Merton Council has announced the first major acts for Start of the Line, a brand-new music, arts and culture festival coming to Morden Park on Saturday 20 June 2026.
The Main Stage will be headlined by three standout artists: soul legends Soul II Soul lead the lineup, with support from chart-topping indie pop band The Hoosiers, and acclaimed indie rock artist Billy Nomates.
The festival will showcase the vibrant heart of Merton – in south-west London – in one of the region’s best-kept parkland secrets.
Also featuring is acclaimed local rapper and songwriter RAMZ on the Mitcham Dreamer Stage, which he will also curate. Critically acclaimed musician Jah Wobble, who has a long connection to the borough, will be delivering a unique performance with special guests.
Early Bird tickets are available for £15 until 14 February. Following this initial offer, at £20 a ticket, with under-12s going free – Start of the Line is the best-value day festival in London.
The festival will cater for all ages – and hopes to draw families from Merton and beyond – thanks to a diverse line-up and a dedicated ‘Polka Playden’ children’s zone, delivered by the award-winning Polka Theatre.
Councillor Eleanor Stringer, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Civic Pride and Climate Change, said: “We’re so proud of our corner of south-westLondon, and we want more people to discover the brilliance and beauty of our borough that lies at the start of the Northern Line.
“As well as bringing a raft of new visitors to see our world class headliners, the day will also celebrate what our residents already know: that Merton is full of talent, creativity and potential.”
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said: “Culture has the power to bring people of all backgrounds together and the Mayor’s Cultural Impact Awards will do just that. Our boroughs are bursting with creativity and this year’s winners will celebrate, entertain and inspire.
“t’s great that Merton will showcase its homegrown talent at a fantastic music festival. There is so much for residents and visitors to enjoy, helping us continue to build a better London for everyone.”
Start of the Line will bring world class performers into the heart of the community, alongside the very best of Merton’s homegrown talent, and making sure everyone can take part is central to the festival.
Young musicians from the Merton Music Foundation will take to the Main Stage and in the Connected Voices Village, aspiring local poets will share the bill with renowned spoken word artists.
The Main Stage will also host a Deaf Rave featuring sensory Woojer packs, technology which enables deaf audiences to experience music through vibration. There will also be a performance from Merton based band Azzures who blend dub, funk and psychedelic rock into their sound.
Across all stages, attendees will also be able to get creative themselves, with plenty of opportunities to join in throughout the day, through Hip Hop Karaoke, Beat Boxing Workshops, dance classes and much more.
Start of the Line is produced by Merton Council and is part of We Are Merton, a three-year programme celebrating culture, creativity and community across the borough.
The festival is made possible by funding by the Mayor of London’s Cultural Impact Award, part of the Borough of Culture programme, which the council has matched.
There are three Cultural Impact Awards taking place across London. Alongside Merton, Barnet and Royal Borough of Greenwich are also hosting borough-wide programmes throughout 2026, with all three boroughs collaborating on key elements. Barnet is staging Light + Flight – a new borough-wide cultural programme bringing together artists, communities and local stories to explore creativity, connection and belonging. Royal Borough of Greenwich will put young people in the driver’s seat. A new paid steering group of 24 people aged 13–30 will name, design and deliver the Cultural Impact Award programme and gain real-world skills from industry experts.
Festival Areas and Programme Highlights
Mainstage
- Soul II Soul
- The Hoosiers
- Billy Nomates
- Jah Wobble
- Merton Music Foundation
- Azzures
- Deaf Rave
Mitcham Dreamer Stage
Curated by Mitcham rapper and singer RAMZ, this stage will champion grassroots and emerging artists. Full line‑up to be announced.
Polka Playden
A lively family area curated by Polka Theatre, featuring:
- Sister 360, a new play by Asif Khan inspired by real-life skateboarding sisters
- MC Grammar
- Baby Rave
- Storytelling, Wake Up Yoga and Dance sessions throughout the day
Connected Voices Village
A dedicated space for spoken word, debate and creative participation, including:
- Hip Hop Karaoke
- Beatbox workshop and performance with Conrad Murray
- Origins – short plays by Attic Theatre Company inspired by Merton’s people and places
- Indian Folk Dance workshop curated by Sabitri from the Ethnic Minority Centre
- A spoken word competition in partnership with local coffee shop Metronome’s Spoken Word Night and Apples and Snakes
- A panel debate: Start of the Line – The Future of Arts and Culture in Merton, featuring cultural leaders from across the borough
About the London Borough of Culture and Cultural Impact Awards
Cultural Impact Awards are part of London Borough of Culture, a Mayor of London initiative. They are awarded to transformative creative projects that bring about a positive impact on local communities and a step change in local policies and strategies. The aim is to bring Londoners together, celebrating the unique and diverse culture and heritage of our boroughs.
Barnet, Greenwich and Merton have received Cultural Impact Awards for ambitious cultural projects in 2026 that will led by local artists and draw visitors from across the city and beyond.
So far, London Borough of Culture has engaged over 3m people in person and online, created over 25,000 opportunities for young people, leveraged more than £22.2m funding, involved 5,100 artistic partners, over 5,000 volunteers, and 569 schools.