A new three-day music event called the Upbeat Weekender will take place at Arena Torquay in Devon from Friday 3 April to Sunday 5 April 2026. The festival will run across the Easter bank holiday weekend at the venue on Torwood Street. This marks the first major Easter event for the site since it was transformed from the old Bohemia nightclub and reopened in 2025.
The festival will feature a variety of music styles including ska, punk, and reggae. Well-known acts such as The Selecter, led by Pauline Black OBE, are set to perform alongside Rhoda Dakar and The Specials Ltd. According to the English Riviera tourism guide, the venue can hold up to 1,200 people for live shows.
Local families and visitors can buy day tickets for £30.25 or full weekend passes for £77. The event is open to all ages, though children under 14 must be with a parent or guardian and those under 18 have to leave the building by 11pm. This new addition to the holiday lineup means residents do not have to travel to other cities like Exeter to find live music during the school break.
The launch of the festival comes as Torquay begins a series of large-scale building and improvement projects across the town. Arena Torquay owners stated that their goal is to help the area become a top choice for live events. The venue includes four bars and professional equipment designed for touring bands and local community gatherings.
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