Official Reading & Leeds 2026

[Steve G]

How do you think Sleep Token would go down these days with a R/L crowd? New album coming out that might have  some Radio 1 airplay. Already done a multiple sold out arena tour ready to headline Download this year. Maybe they do what Limp Bizkit doing this year and maybe be a massive sub to Linkin Park 

Edited April 8, 2025 by Steve G

[Andre91]

2 hours ago, Steve G said:

How do you think Sleep Token would go down these days with a R/L crowd? New album coming out that might have  some Radio 1 airplay. Already done a multiple sold out arena tour ready to headline Download this year. Maybe they do what Limp Bizkit doing this year and maybe be a massive sub to Linkin Park 

I think they could potentially headline in a few years. They’re guaranteed a #1 album when this one comes out, they’re currently sat at #4 in the singles charts (which is insane), so I think if a couple of songs from this upcoming album gets A listed in Radio 1, they’ll be set. Their rise for a heavy band is like nothing I’ve ever seen in my time of following music. 

[Steve G]

35 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

I think they could potentially headline in a few years. They’re guaranteed a #1 album when this one comes out, they’re currently sat at #4 in the singles charts (which is insane), so I think if a couple of songs from this upcoming album gets A listed in Radio 1, they’ll be set. Their rise for a heavy band is like nothing I’ve ever seen in my time of following music. 

They've certainly made an impact and they don't look like they're slowing down and look like they're only getting bigger despite people thinking they've peaked. Wouldn't shock me if they take a sub spot to an heavier band next year to see how they go down and then maybe headline for the album after there new album. 

 

I know they're headlining Download but SOAD Headlined Download in 2011 then subbed Green Day at R/L in 2013 so wouldn't shock me if Sleep Token sub say a Linkin Park and get some TV Coverage as well. 

[northernangel]

On 08/04/2025 at 16:57, Steve G said:

How do you think Sleep Token would go down these days with a R/L crowd? New album coming out that might have  some Radio 1 airplay. Already done a multiple sold out arena tour ready to headline Download this year. Maybe they do what Limp Bizkit doing this year and maybe be a massive sub to Linkin Park 

 

LB are a sub, that is all. The band they are subbing to play tours way bigger to what LBs arena tour was, not even in comparison. None of those headliners for Reading this year would fail to be booked for an o2 arena date.

 

On 08/04/2025 at 19:22, Andre91 said:

I think they could potentially headline in a few years. They’re guaranteed a #1 album when this one comes out, they’re currently sat at #4 in the singles charts (which is insane), so I think if a couple of songs from this upcoming album gets A listed in Radio 1, they’ll be set. Their rise for a heavy band is like nothing I’ve ever seen in my time of following music. 

 

They are 10 in the main chart, but higher up in the rock charts which isn't that big a shock considering they are a rock band. 

[Steve G]

21 hours ago, northernangel said:

 

LB are a sub, that is all. The band they are subbing to play tours way bigger to what LBs arena tour was, not even in comparison. None of those headliners for Reading this year would fail to be booked for an o2 arena date.

 

 

They are 10 in the main chart, but higher up in the rock charts which isn't that big a shock considering they are a rock band. 

To me it isn't the position it's how long they maintain it. They'll be out the top 40 in 2 weeks I reckon. Have you heard them yet on Mainstream radio station or a main stream music channel? 

[northernangel]

44 minutes ago, Steve G said:

To me it isn't the position it's how long they maintain it. They'll be out the top 40 in 2 weeks I reckon. Have you heard them yet on Mainstream radio station or a main stream music channel? 

Honestly I don't listen to mainstream radio or music channels these days. I stopped doing that years ago.

[Steve G]

36 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Honestly I don't listen to mainstream radio or music channels these days. I stopped doing that years ago.

Same here. I haven't heard them at work yet and they play Hits Radio or Capitol so I assume despite been top 10 in the charts it's still not popular with the masses 

[Andre91]

Who watches music channels in 2025? 

[charlierc]

3 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Who watches music channels in 2025? 

I remember they were quite good fun to have on in the early 2010s. Nowadays I think there's only about 3/4 left.

[CanWeRest]

1 hour ago, Andre91 said:

Who watches music channels in 2025? 

 

😹 Not for ten years, probably.

[non-attendee]

My initial prediction for 2026;

 

Foo Fighters

Sam Fender

Kendrick Lamar

 

But that just seems to good for R&L, there's always somewhat curveball choices that can be justified but not exactly on the tip of our tongue. Having said that, I do think FF and SF must be obvious choices in the frame. So I'm gonna go with;

 

Foo Fighters, MGK (2nd), Architects (3rd)

Sam Fender, WolfAlice (2nd), Beabadoobee (3rd)

Playboi Carti, Little Simz (2nd), Turnstile (3rd)

 

Over the next 12 months I think we'll see MGK, Wolf Alice and Turnstile stock rise.

 

[non-attendee]

Charli XCX to headline on her next album cycle. 2027/2028.

[non-attendee]

Fontaines DC to also headline on their next album cycle. Maybe sooner if R&L experience dramas of headliners pulling out etc, they'd be an ideal back up

[Andre91]

Chase and Status to headline 2026. 
 

Chase and Status x Central Cee 

Olivia Rodrigo 

 

Linkin Park 

Edited May 6, 2025 by Andre91

[thatTFBguy]

45 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Chase and Status to headline 2026. 
 

Chase and Status x Central Cee 

Olivia Rodrigo 

 

Linkin Park 

she's doing every festival on the planet this summer bar R+L might as well circle back for it, I suppose. 

[andyrhodes24]

17 minutes ago, thatTFBguy said:

she's doing every festival on the planet this summer bar R+L might as well circle back for it, I suppose. 

Think she might do the usual Glasto then R&L the year after routine like a few others have done.

[andyrhodes24]

Does Glasto having a year off have any impact on the strength of R&L? Biggest UK festival next year.

[jj200]

friday: the 1975

Saturday:  queens of the Stone Age 

sunday: ed Sheeran 

[northernangel]

On 07/05/2025 at 13:18, jj200 said:

friday: the 1975

Saturday:  queens of the Stone Age 

sunday: ed Sheeran 

Nah, would be amazed if Queens ever played Reading again. There are so many more options that would be a better fit at Reading these days.

 

I think Charli XCX will be in a co-headline conversation, Sabrina Carpenter must be very high up the options the grab unless she goes stadiums and Foo Fighters.

[Benj]

3 hours ago, northernangel said:

Nah, would be amazed if Queens ever played Reading again. There are so many more options that would be a better fit at Reading these days.

 

I think Charli XCX will be in a co-headline conversation, Sabrina Carpenter must be very high up the options the grab unless she goes stadiums and Foo Fighters.

There’s no chance they headline for sure

[northernangel]

31 minutes ago, Benj said:

There’s no chance they headline for sure

Exactly and I don't know why they take sub. If festivals like Download are willing to cap their capacity from 110k to like 75k max for them to headline then why take less elsewhere. Queens are still trying to sell out and second 8k capacity venue in Sheffield than is only an hour south of the Leeds Festival venue. Queens have only done one if their own bug outdoor dates ever with a heavy support cast alongside and that moment is well gone. 

[andyrhodes24]

25 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Exactly and I don't know why they take sub. If festivals like Download are willing to cap their capacity from 110k to like 75k max for them to headline then why take less elsewhere. Queens are still trying to sell out and second 8k capacity venue in Sheffield than is only an hour south of the Leeds Festival venue. Queens have only done one if their own bug outdoor dates ever with a heavy support cast alongside and that moment is well gone. 

Never seen QOTSA, they’ve been on my list for a while but there’s no chance I’m paying £75 the week after Leeds fest and it’s only an hour’s drive as you say. Support isn’t great either. I should’ve done Finsbury Park when I was down for LG in 2018.

[northernangel]

14 hours ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Never seen QOTSA, they’ve been on my list for a while but there’s no chance I’m paying £75 the week after Leeds fest and it’s only an hour’s drive as you say. Support isn’t great either. I should’ve done Finsbury Park when I was down for LG in 2018.

I wouldn't pay £7.50 for QOTSA lol, easily one of the most overrated rock bands I've ever come across. They ave wained massively for broad appeal. How they got the Download headline slot is crazy, I guess that comes with the lower attendance cap though which is one of if not the first I'd heard of it.

[Andre91]

QOTSA sold more tickets in 2023 than at any other point in their career, across fair sized outdoor shows and an arena tour. That’s how they got the DL headline slot. Everyone knows they weren’t first choice but they are absolutely a completely fine headline booking for a festival like DL. 
 

Download changes its capacity all the time. It’s only ever been 100,000+ a couple of times. It regularly fluctuates between 70-90 odd thousand. 
 

No chance QOTSA headline R&L, though, I agree. Not got a broad enough appeal with people outside of the rock audience. 
 

Green Day will be back at R&L in the next couple of years. I can’t see it being 2026 because that’ll be overkill with them coming over too many summer in a row but 2027 wouldn’t surprise me. 

Edited May 10, 2025 by Andre91

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, Andre91 said:

QOTSA sold more tickets in 2023 than at any other point in their career, across fair sized outdoor shows and an arena tour. That’s how they got the DL headline slot. Everyone knows they weren’t first choice but they are absolutely a completely fine headline booking for a festival like DL. 
 

Download changes its capacity all the time. It’s only ever been 100,000+ a couple of times. It regularly fluctuates between 70-90 odd thousand. 
 

No chance QOTSA headline R&L, though, I agree. Not got a broad enough appeal with people outside of the rock audience. 
 

Green Day will be back at R&L in the next couple of years. I can’t see it being 2026 because that’ll be overkill with them coming over too many summer in a row but 2027 wouldn’t surprise me. 

 

They sold a single 45/50k date they did in London in 2018 with an 02 show and a Wembley Arena show in 2017 before?, that's pretty good for rock bands outside the top pile. Tons of bands sell arenas that don't headline places and bigger arenas tours than them. I don't ever know of Download being capped as low as it was last year. The Offspring subbed there last year and have virtually sold out every standard priced seat straight away on their upcoming tour similar sized to QOTSA. They also did Wembley Arena.  Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester Arena, Glasgow Hydro, Leeds Direct and some small one's in 2021 plus headlining Slam Dunk after that which is probably the biggest headliner Slam Dunk have ever had and they aren't going to headline and I say that as a big fan.

 

I don't think Green Day will be there in 26 either and I doubt they will have a new album by 27 which they will definitely need as it not as if people don't have the chance to easily grab a ticket to see them this year. Way to easily for a band like them. Be the first and last time they ever headline Download as well.