Your guide to the UK’s music festival season for summer 2026

Key Events to Watch

As the UK basked in pleasant weather this week, the summer festival season looms on the horizon. Though Glastonbury will take a break this year, enthusiasts can still look forward to a diverse array of events. With major festivals like Reading and Leeds, Parklife, and Isle of Wight offering robust programming, there’s no shortage of options for music lovers. New ventures are also set to debut, adding fresh excitement to the calendar.

From 27 to 30 August, the Reading and Leeds Festival returns with a strong lineup of six headliners, all from the UK. Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C., and Raye will anchor the main stages, while Leeds will host a Thursday night-only performance by Kasabian. For those craving a more relaxed experience, TRNSMT in Glasgow provides a three-day festival format without the need for camping, featuring CMAT, Wolf Alice, and Two Door Cinema Club from 19 to 21 June.

Meanwhile, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend will be held in Sunderland, welcoming Olivia Dean, Zara Larsson, and Niall Horan from 22 to 24 May. If you prefer a single-day event with comfort in mind, BST Hyde Park will stage its shows in late June and early July, drawing acts like Maroon 5, Mumford & Sons, and Garth Brooks. All Points East, returning to London’s Victoria Park in late August, will showcase Jorja Smith, Lorde, and Twenty One Pilots.

New and Emerging Festivals

As the summer unfolds, several new festivals are set to make their mark. Roundhay in Leeds, for instance, will debut its first shows in July, with Pitbull and Lewis Capaldi as headline performers. In East London, Silverworks Island has become a favored spot for dance music fans, hosting events in June and July featuring Pendulum, Fisher, and Tiesto. Similarly, Labyrinth on the Thames, which gained viral attention last year, will return to Greenwich with acts like Dom Dolla, Peggy Gou, and Michael Bibi across August.

For a unique blend of genres, Kendal Calling in the Lake District offers an indie-focused lineup from 30 July to 2 August, including Biffy Clyro, Wolf Alice, and The Libertines. In Oxfordshire, Truck Festival will feature The Maccabees, The Wombats, and Kaiser Chiefs from 23 to 26 July. Regional highlights include Parklife in Manchester, where Calvin Harris, Skepta, and Sammy Virji will headline on 20 and 21 June, and Boomtown in Hampshire, which will showcase Skrillex, Four Tet, and Faithless from 12 to 16 August.

With a variety of options catering to every musical preference, the 2026 season promises unforgettable experiences. Whether you seek the energy of dance floors or the intimacy of a single-day event, there’s a festival to suit your tastes.