The headliners for Reading and Leeds Festival 2026 are set. Charli XCX, Raye, and Dave will lead a historic all-British and Irish lineup at the twin festivals next summer. They are joined by fellow headliners Florence + The Machine, Chase & Status, and Irish rock band Fontaines D.C.. This marks the first time in 25 years that both festivals have featured exclusively homegrown headliners.
In a major change for 2026, the Leeds festival will extend its schedule. For the first time in its history, a Thursday night headline show will be added to the main stage lineup at Leeds, with Kasabian booked to perform the inaugural slot. The festival will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, from August 27 to 30, 2026. Tickets for the event go on general sale on Wednesday, December 3.
Who Is Headlining The Festivals?
The festival has announced a powerful and diverse group of six headliners for its twin sites. Each artist represents a major force in current British and Irish music.
Leading the pop charge is Charli XCX. Her 2026 festival performances will be her only scheduled UK festival appearances for the year. She is expected to showcase music from her upcoming album ‘Wuthering Heights’, which is set for release in February 2026.
Soulful pop singer RAYE is another major booking. Since leaving her former record label, RAYE has achieved significant critical and commercial success, establishing herself as one of the UK’s most celebrated contemporary songwriters.
British rapper Dave brings his chart-topping style to the stage. He recently made history by becoming the first British rap artist to debut three consecutive albums at number one in the UK Official Charts.
The lineup also features the epic, orchestral pop of Florence + The Machine, led by singer Florence Welch. The band recently released a new album described by Welch as a “darker” exploration of “life and death”.
Drum and bass duo Chase & Status will provide the high-energy dance element. Their 2026 festival set is billed as their only live performance of the year.
Completing the headliner list is Dublin’s Fontaines D.C. The post-punk band’s ascent has been a major story in recent rock music, and their 2026 festival show is also planned as their sole UK festival appearance for the year.
A Historic Shift To All Homegrown Headliners
The 2026 lineup represents a deliberate and historic booking strategy. Festival organizer Melvin Benn has previously spoken about the importance of being bold with bookings and giving upcoming stars major platformscitation:1]. This year, that philosophy has resulted in a full slate of British and Irish talent at the top of the bill, a feat not seen at the festivals since 2001.
The decision has been noted as a confident statement supporting homegrown artists at a time when UK and Irish music is performing strongly on the global stage. With the larger Glastonbury Festival taking a fallow year in 2026, Reading & Leeds is positioned to be one of the UK’s largest music festivals that summer, amplifying the spotlight on these artists.
Fan reactions to the announcement have been mixed but passionate. On social media, some fans have praised the diversity and strength of the bookings. One comment on a Ticketmaster post called the combination of “Charli xcx, chase and status, fontaines and Florence on the same line up jaw dropping genius”. Others have pointed festival-goers toward alternative events like Y Not, Kendal Calling, and Truck Festival.
New Four-Day Format For Leeds Festival
A significant logistical change is coming to the Leeds site in 2026. For the first time ever, the festival will feature performances on the Main Stage on a Thursday night.
Rock band Kasabian has been confirmed as the act to launch this new four-day format at Bramham Park. This extension gives the Leeds festival a different rhythm from the Reading site, which will maintain its traditional start on Friday. A special Thursday day ticket for the Leeds event is priced at £55.
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Full Lineup And Supporting Acts
Beyond the six main headliners, the first wave announcement includes a strong roster of supporting acts spanning genres.
Prominent names include grime artist Skepta, Irish rap trio Kneecap, and pop singer JADE. The lineup also features US artists like singer Sombr and Role Model, as well as the American rock band Geese.
The bill is rounded out by emerging talent such as singer Skye Newman, Manchester-based DJ Josh Baker, Irish producer Kettama, Slovakian singer Adéla, and rock band Keo. Chris Stussy is listed for an exclusive performance at the Reading festival only. Festival organizers have confirmed that more names will be added to the lineup at a later date.
Ticket Information And Pricing
Tickets for the 2026 festivals are now on sale through a series of presales, with the general public sale beginning soon.
A presale for PayPal customers began on Monday, December 1. A second festival presale starts at 9 AM on Tuesday, December 2. The general sale for all tickets opens at 12 PM (midday) on Wednesday, December 3.
Ticket prices for the first release are as follows:
- Weekend camping tickets are £325.
- Weekend non-camping tickets are £295.
- Day tickets for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday are £125 each.
VIP upgrades for the festival experience are available starting from £57.50.
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Credits: Billboard, Time Out UK
