The iconic Reading and Leeds Festival has kicked off the countdown to its 2026 edition with a major announcement, revealing its first wave of headliners and confirming a significant schedule change for the Leeds site.
A Historic Moment for the Festival
In a landmark move for the legendary dual-site event, organisers have confirmed that the initial six headliners for the August Bank Holiday weekend are all British or Irish artists. This marks the first time in 25 years that the festival's top billing has been entirely comprised of talent from these isles. The stellar names leading the charge are Charli XCX, Dave, RAYE, Fontaines D.C., Florence + The Machine, and Chase & Status.
The festival will return to its traditional homes of Little John's Farm in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds from Thursday, August 27 to Sunday, August 30, 2026. While Reading will maintain its classic Friday start, Leeds is implementing a key change: for the first time, the Leeds site will host Main Stage performances from the Thursday, extending the weekend's musical festivities.
Artist Reactions and Supporting Acts
RAYE, who is set to make her headline debut at the festival, expressed her excitement in a statement, recalling her own teenage experiences as a punter. "I came to Reading & Leeds when I was 16 when I finished my GCSE's, I was in the dance tent living my life," she said. "I had a dream, and look at me now, it's all possible." Her headline slot follows the phenomenal success of her album 'My 21st Century Blues'. Dave also makes a highly anticipated return after his celebrated headline set in 2022.
This first announcement also includes a strong roster of supporting acts across both sites. The confirmed names so far, in alphabetical order, are:
- Adéla
- Geese
- JADE
- Josh Baker
- Keo
- Kettama
- Kneecap
- ROLE MODEL
- Skepta
- Skye Newman
- sombr
Kasabian are also confirmed for the Leeds line-up. It has been noted that Chris Stussy will perform, but exclusively at the Reading site.
What Happens Next for Festival-Goers?
This is just the first batch of names for the 2026 festival, with many more artists across all stages expected to be announced in the coming weeks and months. The news was initially broken on social media by artists including Chase and Status and Fontaines D.C.
The shift to an all-British and Irish headline bill underscores the immense strength of the domestic music scene, while the expanded Thursday start in Leeds offers fans an extra day of major acts. Tickets for the 2026 edition are expected to go on sale following further line-up announcements, with early bird passes likely to be in high demand following this historic reveal.
