Tems Co-Headlines All Points East 2026 With Jorja Smith

Nigerian Grammy-winning singer Tems took centre stage at London’s Victoria Park on Friday, August 21, co-headlining the 2026 edition of All Points East alongside British R&B star Jorja Smith in one of the festival’s biggest Afro-influenced moments.

The pairing was confirmed by All Points East earlier this year, with the festival billing Smith and Tems as the headline acts for the opening day of its 2026 series. The official festival programme lists the show as a special one-off performance, with Nia Archives, kwn, Ayra Starr, Odeal and a host of other artists completing the bill.

For Tems, the appearance represents another significant milestone in an international career that has moved steadily from Nigeria's alternative music scene to some of the world's biggest stages. The singer has become one of Africa's most recognisable contemporary artists, earning Grammy recognition and building a global audience through songs including “Free Mind”, “Love Me JeJe” and her collaborations with international stars.

The All Points East booking also carries significance because it places Tems alongside Smith rather than beneath a larger international headliner. NME described the pair as the festival's co-headliners, noting that both artists have previously featured on its influential NME 100 list.

The August 21 programme was curated by Smith and her label FAMM, creating a bill that leaned heavily into contemporary R&B, Afrobeats, UK soul and emerging talent. Ayra Starr, another Nigerian artist with a growing international profile, was among the performers, while British acts including Maverick Sabre and Katy B also appeared.

Tems performed before Smith on the festival's main East Stage, taking the stage at 7:10pm, with Smith following at 9:25pm for the closing headline performance. The two artists did not perform as a joint act; each delivered a separate headline set.

The performance also produced an unexpected London moment when British rapper Dave joined Tems onstage for “Raindance”, their UK No. 1 collaboration. The surprise appearance added another layer to an already high-profile set and connected Tems' African-rooted sound with one of Britain's most prominent rap artists.

The scale of the booking is notable beyond the festival itself. All Points East has become an important fixture on London's summer music calendar, and its 2026 programme includes major international names such as Lorde, Deftones, Tyler, the Creator and Twenty One Pilots. Against that backdrop, Tems' position as one half of the opening day's headline pairing underlines how far Afrobeats and African pop have moved into the centre of the international festival business.

It also reflects a broader change in the way African artists are being presented internationally. Tems is no longer appearing simply as an emerging African act added to a global bill; she is being positioned as a principal attraction capable of drawing an audience in her own right. The inclusion of Ayra Starr on the same day's programme further strengthened the Nigerian presence at one of London's major outdoor music events.

The sold-out status of the August 21 show added to the occasion, with the official All Points East page listing the Jorja Smith and Tems date as sold out.

Tems' All Points East appearance therefore fits into a much larger story about the changing geography of global pop. African artists are increasingly moving from collaboration credits and supporting slots into headline positions at major international festivals, where their music, audiences and cultural influence are becoming commercially impossible to overlook. For Tems, sharing the top billing at Victoria Park was another clear indication that her international breakthrough has developed into genuine headline status.