READING & LEEDS 2026: HEADLINERS REVEALED FOR NEXT YEAR’S ICONIC FESTIVAL

Fans of live music, start planning your Bank Holiday weekend! The first headliners for Reading & Leeds 2026 have officially been confirmed, promising one of the most exciting line-ups in recent festival history. The twin-site festival returns to Little John’s Farm in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August 2026, with headline sets from Fontaines D.C., Florence + The Machine, DAVE, Charli XCX, RAYE, and Chase & Status. Irish post-punk favourites Fontaines D.C. will kick off their headline appearance after an intense touring cycle in support of their Mercury-nominated fourth album, Romance. This will be the band’s first scheduled live show since the album’s promotional campaign wrapped, and fans are expecting an electric set full of new tracks alongside beloved anthems from their previous albums. Joining them on the headline roster is Florence + The Machine, who are fresh off the release of their emotional and highly acclaimed sixth album, Everybody Scream. Florence Welch and her band promise a show full of dramatic, arena-ready performances, combining the band’s signature ethereal sound with the energy festival-goers expect from a Reading & Leeds headline slot. Making her festival headline debut, Charli XCX is set to bring her genre-defying pop to the twin sites. Following the cultural sensation of her latest album, BRAT, and with 2026 set to see the release of her Wuthering Heights soundtrack, fans can expect Charli’s set to be a thrilling mix of hits and new material. British singer-songwriter RAYE will also make her first headline appearance at Reading & Leeds. After the runaway success of My 21st Century Blues and the viral single Where Is My Husband!, the set promises to be a high-energy celebration of her career to date, showcasing her unique blend of pop, R&B, and electronic influences. Meanwhile, grime superstar DAVE returns to the festival stage after his headline performance in 2022, which was widely praised as one of the best sets in recent festival history. Following the release of his latest album, The Boy Who Played The Harp, expectations are high for another unforgettable, socially conscious, and emotionally charged performance. Rounding out the headliners is Chase & Status, bringing their legendary electronic beats to Reading & Leeds. With a career spanning over two decades, the duo are sure to deliver a high-octane set packed with drum & bass, dubstep, and grime influences, a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for festival-goers seeking late-night thrills. With the first wave of acts now announced, anticipation is already building for the full line-up, which promises to feature a mix of breakthrough talent and established names across multiple stages. Tickets are expected to sell quickly, as festival-goers flock to secure their spot for one of the UK’s most iconic music weekends. Reading & Leeds 2026 promises four days of unforgettable performances, vibrant festival culture, and a chance to see some of the world’s biggest music stars in one incredible Bank Holiday weekend.