READING AND LEEDS 2026 ANNOUNCE SIX HUGE HEADLINERS
Pepsi MAX presents Reading & Leeds Festival has today unveiled six massive headliners for 2026. Taking over the Main Stages across next August Bank Holiday weekend are Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C. and RAYE, marking the first time in 25 years that the festivals will showcase an exclusively British and Irish headline bill.
In another festival first, Leeds Festival will host Main Stage performances on the Thursday, with Kasabian announced as the inaugural Thursday night headliners at Bramham Park.
Across the weekend, festival-goers can also look forward to sets from Skepta, Sombr, Role Model, Jade, Josh Baker, Kneecap, Kettama, Chris Stussy (Reading only), Geese, Skye Newman, Adéla and Keo.
Charli XCX continues to redefine pop culture with her boundary-pushing sound and creative vision. BRAT summer may have ended, but she ushers in a bold new era with her only UK festival performance of the year at Reading & Leeds.
Electronic giants Chase & Status, long established as pioneers of UK dance music, will make their debut as Reading & Leeds headliners, delivering their only live show of 2026.
Dave returns for a UK festival exclusive performance following the release of his chart-topping album The Boy Who Played the Harp, further solidifying his place as one of the most gifted rappers of his generation.
Florence + The Machine, fresh from releasing the highly anticipated album Everybody Scream, will grace Reading & Leeds for the first time since 2012, performing their only UK festival set of the year.
Fontaines D.C., hailed as one of the defining bands of their era, will make their debut as Reading & Leeds headliners. Their sets will also be their only UK festival appearances of 2026 — another landmark moment in their rise.
Multi-award-winning singer-songwriter RAYE, holder of the record for the most BRIT Awards won in a single night, will deliver a UK festival exclusive headline performance destined to be unforgettable. Reflecting on her first Reading appearance in 2024, she said: “You know what listen guys, I’ve done it, I came to Reading & Leeds when I was 16 when I finished my GCSE’s, I was in the dance tent living my life… you know what I mean. I had a dream, and look at me now, it’s all possible.”
Also confirmed today: Skepta, Sombr, Role Model, Jade, Josh Baker, Kneecap, Kettama, Chris Stussy (Reading only), Geese, Skye Newman, Adéla and Keo.
Ticket Information
48hr PayPal presale: Opens 9AM, Monday 1 December
24hr Festival presale: Begins 9AM, Tuesday 2 December — sign up at readingfestival.com or leedsfestival.com
General sale: From 12PM, Wednesday 3 December via readingfestival.com or leedsfestival.com
