Reading Festival

last updated: Mon 30th Jan 2023

This is the granddaddy of them all, having originally started in Richmond as the National Jazz Festival in 1961 (run by the National Jazz Federation). It moved to Reading in 1971 at the invitation of the local council and chamber of commerce to celebrate the town's 1000th anniversary.

In 1998 the current organisers (Festival Republic, formally Mean Fiddler) started a northern leg of this festival in Leeds, with just about all the same bands (there can be one or two variations) playing both festival sites but on different days.

around the festival site (Friday)

Listed Events

Latest Updates

Reading Festival 2026
line-ups & rumours

last updated: Fri 27th Mar 2026

Reading & Leeds Festivals 2026 Announce 70+ New Acts
After months of speculation, it's here

last updated: Fri 27th Mar 2026

Reading Festival 2026
festival details

last updated: Fri 27th Mar 2026

Reading and Leeds festivals announce the 6 co-headliners for 2026
Headliners confirmed as Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines DC, Raye

last updated: Mon 1st Dec 2025

Reading Festival 2025
festival details

last updated: Tue 29th Jul 2025