Festivals
Preview
The best UK festivals in May 2026
Festival season 2026 is go: your complete guide to the first festivals of the summer from The Great Escape to Lovebox
Hibernation is over. With the sun shining, the grass emerald-green and the tunes pumping, it’s never too soon to get your festival season on. For early birds who can’t wait to get back out there, check out our guide to nine of the best UK festivals in May. We’ll see you down the front.
The Great Escape Festival 2026
Photo Credit: Nici Eberl
When is it? 13 – 16 May
Where is it? Various venues, Brighton
Spilling across 35 of the coastal city’s best bars, clubs and outdoor spaces, Brighton is your sunkissed playground for the event that’s lit the fuse of the UK’s festival season since 2006. We guarantee there’ll be future greats amongst the 450-plus upcoming indie, rock, rap, soul, folk and jazz acts covered by your wristband at The Great Escape 2026. But if you’d rather go direct to the legends, book for the standalone Spotlight Shows by Kingfishr and Peaches.
Find Great Escape tickets here
Bearded Theory
When is it? 20 – 24 May
Where is it? Catton Park, Derbyshire
As you’d hope from a fest that was born two decades ago in a pub car park, Bearded Theory still feels artsy, alternative and fiercely independent – no matter how massive the headliners get. This year’s bill might be the greatest yet, fusing quiet/loud alt-rock royalty Pixies, warrior princess-fronted heavyweights Garbage and Skunk Anansie, plus newer blood including CMAT and Fat Dog. Beards optional.
Find Bearded Theory tickets here
Field Day
When is it? 23 May
Where is it? Brockwell Park, London
The underground goes overground at this South London love-in showcasing the best of electronic and alternative. With leafy Brockwell Park as your backdrop, power down the treadmill of modern life and float on the vibe between Field Day’s five stages, taking in Honey Dijon on the South Stage, Joy Orbison’s crazy-anticipated performance at The Grove and a world-exclusive jungle set from RAM Records co-founder Andy C.
Neighbourhood Weekender 2026
When is it? 23 – 24 May
Where is it? Victoria Park, Warrington
No bank holiday plans? Take our advice and follow the indie kids (of all ages) to one of the North’s flagship rock-pop happenings, where headliners include Richard Ashcroft, Kaiser Chiefs, Example, Blossoms, DMA’s and Jamie Webster. ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ in a golden sunset, with an ice-cold drink and your arms around your mates? Don’t tell us that’s not better than mowing the lawn.
Find Neighbourhood Weekender tickets here
Wanderlust Festival
When is it? 23 – 24 May
Where is it? Various venues, Southampton
Now in its third year, Wanderlust has grown up fast. Sure, this free-range weekend event in Southampton still pings you all over town, showcasing the breaking bands you’ll be watching in a stadium a year from now (and telling everyone within earshot you were there at the start). But the festival’s rapidly growing clout means the 2026 headliners are more impressive than ever, including sets by Squid and The Horrors.
Find Wanderlust Festival tickets here
Slam Dunk Festival 2026: South and North
When is it? 23 – 24 May
Where is it? Hatfield Park, Hertfordshire and Temple Newsam, Leeds
From pop-punk and emo to metalcore and ska, if it makes you want to arrange your hand into a horn shape and waggle your outstretched tongue, chances are, you’ll find it at the UK’s biggest independent rock festival. With Slam Dunk’s 20th anniversary line-up including Good Charlotte, Knocked Loose, Sublime and Taking Back Sunday, by the end of the weekend, your head will be well and truly banged.
Cross The Tracks
When is it? 24 May
Where is it? Brockwell Park, London
South London’s favourite jazz, soul, hip-hop, funk and foodie event always brings out the big guns, but the organisers have outdone themselves in 2026, hosting Little Simz, Joy Crookes, Fabio & Grooverider and the Outlook Orchestra (plus too many gonna-be’s to count). Factor in workshops, panel talks, craft beer and 50+ street food vendors, and it’s literally impossible to have a bad time at Cross The Tracks.
Find Cross The Tracks tickets here
Lovebox Festival 2026
When is it? 29 – 30 May
Where is it? Dreamland, Margate
You love music festivals. You love beach days. So tick both boxes in one weekend and steer your dancing feet to Lovebox’s shiny-new seaside home at Margate’s Dreamland. With headliners for 2026 including Rudimental, Armand Van Helden, Groove Armada (DJ set), Scissor Scissors, Friendly Fires, Soul II Soul and Mike Skinner (DJ set), you’ll need to be organised to find time for a paddle and an ice cream.
Wychwood Festival 2026
Photo by Debbie Hickey/Getty Images
When is it? 29 – 31 May
Where is it? Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire
Cancel that babysitter! As winner of Best Family Festival at the UK Festival Awards, Wychwood is a blissful pocket of all-ages fun where adults can unclench and kids can go ape. Make a weekend of it at iconic Cheltenham Racecourse, enjoying workshops, street food and big-name performances by Kaiser Chiefs, Levellers, Craig David’s TS5, Feeder and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Find Wychwood Festival tickets here
