Festival Republic and Live Nation have officially announced the launch of State Fayre, a brand new major camping festival set to take place in Essex next summer. Scheduled for 26 – 28 June 2026 at Hylands Park, Chelmsford, the inaugural event will be headlined by rock giants Kings of Leon, the legendary Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts, and folk-rock superstars The Lumineers. General admission tickets for the 30,000-capacity event will go on sale at 9am on Friday 28 November 2025 via the official festival website.
Billed as “the UK’s largest music and barbecue festival,” State Fayre aims to bring an authentic taste of Americana to British soil. The event is inspired by the culture of American state fairs, combining long summer nights and tailgate parties with a blend of contemporary and classic sounds. Joining the headliners across the weekend are major acts including The Black Crowes, Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton, and Counting Crows, creating a robust lineup spanning rock, country, and folk music.
Kings of Leon will headline the opening night of the festival. The multi-Grammy and BRIT Award-winning band, known as one of the biggest alternative rock acts of the last two decades, brings a history of headlining prestigious global stages including Glastonbury and Coachella. Sunday night will be closed by The Lumineers, who have built a massive following with their blend of alternative rock and heartfelt storytelling, boasting over 6 billion streams and a reputation for electrifying live performances in stadiums worldwide.
The announcement also marks significant touring news for Neil Young. His appearance at State Fayre is part of the newly announced UK and European leg of the ‘Love Earth World Tour’. The Chrome Hearts lineup accompanying Young features Spooner Oldham on keys, Micah Nelson on guitar and vocals, Corey McCormick on bass, and Anthony LoGerfo on drums. This tour leg kicks off in Manchester in mid-June before visiting Hylands Park.
Beyond the music, the festival promises a comprehensive cultural experience. Organisers Anna-Sophie Mertens and Alex Simmonds highlighted the growth of Americana, rock, and country in the UK as a driving force behind the event. “We’re so excited to present this music in an immersive outdoor setting complete with the authentic food, activities and big open skies of an American state fair,” they stated. The site will feature three main stages, boutique camping, and traditional fairground rides.
A central component of the festival experience is ‘The Fume Pit’, hosted by the UK’s premier BBQ festival, FUME. Co-founded by social media personality EatingWithTod, this area will feature the largest BBQ cages in the UK. Attendees can expect demonstrations from top industry chefs and food from award-winning pitmasters and vendors. The culinary offerings will be supplemented by vegetarian and vegan traders, alongside whiskey bars, craft beer selections, and cocktail bars.
Tickets will be available from 9am on Friday 28 November at www.statefayre.com. With a capacity of around 30,000, the festival offers a more intimate major event experience compared to some of the UK’s larger music gatherings, focusing heavily on the thematic blend of music and food culture.
State Fayre 2026 line-up
- Kings of Leon
- Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts
- The Lumineers
- The Black Crowes
- Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton
- Counting Crows
- Amble
- Avery Anna
- Bec O’Malley
- Buffalo Traffic Jam
- Caroline Grace
- Dug
- Dylan Gossett
- Kingfishr
- Kip Moore
- KT Tunstall
- Max McNown
- Muireann Bradley
- Nina Nesbitt
- Sierra Ferrell
- The Coral