Reading & Leeds Festival has announced six massive headliners for 2026, marking the first time in 25 years the event has platformed an exclusively British and Irish top tier. Charli xcx, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C. and RAYE will top the bill at the festivals next August Bank Holiday weekend.
In a historic shake-up for the northern leg of the double-header, Leeds Festival will open its Main Stage on Thursday for the first time ever. Billed as ‘Leeds 2.0’, the expansion sees indie giants Kasabian confirmed as the Thursday night headliners at Bramham Park.
A new era of headliners
The announcement confirms the news teased by artists on social media last night. In an unusual move, acts including Chase & Status and Florence + The Machine launched the campaign themselves with coordinated posts before the official festival channels broke their silence.
All six main headliners have been secured as UK festival exclusives. For Chase & Status, the headline slot marks a major milestone as they become the first electronic act to top the bill, delivering their only live show of 2026.
Florence + The Machine returns to the festivals for the first time since 2012, promoting her anticipated album ‘Everybody Scream’. Meanwhile, Dave cements his status following his number one album ‘The Boy Who Played the Harp’, and Charli xcx makes her only UK festival appearance of the year following the massive success of her ‘BRAT’ era.
RAYE, who drew huge crowds at the festival in 2024, steps up to headline status. Speaking during her last appearance, she told the crowd: “I came to Reading & Leeds when I was 16 when I finished my GCSEs, I was in the dance tent living my life. I had a dream, and look at me now.”
Support acts announced
Alongside the headliners, a strong undercard of special guests has been revealed. The confirmed support acts include:
- Skepta
- Kneecap
- Sombr
- Role Model
- Jade
- Josh Baker
- Kettama
- Chris Stussy (Reading only)
- Geese
- Skye Newman
- Adéla
- Keo
Ticket releases and prices
Tickets are available now in the PayPal presale which launched at 9am on Monday, 1st December. A second ‘Festival Presale’ begins at 9am on Tuesday, 2nd December, before tickets go on general sale at 12pm on Wednesday, 3rd December.
Prices for the 2026 edition have been confirmed with the launch of the presale:<!– /wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:list –>
- Weekend Non-Camping: £295 (plus booking fees)
- Day Tickets (Fri/Sat/Sun): £125 each
- Thursday Day Ticket (Leeds only): £55
- Two-Day Non-Camping Bundles: £230
- Weekend VIP Lounge Upgrade: £151.50
- Day VIP Lounge Upgrade: £57.50
Fans can secure tickets with a £20 deposit scheme that spreads the cost over seven instalments. Tickets are available via www.readingfestival.com and www.leedsfestival.com.
Notably, day tickets have been placed on sale immediately, despite the festival not yet confirming which days the main headliners will perform. The only confirmed day split currently is Kasabian’s Thursday slot at Leeds.
Reading & Leeds Festival takes place from 27th – 30th August 2026 at Richfield Avenue, Reading and Bramham Park, Leeds.
Image credits:
Luke Dyson
Sarah Louise Bennet
Georgina Hurdsfield
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