It’s 50 years since punk’s cultural moment: the rise of The Damned and Sex Pistols, Johnny Rotten swearing on the telly, Never Mind the Bollocks and the mohawks and fashion. But punk’s not dead.
The conditions that made it happen in the ’70s are here again: furious young people, rising unemployment, a failing Labour government, a resurgent far right and the tools to rage against the powers that bind us all. But what does punk mean in 2026?
In this week’s Punk birthday special, we ask that question. We also revisit our archives to bring you snippets of extraordinary interviews with punk legends, revisit Camden – birthplace of punk – and give you the chance to win some amazing art.
What else is in this week’s Big Issue?
Blind NHS psychologist fears losing job after DWP slashed her Access to Work support
Cuts to DWP Access to Work support could force a visually impaired clinical psychologist out of her NHS role. It’s part of a broader pattern of support reductions.
Kim Gordon’s Letter To My Younger Self
The musician gravitated towards the NYC avant-garde dance scene, but even after forming Sonic Youth it was years before she’d give up the day job.
The government has pledged support for kinship carers. But will it go far enough?
When Sarah took in her two-year-old nephew seven years ago, it was an easy decision. She knew she wanted to support him and provide him with a safe and loving home with family when his parents were unable to care for him. But it was a decision that plunged her into financial difficulties
