Werchter has been doing the same thing for yeeeears. Namely, booking the better pop-rock artists of the moment. For the past 20 years, for the absolute biggest names, they have often fallen back on a small circle of bands (Pearl Jam, Kings Of Leon, Editors, ...) that we (boomers, old farts, 35+s, 40+s, moms and dads... call it what you will) all felt at some point like 'again', to the point where we even shouted: book something new for a change.

On top of that, a few up-and-coming bands appeared every year, bands that we all sensed could well be the headliner of tomorrow. We now feel that 'the' headliner of today no longer quite aligns in terms of style, taste, genre... with what we like to listen to. That does not mean, however, that RW is selling its soul. RW is doing what it has always done.
For me personally, over the last 5 or 6 years I have felt very clearly that the 'new' generation of headliners no longer fully aligns with my own preferences. Some years more than others, though the last edition was truly a top year again. It can't be a hit every year. After the 2025 edition, I really felt that I needed to start looking more towards Bospop, or a day at RW instead of a weekend, or Cactus, or... It remains a trade-off for each of us whether the money you spend on it gives you sufficient return. For me, in that 21-year combination, there have been years where that trade-off was evaluated somewhat more negatively, and other years more positively... that's just how it goes.
With Muse, Sam Fender, MA, Turnstile, Tame Impala... and hopefully Phoebe Bridgers, Robyn, Chemical Brothers, Patti Smith... for me, this year's line-up isn't such a monstrosity at all. So I happily bought a combo ticket again. It's a shame that this forum is evolving more and more into a complaining den, where there is little room for musical critical thinking anymore, and the discussion (often fueled by 3 or 4 whiners) is too quickly reduced to "Rock Werchter hasn't been rock for a long time," or "TikTok music is by definition TikTok trash because it doesn't resonate with my environment"... Accepting that people have a different opinion, or even better; occasionally giving yourself the chance to learn the opinions of others and adjusting your own, is so difficult these days, unfortunately also in the realm of music nowadays. That being said. From tomorrow, back to positive vibes as far as I'm concerned.
