Global music superstar Harry Styles has sent his fanbase into a frenzy with a double announcement this week. The 32-year-old singer confirmed he will be hosting the legendary late-night sketch show Saturday Night Live on March 14, while also revealing his prestigious appointment as curator of the Southbank Centre's Meltdown festival in London for June 2026.
Saturday Night Live Return
Styles broke the news about his Saturday Night Live hosting duties through a characteristically understated Instagram post on Monday. He shared a photograph of a dressing room door adorned with simple post-it notes that clearly read: 'Mar 14 Harry Styles'. The singer captioned the image with his affection for New York City, writing: 'I love NYC. March 14'.
This appearance forms part of the promotional campaign for his forthcoming album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally., which is scheduled for release on March 6. Styles is no stranger to the SNL stage, having made his hosting debut back in November 2019. During that memorable episode, he performed his hit singles Lights Up and Watermelon Sugar.
A History with SNL
The British artist has actually appeared on the show multiple times throughout his career. Beyond his hosting role, he has served as a musical guest on several occasions. His first solo performance on SNL occurred in 2017, and he previously appeared with his former band One Direction in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Fans immediately flooded the comment section of his Instagram post with excited reactions. Supporters wrote messages including: 'This is absolutely incredible', 'chills', 'Girl we know you love NYC', 'So excited to watch on the 14th!!' and 'Best news literally'.
Meltdown Festival Curator
In a separate but equally significant announcement, it was revealed that Harry Styles will take on the role of curator for the Southbank Centre's 2026 Meltdown festival this summer. This places him in an elite lineage of past curators that includes music icons such as David Bowie, Nile Rodgers, Grace Jones, and Yoko Ono.
Styles will oversee programming at the iconic London venue for eleven days in June 2026. His responsibilities will include assembling a diverse programme of art and music events, culminating in a headline performance by the singer himself. This festival engagement comes just days before his scheduled shows at Wembley Stadium as part of his ongoing Together, Together tour.
A Prestigious Honour
Meltdown holds the distinction of being the world's longest-running artist-curated music festival. The 2026 edition will be presented as part of the Southbank Centre's 75th anniversary celebrations, adding special significance to Styles' involvement.
Following the announcement, Harry Styles expressed his gratitude and vision for the role. 'I'm deeply honoured to curate the Meltdown festival, especially for the Southbank Centre's 75th anniversary year,' he stated. 'My goal as the curator is to share the music and art that I love, and to celebrate the rich history of the venue.'
He continued: 'We both share a passionate belief that music is a vital part of life. It brings us together and the Southbank Centre has been at the heart of it, providing easy access to great music for the past 75 years. I'm incredibly grateful to Southbank for having me, it's really exciting for me to have this opportunity in such an iconic venue.'
Harry Styles' Meltdown festival is scheduled to run from June 11 to June 21, 2026. The full line-up and specific dates for ticket releases will be announced in Spring 2026.
Tour Expansion and Fan Reaction
These announcements come amid developments in Styles' touring schedule. The singer recently added two additional Wembley Stadium dates to his Together, Together tour, bringing his total performances at the iconic venue to twelve shows this summer. This move will establish a new record, surpassing Coldplay's ten performances during their Music of the Spheres tour last year.
Previously, Taylor Swift held the record for most performances by a solo artist at Wembley Stadium with eight shows during her Eras Tour, surpassing Michael Jackson's seven performances. Styles' extended residency will now see him perform on June 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 23, 26, 27, 29 and July 1, 3, and 4.
Ticket Pricing Controversy
However, the tour expansion has not been without controversy. As pre-sale tickets became available on Monday, some fans expressed frustration at what they perceived as excessively high ticket prices. Critics branded the singer as 'greedy' and 'out of touch', particularly when comparing costs to his previous Love On Tour, which concluded in 2023.
Ticket prices for the London shows range from £44 to £466.24 for seated options, while standing tickets cost between £144 and £279. VIP packages command significantly higher prices, starting at £468.85 and reaching up to £725. These figures include standard fees but exclude additional handling charges and VIP package premiums.
Despite the pricing concerns, Harry Styles continues to demonstrate his multifaceted career evolution—from chart-topping musician to television host and now festival curator—maintaining his position as one of entertainment's most influential figures.
