Pepsi MAX presents Reading & Leeds Festival has unveiled a blockbuster lineup for 2026, announcing six headliners who will take over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C., and RAYE will top the bill, marking the first time in 25 years that the festivals have showcased an all–British and Irish roster of headliners.
In another major first, Leeds Festival will introduce Main Stage performances on Thursday night. Kasabian will inaugurate the new addition as the first-ever Thursday headliners at Bramham Park.
Across the rest of the weekend, the festivals will also host performances from Skepta, Sombr, Role Model, Jade, Josh Baker, Kneecap, Kettama, Chris Stussy (Reading only), Geese, Skye Newman, Adéla, and Keo.
Ticket Sales
A 48-hour PayPal presale opens at 9 am on Monday, 1 December, followed by a 24-hour festival presale at 9 am on Tuesday, 2 December, for those signed up via the Reading and Leeds websites. General sale begins at 12 pm on Wednesday, 3 December.
The Headliners
Charli XCX, fresh off a wave of critical acclaim and cultural influence, will deliver her only UK festival performance of the year. Her appearance signals a new era for the pop innovator as she brings her boundary-pushing energy to both sites.
Chase & Status continue their ascent as giants of UK electronic music. The duo will headline Reading and Leeds for the first time, presenting what will also be their only live show of 2026.
Dave returns following the chart-topping success of The Boy Who Played the Harp. Widely regarded as one of the most gifted rappers of his generation, he’ll take the stage for an exclusive UK festival performance.
Florence + The Machine will make a long-awaited return to Reading & Leeds for the first time since 2012. Her appearance comes hot on the heels of the release of Everybody Scream, and will be her sole UK festival date of the year.
Fontaines D.C. continue their rise as one of the decade’s most influential bands. Their debut headlining slots at Reading and Leeds will be their only UK festival appearances in 2026, marking another milestone for the Irish group.
RAYE, who smashed records with the most BRIT Awards won in a single night, brings her powerhouse catalogue—including eight UK Top 20 singles and billions of streams—to her exclusive headline set. Reflecting on her first Reading appearance in 2024, she said:
“I came to Reading & Leeds when I was 16…I had a dream, and look at me now—it’s all possible.”
With a strengthened lineup, historic firsts, and a slate of exclusive performances, Reading & Leeds 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark edition of the iconic festivals.
