Your guide to the UK’s music festival season for summer 2026
Your guide to the UK’s music festival season for summer 2026
With the UK basking in bright weather this week, the anticipated summer festival season is setting the stage. Glastonbury’s absence this year, due to its fallow year in Somerset, doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of events. Festival enthusiasts have a variety of options to explore.
Established Festival Line-ups
Major events like Reading and Leeds, Parklife, and the Isle of Wight Festival are back in full force. The Reading and Leeds Festival, running from 27 to 30 August, will feature six British and Irish headliners, including Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C., and Raye. Leeds adds a Thursday night exclusive with Kasabian.
For fans of Lewis Capaldi, The Cure, and Teddy Swims, the Isle of Wight Festival offers a vibrant lineup from 18 to 21 June. Local indie act Wet Leg is also set to deliver standout performances. Boardmasters in Cornwall brings Fatboy Slim, Lily Allen, and The Kooks to the coast from 5 to 9 August.
If you’re seeking a festival experience without camping, TRNSMT in Glasgow from 19 to 21 June will showcase CMAT, Wolf Alice, and Two Door Cinema Club. BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend moves to Sunderland for 22–24 May, featuring Olivia Dean, Zara Larsson, and Niall Horan.
New Festival Series
Emerging festivals are making waves this year. Leeds welcomes Roundhay, which debuts in July with Pitbull and Lewis Capaldi as headliners. Meanwhile, Kendal Calling in the Lake District will highlight Biffy Clyro, Wolf Alice, and The Libertines from 30 July to 2 August.
Truck Festival, returning to Oxfordshire from 23 to 26 July, includes The Maccabees, The Wombats, and Kaiser Chiefs. The East Midlands will host Download Festival from 12 to 14 June, with Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses, and Linkin Park leading the charge.
Dance Music Events
Dance music fans have their share of excitement. Creamfields in Cheshire, running 27 to 30 August, will feature Swedish House Mafia, Martin Garrix, and Armin van Buuren. Parklife in Manchester, on 20 and 21 June, includes Calvin Harris, Skepta, and Sammy Virji as headliners.
Boomtown in Hampshire hosts Skrillex, Four Tet, and Faithless from 12 to 16 August. Lovebox returns to Margate, Kent, on 29 and 30 May, with Rudimental, Armand Van Helden, and Groove Armada.
Coastal and Urban Venues
Alongside the traditional festivals, unique settings are adding flair. Silverworks Island in East London, June and July, will host Pendulum, Fisher, and Tiesto. Labyrinth on the Thames, in August, features Dom Dolla, Peggy Gou, and Michael Bibi, set against the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.
Those prioritizing comfort over campfires can enjoy BST Hyde Park’s late June to early July dates, headlined by Maroon 5, Mumford & Sons, and Garth Brooks. All Points East in London’s Victoria Park will welcome Jorja Smith, Lorde, and Twenty One Pilots in late August.
