Baybeats Is Back For 2026 – Here Are 10 Acts To Look Out For
Singapore’s biggest alternative music festival returns for its 25th edition this September, bringing four days of indie, punk, shoegaze and everything in between.
Returning to Esplanade from 3 to 6 September 2026, Baybeats is back for its 25th edition, bringing four days of indie rock and alternative music from Singapore, the region and beyond. More than just a festival, Baybeats has long been a launchpad for independent artists and a place for audiences to discover what’s bubbling beneath the surface of the alternative music scene.
This year’s lineup runs the gamut from guitar-heavy indie and math-rock to alt-hip-hop, screamo, experimental electronics and fuzzed-out punk. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve picked a mix of homegrown favourites, regional acts and some newer names you might not have heard of yet, but are well worth getting acquainted with. And because Baybeats is free, you can afford to be a little spontaneous. Most performances are open to all, while shows at the Powerhouse2 and Annexe stages are free with registration.
10 MUSIC ACTS TO LOOK OUT FOR AT BAYBEATS 2026
1. Subsonic Eye
If you’ve spent any time around Singapore’s music scene, chances are you’ve already crossed paths with Subsonic Eye. The beloved DIY scene veterans whose restless, guitar-driven indie rock has made them one of the more recognisable names in Singapore’s alternative music landscape. So if you’ve somehow never caught them live, Baybeats feels like a good place to rectify that.
When: Sunday, September 6, 2026, 7.30pm
Where: Powerhouse2 (Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade)
Instagram: @subsoniceye
2. The Cabs
Fresh off their set at Fuji Rock Festival in Japan this July, Japanese post-rock/math-rock trio The Cabs are bringing their intricate, occasionally chaotic sound to Singapore. After disbanding in 2013, the band officially reunited in 2025, going on to sell out their entire Japan reunion tour. Safe to say, their comeback era is still going strong.
When: Friday, September 4, 2026, 7.30pm
Where: Powerhouse2 (Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade)
Instagram: @thecabs_japan
3. Enec.e
After an eight-year hiatus, Singapore five-piece band Enec.e are finally returning to the stage at Baybeats 2026. Formed in 2012, the band blends shoegaze, indie-folk and dream pop into atmospheric soundscapes, with two female vocalists at the helm. For anyone whose ideal festival set involves hazy guitars and getting slightly lost in your own thoughts, this one’s for you.
When: Thursday, September 3, 2026, 8.30pm
Where: Arena (DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre at Esplanade)
Instagram: @enec.e
4. The Observatory
There are few better examples of how far Singapore’s alternative music scene can stretch than The Observatory. Since forming in 2001, the band has moved through folk electronica, prog and avant-rock, seemingly treating every release as an opportunity to start over again. Come Baybeats, we’re curious to see where they take things next.
When: Friday, September 4 2026, 9.15pm
Where: Powerhouse2 (Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade)
Instagram: @theobservatorysg
5. David Boring
Despite the name, David Boring are anything but. A defining force in Hong Kong’s underground scene, the band brings punk urgency, controlled dissonance and plenty of raw energy to this year’s lineup. The band released their third album, Liminal Being and Their Echoes, earlier this year, making Baybeats a timely chance to catch them as they enter their latest chapter.
When: Saturday, September 5, 2026, 8.30pm
Where: Powerhouse2 (Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade)
Instagram: @davidboring__
6. Sweetass
Malaysian fuzz-rockers Sweetass are bringing a little grit to this year’s lineup. Their sound toes the line between ‘90s grunge, the melodic pull of noise pop and punk’s restless energy. So if loud guitars are more your speed, you know where to go.
When: Saturday, September 5 2026, 6.45pm
Where: LiveWire Stage (Esplanade Forecourt Garden)
Instagram: @sweetassrecords
7. Mediocre Haircut Crew
After a few years away, Singapore hip-hop trio, Mediocre Haircut Crew (MHC), are making their long-awaited comeback at Baybeats 2026. Formed back in 2015 when polytechnic friends started making music with internet beats and a cheap microphone, the group has since carved out its own indie hip-hop sound, bouncing between boom bap, trap and everything in between, with the no-holds-barred lyricism and high-energy stage presence to match.
First set
When: Thursday, September 3. 2026, 8.15pm
Where: Chillout Stage (Esplanade Concourse)
Second set
When: Saturday, September 5. 2026, 7.15pm
Where: Arena (DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre at Esplanade)
Instagram: @mhc.sg
8. Hidemen
Baybeats Budding Photographer, Faris
Rooted in hip-hop, Hidemen aren’t particularly interested in staying inside the lines. The Singapore alt-hip-hop group pushes the genre in unexpected directions, folding unconventional sounds and influences from beyond hip-hop into their music. Their latest album, Dragon, for example, takes inspiration from fantasy role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons, with the group leaning into the idea of themselves as creative world-builders. Consider this your invitation to enter their world.
They’re also one of the four acts selected for this year’s Baybeats Budding Bands programme, a three-month mentorship initiative designed to give independent talent in music, photography, and music journalism guidance on everything from live sound and logistics to marketing and industry connections.
When: Thursday, September 3, 2026, 8pm
Where: Annexe (Esplanade Annexe Studio)
Instagram: @hidemenn
9. Muff
Ready to turn the volume knob significantly to the right? Singapore alternative-rock band Muff channel melancholy and angst into guitar-driven music that feels a little rough around the edges in the best way.
As another of this year’s Budding Bands, Muff has had a busy year. Fresh off the release of their debut EP, In The Morning, in April, they’re one to catch for anyone who likes their alternative rock emotionally charged without losing its bite.
When: Thursday, September 3, 2026, 8pm
Where: Annexe (Esplanade Annexe Studio)
Instagram: @muff__band
10. Naedr & The Midheaven String Collective
Screamo isn’t exactly known for being subtle, which makes the pairing of emo violence band Naedr with an eight-piece string ensemble all the more intriguing. The collaboration stretches their music from aching sadness and clenched frustration towards something much more expansive. You’ll also be among the first to hear this new iteration of Naedr live.
When: Friday, September 4 2026, 11pm
Where: Powerhouse2 (Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade)
Instagram: @naedrband
So pick a few names, leave some gaps in your itinerary and let the music guide you for the rest. Your next favourite band might be the one you weren’t planning to see.
Full Baybeats 2026 festival line-up:
Registration note: Priority registration for the Powerhouse2 and Annexe stages opens on August 20, 2026 for Esplanade&Me members, followed by general public registration on August 31. Find out more about Baybeats 2026 and register for free here.