Reading and Leeds Festivals

The Reading and Leeds Festivals are among England's premier annual music events, taking place concurrently on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend. Both festivals feature the same lineup, ensuring an extraordinary experience regardless of the location you choose. Reading Festival is hosted at Little John's Farm in Reading, while Leeds Festival unfolds at Bramham Park near Wetherby. Both sites offer camping facilities included with your ticket, simplifying the process of immersing yourself in the full festival experience.

Organized by Festival Republic, these festivals boast a storied history dating back to the 1960s. Notably, Reading Festival holds the distinction of being the world's oldest popular music festival. Over the years, it has featured a diverse array of musical genres, primarily focusing on rock, alternative, indie, punk, metal, and more recently, hip-hop. Formerly known as the Carling Weekend: Reading and the Carling Weekend: Leeds, the festivals have since reverted to their original names.

The festivals have expanded dramatically over the years. Reading Festival now accommodates approximately 87,000 attendees, while Leeds Festival hosts around 75,000. Throughout their storied history, these festivals have featured an eclectic mix of musical acts, ranging from jazz to punk to rock, and have even navigated challenges such as the 2009 ban on flags and banners, or incidents where artists were booed off stage.

Over the years, headliners have included iconic acts like Nirvana, Radiohead, and Metallica. Each festival features multiple stages catering to different genres. The Main Stage hosts the biggest names, while the NME/Radio 1 stage is ideal for discovering emerging artists. Additional stages are dedicated to dance music, punk, and even comedy performances.

In 2020, the festivals were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a major disappointment for fans anticipating performances by headliners like Rage Against the Machine, Stormzy, and Liam Gallagher. Despite this setback, the festivals have continued to grow and evolve, reaching a record attendance of 105,000 people in 2019.

Despite occasional challenges, the Reading and Leeds Festivals remain iconic fixtures in the UK music scene, attracting fans from around the globe to experience some of the best live music available.