Reading & Leeds Announce 2026 Line-Up Led by All-British and Irish Headliners
Reading and Leeds Festival have revealed their 2026 headliners — and for the first time in 25 years, the top slots across both sites will be filled entirely by British and Irish artists. Charli XCX, Dave, RAYE, Fontaines D.C., Florence + The Machine and Chase & Status will all top the bill over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Organisers confirmed that these will be the only UK festival appearances for all six headliners next year. The pair of festivals will again return to Richfield Avenue in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds from 27th–30th August, with artists rotating between the two sites.
Charli XCX will headline following the huge success of Brat, a run of sold-out shows, and a massive Glastonbury crowd. Her 2026 sets will be her only UK festival performances of the year. Dave also returns to the top of the bill, fresh from releasing The Boy Who Played the Harp, which made him the first UK rapper to debut three albums at No. 1.
RAYE, who described reaching the headline slot by saying “I had a dream, and look at me now, it’s all possible”, continues her rise with a second album on the way and an arena tour expected to sell out.
Meanwhile, Florence + The Machine’s headline return follows the release of Everybody Scream and a major UK and Ireland arena run. Fontaines D.C. are back too, marking their first scheduled live show since ending the tour for Romance. Chase & Status complete the list of six, returning for another high-energy main-stage takeover after a huge year of live shows.
The festivals have also confirmed a long list of acts appearing across the weekend, including Skepta, Jade, Kneecap, Sombr, Role Model, Skye Newman, Kettama, Geese, Adéla and Keo. Dutch DJ Chris Stussy will play Reading only, and organisers say more names are still to come. Leeds will also open a day earlier than usual, adding a Thursday night headliner for the first time. Kasabian will kick off the weekend with an exclusive set for the Yorkshire site.
With Glastonbury taking a planned break in 2026, other festivals will be looking to draw in fans — and Reading & Leeds are positioning themselves early with one of their strongest line-ups in years. Tickets go on general sale at 12pm on Wednesday 3rd December, with presale beginning the day before.
