Soft Machine are an English rock and jazz band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs. They were one of the central bands within Canterbury scene.

The band saw many changes in the line-up during the years (1966–1968, 1969–1984). In 2015, Soft Machine Legacy – one of the reincarnations of Soft Machine – announced that they will continue performing under the name “Soft Machine.”