Reading Festival returns to Berkshire in just a few weeks, promising another huge weekend of incredible live music, festival mayhem, and moments that prove why it’s one of the most popular events in the UK every year.
Over the years, the festival has cemented its reputation as one of the UK’s biggest and most iconic music events, renowned for electric atmospheres and genre-spanning line-ups that bring together some of the biggest names in music. Blending alternative and indie rock, pop, hip-hop, electronic music and everything in between, Reading continues to strike the perfect balance between established favourites and the breakthrough artists of tomorrow.
This year’s bill is led by Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence & The Machine, Fontaines D.C. and Raye, with standout performances also coming from Skepta, Loyle Carner, sombr, Role Model and SO many more. Yet, alongside its heavyweight headliners, Reading remains an important platform for emerging talent, giving the next generation of artists the chance to perform in front of huge crowds alongside some of the biggest names in the world. From Keo and Skye Newman to Florence Road, Overpass, and a whole host of rising talent, there is no shortage of artists ready to make their mark on Richfield Avenue this summer.
We’ve chosen five artists who should definitely be on your radar at this year’s festival.
1. Overpass
What a year it’s been for Overpass. A debut album, a huge surge in their following, and their biggest UK headline tour to date on the horizon this Autumn; there’s plenty to love about the band right now. If their debut record, Elsewhere, Always, is anything to go by, these guys have the knack for making you feel every emotion in one place. Whether you’re belting out the words to Fall in Love, feeling every lyric of Is This Real?, or bouncing along to Right Time, it may just be the ‘Right Time‘ for you to see them live. They’re a band firmly on the cusp of hitting the big time, and given their recent meteoric rise, it feels inevitable they’ll be gracing even bigger stages very soon.
2. Alex Spencer
Fresh off the release of his EP These Will Be the Days, Manchester singer-songwriter Alex Spencer is doing everything an artist should be doing right now. With a busy autumn ahead, including his own European headline shows and a major support stint with Reading’s own Only the Poets later in the year, a performance at Reading Festival feels just like another day at the office for Spencer. Fans of Louis Tomlinson may recognise him from supporting the One Direction star across Europe earlier this year, yet another massive milestone in what has already been a pivotal year for the rising artist. His vocals are unmistakably captivating, his stage presence is commandingly confident, and he’s bound to have you singing along to tracks such as Nightmares. If there’s one promising artist who deserves your support in a year already packed with career-defining moments, it’s Alex Spencer.
3. Maisie Pieters
Maisie Pieters returned to the scene earlier this year with her whimsically brilliant fourth studio album, Florescence, three years after her career-defining The Good Witch cemented her status as a folk-pop sensation. Adding to the excitement, she’s set to headline London’s O2 Arena in Spring 2027, in what promises to be one of the biggest moments of her career. Having honed her craft in some of the smallest venues in the UK, her appearance at Reading comes at the perfect time, offering fans a taste of what’s to come as anticipation builds for her London headline show. Expect relatable lyrics, witty takes on romance, and an onstage persona that’s impossible not to love – just some of the qualities that make Maisie Pieters such a standout on this year’s lineup.
4. Westside Cowboy
The breadth of rising talent in the UK right now is astonishing, and Westside Cowboy is yet another prime example. At the time of writing, their debut record It Goes On is due for release on the 21st August, just days before their Reading Festival appearance, a performance that will inevitably go down as a major milestone in an already stacked year for the Manchester band, who formed just three years ago. Having packed out a tent at Truck Festival last month, there’s little doubt their Reading stage will be rammed once again. You simply have to see them while you can, because this time next year, getting your hands on tickets to see Westside Cowboy may be that little bit harder.
5. Radio Free Alice
Having recently released their single Kick in the Shins, Australian punk outfit Radio Free Alice have enjoyed a busy festival season, performing at the likes of Boardmasters, Truck Festival and Tramlines. Their appearance at Reading will cap off a summer packed with live shows, giving festivalgoers a chance to see exactly why they’re making headlines and quickly falling into that coveted ‘your next favourite band’ category. For newcomers, expect the kind of post-punk energy that sends mosh pits spiralling and leaves their Reading stage overflowing with intensity, with energetic cuts like Lunch Money and Look What You’ve Done bound to get the crowd moving. It sounds like the perfect fit for Reading Festival 2026.
Who are you most excited to see?
