Reading & Leeds Festival 2026: Is This the Best Lineup in Years?

Reading and Leeds festival is going big for 2026. The first announcement dropped and the lineup already looks stacked, with a run of headliners that feel fully rooted in what UK and Irish music is doing right now.

You get Charli XCX, Dave, Raye, Fontaines D.C., Florence + The Machine and Chase & Status — six names carrying huge weight across scenes that young festival-goers actually care about.

There’s also something refreshing about seeing three women at the top of the bill. Charli XCX, Raye and Florence + The Machine each bring a different lane, and it finally gives the festival a better visual of who’s shaping modern music. Fans have been asking for this kind of balance for years, and 2026 looks like the closest the event has come to answering back without making excuses.

This edition also marks the first time in around 25 years that all headliners come from the UK and Ireland. With Glastonbury skipping 2026, Reading and Leeds festival steps into position as the biggest weekend of the summer. It feels intentional. Charli XCX’s set will be her only UK festival show next year. Dave arrives as one of the strongest names in UK rap after landing three number-one albums. Raye continues a huge run after breaking records at the BRITs. Florence + The Machine return with new music and a long overdue headline moment. Fontaines D.C. hit the stage after wrapping a heavy touring cycle. Chase & Status keep the energy high with a live DnB set that usually goes off.

Away from the headliners, there’s a wide mix already confirmed. Skepta, Kneecap, Sombr, JADE, Role Model, Josh Baker, Kettama, Geese, Skye Newman, Adéla and Keo all bring their own pull. Leeds also adds a Thursday headliner for the first time, with Kasabian stepping into that slot. Dutch DJ Chris Stussy plays Reading only.

Fans are reacting fast. Some long-timers say this finally feels like a lineup aimed at them. Others highlight the bigger scale of the names, especially with three women on top — something the festival hasn’t managed before. In previous years organisers suggested fewer women were available to headline. This year’s choices challenge that point directly.

Reading and Leeds festival returns to Richfield Avenue and Bramham Park from 27 to 30 August 2026, with artists rotating days across both sites. With more names still to come, 2026 already looks like a strong contender for the best lineup the festival has pulled together in a long time.