Reading & Leeds Festival 2026: Charli XCX, Fontaines D.C., RAYE Among Huge Headliners
The Reading & Leeds Festival is set to return in 2026 with an exciting lineup that includes headliners Charli XCX, RAYE, Florence and the Machine, Fontaines D.C., Dave, and the dynamic dance duo Chase & Status. Scheduled to take place over the Bank Holiday weekend from August 27-30, this beloved dual-site festival will see performances at Richfield Avenue in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds. The festival continues to showcase a diverse range of talent, with notable acts like SOMBR, Skepta, and Geese also joining the initial announcement. This year marks a significant milestone as Kasabian will become the first-ever Thursday headliner at Leeds, setting the stage for a thrilling weekend of music.
In addition to the headliners, the lineup features a mix of emerging artists and established names, including Role Model, JADE, and Kettama. The festival’s presale tickets are already available, with a general sale set to begin on December 3, 2025. Both Florence and the Machine and Dave have previously headlined the festival, with Florence last performing in 2012 and Dave in 2022, while Charli XCX is expected to deliver her only U.K. festival performance following the release of her upcoming soundtrack LP for “Wuthering Heights” in February 2026. This festival promises to be a pivotal moment for Fontaines D.C. as well, marking their first show after their Romance tour and being touted as their only U.K. festival appearance in 2026.
Festival boss Melvin Benn has expressed his commitment to providing a platform for rising stars, emphasizing the importance of bold bookings that reflect contemporary issues. He highlighted the significance of memorable moments in music history, such as Chappell Roan’s outspoken performance in 2025, which resonated with audiences and made a statement on current events. By prioritizing new talent alongside established acts, the Reading & Leeds Festival aims to create a dynamic and engaging atmosphere that captures the spirit of the times while celebrating the rich tapestry of musical genres. As anticipation builds for this iconic festival, fans can look forward to a lineup that promises to deliver unforgettable performances and a vibrant festival experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmG3LBC0t0s
Charli XCX
,
RAYE
and
Florence and the Machine
are among the six headliners for Reading & Leeds Festival 2026.
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The dual site English festival – held concurrently in Reading’s Richfield Avenue and Leeds’ Bramham Park – will also be headlined by
Fontaines D.C.
,
Dave
and dance duo
Chase & Status
. The event will take place across the Bank Holiday weekend on Aug. 27-30.
SOMBR, Skepta and Geese are also among the names to join the lineup’s first announcement, with Kasabian set to be Leeds’ festival’s first ever Thursday headliner with a slot on the main stage. In recent years, two headline acts per day have taken to the stage across the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Also appearing on the bill will be Role Model, JADE, Josh Baker, Kneecap, Kettama, Chris Stussy (Reading only), Geese, Skye Newman, Adéla and Keo. More names will be announced in due course.
A PayPal presale for the event is live
now
(Dec. 1) with a second presale taking place tomorrow (Dec. 2) before a general sale on Wednesday (Dec. 3).
Florence and The Machine and Dave have both headlined the festival previously, the former in 2012 and the latter in 2022. All other headliners have appeared a number of times throughout the festival in recent years.
Its the first show announced for Fontaines D.C. following the conclusion of their
Romance
tour in August 2025 and is billed as their only U.K. festival appearance in 2026. Charli XCX will also return to the stage for her sole U.K. festival performance and will follow the release of her
upcoming
Wuthering Heights
soundtrack LP in February 2026.
Speaking to
Billboard U.K.
earlier this summer
, festival boss Melvin Benn reflected on why he was keen to give upcoming stars the opportunity to headline over legacy acts. 2025’s event was headlined by Chappell Roan, Travis Scott, Bring Me The Horizon, and Hozier.
“I think it’s a pointer to all festivals to not be afraid and to be bold with their bookings,” Benn says of Roan’s headline slot in 2025. “To say that you were there when Chappell criticised Donald Trump from the Reading Festival stage, for example, or when Hozier stood up and said, ‘Free Palestine’… only a certain number of people can be there at that moment and actually experience it.”
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