Panic! At The Disco to headline Slam Dunk Festival 2016

Celebrating it's 10th anniversary, the lineup will feature New Found Glory, Of Mice and Men + more

Slam Dunk Festival line up 2016, panic at the disco, tour

Photo: Justine Trickett

The rumours were true. Panic! At The Disco have been announced as the headliner for Slam Dunk Festival 2016. The metal and rock festival will be happening across the May bank-holiday weekend in three separate locations in the South, Midlands and North.

Past headliners have included You Me At Six in 2015, All Time Low in 2013 and Taking Back Sunday in 2012. Now, celebrating their 10th birthday, Slam Dunk have booked Panic! At The Disco as their main headliner. Other artists on the line-up include Of Mice And Men, New Found Glory, Four Year Strong, Everytime I Die, Issues and Real Friends.

Following the success of last year, the Leeds site will continue is position in the City Centre - but the Midlands edition will now take place at the Birmingham NEC. The Southern date will remain in Hatfield, at the University of Hertfordshire campus for the fifth year.

The festival's director, Ben Ray, said of this year's line up: "2016 marks the 10th Anniversary of the first Slam Dunk Festival. I had no idea back then what I thought would be a one off event would still be going now, let alone continued to grow to the size it has become. Because of the anniversary, it was important for this year to be special."

Brandon Urie from Panic! released a message to accompany the announcement: "It's awesome, it’s fucking cool, and I’m very excited. We haven’t actually played it before, but we have friends who have, and have heard it’s awesome! And sure, there’s a little bit of pressure, I’m not gonna lie!"

Listen to Panic! At The Disco's 'Emperor's New Clothes' below

In recent, Panic! news, the band have announced a UK show for 12 January at London's Brixton Academy to coincide with the release of their new album, Death Of A Bachelor, on 15 January 2016.

Tickets for Slam Dunk Festival go on sale at 9am on Friday (27 November_ with options to buy afterparty tickets as well. See dates and locations below. For tickets and more information, visit here.

Saturday 28 May 2016 - North - Leeds City Centre
Sunday 29 May 2016 - Midlands – Birmingham, NEC Bank Holiday
Monday 30 May 2016 - South – Hatfield, University of Hertfordshire