Waterworks has announced the set times for its very special 2026 edition at The Cause London. Waterworks Extended brings together extended hours, extended sets, extra music, extra production and the same calibre lineup across a 36-hour continuous dance at one of the capital’s most beloved grass-roots venues. Making the most of The Cause’s expansive array of dancefloor spaces, the new setting allows sets to stretch, soundsystems to shine, and the festival’s carefully considered programming to fully breathe.
Festival co-founder and Love International boss Dave Harvey explains the idea between Waterworks Extended: “Waterworks was started to put the focus on the underground artists at the heart of UK club culture, something we didn’t see happening at that time, or at least not in the way we had envisaged it. We think this will be a really special show that London has not seen before, giving opportunities to have longer sets and 36-hour programming alongside unique production and lighting upgrades”
As always Waterworks will be a celebration of progressive dance music and UK club culture, bringing together an inspiring mix of close collaborators, long-time favourites and forward-thinking artists. Highlights include Bradley Zero & Erol Alkan, Christian AB & Craig Richards, Eris Drew, Midland, Leon Vynehall, Raresh & Sonja Moonear, OK Williams & Skee Mask, Daniel Avery, Djrum, DJ Storm, Objekt, Ruff Sqwad, Tim Reaper, Carré, Shy One and NIKS alongside live performances from Reptant, Alex Kassian, Manami and Decius Soundsystem.
Festival booker and co-founder Simon Denby: “This year we’re excited to dig deeper and go further into the incredible breadth of talent that makes up London’s sonic palette. It is a joy to plumb the depths of these ever-changing scenes and shine a light on some of the formidable artists we love – from the originators to those instigating the next steps in the journey. Waterworks has always been a love letter to London’s multi-faceted underground, and we are excited to start the next chapter.”
Waterworks also continues to collaborate with carefully chosen stage partners, each deeply embedded in the culture they represent. The Sunday focusses on collective-led takeovers from the likes of Keep Hush, Outlook Festival, DaMetalMessiah, EC2A and Rupture, shining a light on the histories and communities that have shaped UK club and soundsystem culture from the ground up. Naturally, Dave Harvey’s own Love International takes over The Gallery from doors Saturday to midday Sunday, the core space for round-the-clock programming for the duration of the event. Resident Advisor will also celebrate its 25th anniversary with Waterworks this year, hosting the Warehouse for the duration of the event. The takeover will feature a collaboration with UK bass culture archivist DaMetalMessiah on the Sunday, famed for his rigorously researched deep dives into the annals of grime and dubstep.
The programming reinforces Waterworks’ sense of continuity and its close ties with kindred festivals and scenes across Europe. Longstanding creative connections continue to shape the festival’s outlook, grounding its international relationships in a shared approach to curation and community.
Attention to sound and production remains central to the Waterworks experience, with careful investment in audio, staging, and layout ensuring each space feels purposeful and immersive. It comes as a natural partnership with The Cause, one of the capital’s most forward-thinking and continuously evolving venues. The result is an event that values atmosphere and connection, inviting audiences to properly settle into the music across a full weekend.
Waterworks Extended 2026 takes place at The Cause, London, on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September. Tickets are available here and the full set times have now been released here.
