
But Haringey Council has said such activities bring in £1.3 million annually, which is reinvested back into the park – and say swathes of park land and grass remain accessible during events.
A Krankbrother spokesperson told the Ham&High last year that they worked closely with Haringey Council to minimise impact during Finsbury Park events.
Measures include employing an independent ecological consultant to oversee the build and break process during the festival; exclusion zones around important trees; and significant ground protection measures overseen by officers from Haringey Council.
Separately Festival Republic runs 45,000-capacity music concerts every summer in Finsbury Park with the first Headliner act announced for July 4, 2026 as indie rockers Kasabian.
Krankbrother and Haringey Council were approached for comment.
