Reading & Leeds Festival 2026

13 hours ago
3 min read

Reading & Leeds, the biggest European festival this summer, closed the 2026 festival season in style as over half a million music fans gathered to experience the best in live music, on a weekend that marked a bold new chapter for both festivals.

The all UK and Irish headline bill – the festival's first in 26 years – was a powerful statement of the depth, diversity and global influence of music from these islands. From Charli xcx's boundary-pushing pop and Dave's defining British rap to Fontaines D.C.'s visceral alternative rock, RAYE's electrifying showmanship, Florence + The Machine's theatricality, Chase & Status' drum & bass energy and first-ever Thursday night Leeds headliner Kasabian's indie-rock anthems, the headline programme celebrated artists who have each played a defining role in shaping contemporary music.

Festival fans were treated to secret sets across the weekend, including Jamie T, Lola Young, and Royal Blood, and a stellar roll call of surprise guest appearances including Arrdee, Central Cee, D Double E, James Blake, Kano, Novelist, Professor Green, Tems, Tom Grennan, and many more.

As ever, Reading & Leeds delivered an extraordinary breadth of music across the weekend. SOMBR, Skepta, Loyle Carner, Gunna, JADE, Role Model, Declan McKenna, Kneecap, Slayyyter, Adéla, Blossoms, Viagra Boys, Geese, Maisie Peters, Kettama, Chris Stassy, Josh Baker and SPEED were among the artists spanning rock, rap, pop, indie and electronic music across the festival's extensive programme.

Across four days, Reading & Leeds Festival unveiled the biggest staging and arena overhaul in its history. Five new spaces - The Gallery, The Warehouse, The Ballroom, The Canopy and The Yard - reshaped the festival experience, providing the ultimate platform for live music, dance, emerging talent and late-night culture.

Dance music was given an even greater presence across the weekend, with The Warehouse hosting artists including Max Dean b2b Luke Dean, Riordan, Rossi., Mall Grab, SOTA and Hybrid Minds, while in Leeds LS23 continued to provide a late-night destination for festival-goers looking to keep the party going long after the main stages had finished.

The new Canopy stage marked a significant evolution in the festival's approach to emerging talent, with a visually striking design providing a fresh platform for the next generation of artists including December 10, Violet Grohl, Cruz Beckham & The Breakers, The North, Amma, Finessekid, Day We Ran, Villanelle and many more. Bringing elevated staging and a dedicated home to new music, The Canopy reinforced Reading & Leeds' commitment to championing the headliners of tomorrow.

Melvin Benn, Managing Director of Festival Republic, said: "I could not be prouder of what the team have achieved this year. They have transformed the vision behind Reading & Leeds, setting out a bold pathway for the future and delivering the biggest festival in Europe this summer. From the strength of the headliners - all-British and Irish - to the transformation of the sites at both Reading and Leeds, to the expansion of our new-music offering, we have set down a marker in the British cultural landscape. The reaction from our audiences, artists, and partners has been incredible, and we can't wait to share our plans for 2027."

Relive the standout performances and unforgettable moments on BBC iPlayer, including sets from headliners Fontaines D.C., RAYE, Dave, Florence + The Machine and Chase & Status. Reading Festival Highlights 2026 also airs on BBC One on Wednesday 2 September at 10.40pm, while Radio 1, Radio 1 Dance and 6 Music continue the celebrations with special programming and performances from across the festival.

Reading & Leeds continues to prove that its identity stretches far beyond its headline acts. The 2026 edition marked a significant moment in its evolution, with its biggest ever staging and arena transformation bringing together global superstars and the next generation of talent across rap, rock, pop and electronic music, creating distinct musical worlds, late-night experiences and new ways for fans to discover artists.

Reading & Leeds will return on Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th August 2027.

Presale tickets for Reading & Leeds 2027 will be available on Friday 4th September at 10am BST. General sale begins on Friday 11th September at 10am BST. Fans are encouraged to register now to gain first access to 2027 tickets.