Festivals
Preview
UK festivals 2024: the ultimate guide
The line-ups, dates and details for every big summer stage in 2024
It’s happening; line-ups are beginning to drop, ticket sales are going live, and you’re wondering if you remember where you keep the tent poles. The start of the festival season cycle is upon us.
Summer seems a long way away – especially given the weather outside – but now is the perfect time to start planning your 2024 festival season. Whether you’re after the sun or the mud, the pit or the party, the country or the city – we’ve got the lowdown for you.
Lost Minds
When is it?
Saturday 4 May
Where is it?
Leazes Park, Newcastle
Who’s playing? Ben Hemsley, Example, Ferry Corsten, Gunz For Hire, Will Sparks, Dimitri K, Factor B, Hixxy, Kimmic, Mandy, Shugz, Symmetrik, and more to be announced.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Some lost minds lying around – you can hand ‘em in at lost property.
The Great Escape Festival
When is it?
Wednesday 15 – Saturday 18 May
Where is it?
Multiple venues, Brighton
Who’s playing? Over 500 artists, only 50 of which have been announced so far. Faye Webster will perform a Spotlight show at the Brighton Dome Concert Hall, and Sid Sriram will headline the BBC Asian Network Stage. As well as that, you’ll be able to see Automotion, Aysanabee, Battlesnake, Carsick, Corella, Eve Owen, Malice K, Victoria Canal, Olivia Lunny, Sirens of Lesbos, Zach Templar and many, many more.
Don’t be surprised if you see: The next big names in music all queuing for fish and chips at 3am.
Bearded Theory
When is it?
Thursday 23 – Sunday 26 May
Where is it?
Catton Hall, Derbyshire
Who’s playing? Jane’s Addiction (in a UK festival exclusive), Amyl And The Sniffers, Future Islands, Sleaford Mods, Orbital and Dinosaur Jr.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Beards.
Wide Awake Festival
When is it?
Saturday 25 May
Where is it?
Brockwell Park, London
Who’s playing? King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Young Fathers, Alice Glass, Charlotte Adigery & Bolis Pupul, Ben UFO, Crumb, Eartheater, Helena Hauff, Squid, The Babe Rainbow, Bodega, The Dare and more.
Don’t be surprised if you see: A King Gizzard deep cut from any one of their 25 albums – their setlist is never the same twice.
The Cambridge Club Festival
When is it?
Friday 7 – Sunday 9 June
Where is it?
Childerley Orchard, Cambridge
Who’s playing? Chaka Khan, the Earth Wind & Fire Experience, Gabrielle, Melanie C, Sister Sledge, Soul II Soul, The Family Stone and more to be announced, including one more headliner. Meanwhile, at the Discovery Den ’til late, there’ll be DJ sets from Fat Tony, Norman Jay MBE, DJ Paulette, Denise Van Outen and more.
Don’t be surprised if you see: 15,000 people belting ‘I’m Every Woman’.
Parklife
When is it?
Saturday 8 June – Sunday 9 June
Where is it?
Heaton Park, Manchester
Who’s playing? [Deep breath…] Disclosure, Doja Kat, J-Hus, Becky Hill, Anne-Marie, Peggy Gou, Four Tet, Nia Archives, CASISDEAD, Sugababes, Mahalia, Digga D, Shy FX, Kenya Grace, Camelphat, Hybrid Minds, Sub Focus, Fideles, Wilkinson, Bou, Danny Howard, Rudimental, ANOTR, Uncle Waffles, Fisher, TSHA, Strandz, Kaytranada, Barry Can’t Swim, Salute, Dom Dolla, Hannah Laing, Loco Dice.
Don’t be surprised if you see: A poster that’s so stuffed full of big names it looks a bit silly.
Liquid Death Presents Download XXI
When is it?
Friday 14 – Sunday 16 June
Where is it?
Donington Park, Derby
Who’s playing? Queens of the Stone Age, Fall Out Boy, Avenged Sevenfold, Royal Blood, The Offspring, Machine Head, Pantera, Bad Omens, Corey Taylor, While She Sleeps, Sum 41, Billy Talent, The Used, Babymetal, Bowling For Soup and so, so many more.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Fire. Lots of fire.
On the Mount at Wasing
When is it?
Monday 17 June, Thursday 20 June, Thursday 27 June and Saturday 29 June.
Where is it?
Wasing Estate, Aldermaston, Berkshire
Who’s playing? Crowded House, Jungle, Nick Mulvey and Underworld
Don’t be surprised if you see: A woodland trail that will transport you into a world of mindfulness and connection to music, people, and nature.
Barclaycard Presents Isle of Wight Festival
When is it?
Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 June
Where is it?
Newport, Isle of Wight
Who’s playing? The Prodigy, Pet Shop Boys, Green Day, The Streets, Keane, Simple Minds, Crowded House, Blossoms, Nothing But Thieves, The Darkness, Jake Shears, Zara Larsson, McFly and more.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Green Day ripping through one of their signature marathon setlists – they might be almost 40 years in, but they’re not resting on their laurels.
Daresbury Festival
When is it?
Saturday 22 June
Where is it?
Walton Hall & Gardens, Warrington
Who’s playing? Soul II Soul, Craig Charles, Greg Wilson, K-Klass Live ft Bobbi, Allister Whitehead, Rowetta and more to be announced.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Funk, soul and house lovers in absolute heaven.
Let’s Rock
When is it?
Saturday 22 June, Saturday 29 June, Saturday 6 July and Saturday 13 July
Where is it?
Temple Newsam Park, Leeds; Powderham Castle, Exeter; Southampton Common, Southampton; and The Quarry, Shrewsbury
Who’s playing? The line-up varies across the four festivals, but among it you’ll find UB40 ft Ali Campbell, Squeeze, Bananarama, The Boomtown Rats, Sister Sledge, Level 42, Go West, Peter Hook & The Light, From The Jam, EXTC, Jason Donovan and more retro heroes.
Don’t be surprised if you see: The best vintage band T-shirt collection of the summer.
Lytham Festival
When is it?
Wednesday 3 July – Sunday 7 July
Where is it?
Lytham Green, Lytham St. Annes
Who’s playing? On the Wednesday, it’s Hozier with Brittany Howard and Lord Huron; Friday’s got the Courteeners with the Kooks and Nieve Ella; Saturday, you’ll see Madness with Rick Astley and the Lightning Seeds; and on Sunday, it’s a UK festival exclusive from James and Johnny Marr.
Don’t be surprised if you see: James turning their most beloved songs into an even more impressive affair, with backing from the Orca22 Orchestra and the Manchester Inspirational Voices Choir.
Gopuff Delivers Wireless
When is it?
Fri 12 – Sun 14 July
Where is it?
Finsbury Park, London
Who’s playing? TBC
Don’t be surprised if you see: Pyrotechnics on a whole other level.
TRNSMT
When is it?
Friday 12 – Sunday 14 July
Where is it?
Glasgow Green, Glasgow
Who’s playing? Liam Gallagher, Gerry Cinnamon, Calvin Harris, Garbage, Courteeners, Chase & Status, The Snuts, Rick Astley, Tom Grennan, Declan McKenna, Dylan John Thomas, Blossoms, Sugababes, Example, and more.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Liam and Gerry battling it out for best fringe of the weekend.
Camp Bestival Dorset
When is it?
Thursday 25 – Sunday 28 July
Where is it?
Lulworth Castle, Dorset
Who’s playing? TBC
Don’t be surprised if you see: Entire families in on-theme fancy dress (last year it was Animal Snap; this year, it’s intergalactic, aliens and space).
Barclaycard Presents Latitude
When is it?
Friday 26 – Sunday 28 July
Where is it?
Henham Park, Suffolk
Who’s playing? Duran Duran, Kasabian, Keane and London Grammar in the main slots with Orbital, Rick Astley, Sara Pascoe and much, much more
Don’t be surprised if you see: Plenty of new wave eye-liner.
Wilderness
When is it?
Thursday 1 – Sunday 4 August
Where is it?
Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
Who’s playing? TBC
Don’t be surprised if you see: Hot tubs and champagne. It’s a Wilderness thing…
Camp Bestival Shropshire
When is it?
Thursday 15 – Sunday 18 August
Where is it?
Weston Park, Shropshire
Who’s playing? TBC
Don’t be surprised if you see: A spot of raft-building, paddleboarding, beekeeping or zip-wiring.
Creamfields
When is it?
Thursday 22 – Sunday 25 August
Where is it?
Daresbury Estate, Cheshire
Who’s playing? TBC
Don’t be surprised if you see: 30,000 people in the world’s biggest indoor main stage superstructure… oh, and more lasers than Star Wars.
Reading & Leeds
When is it?
Friday 23 – Sun 25 August
Where is it?
Richfield Avenue, Reading and Bramham Park, Leeds
Who’s playing? Fred Again…, Lana Del Rey, Blink-182, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Liam Gallagher, Gerry Cinnamon, 21 Savage, The Prodigy, Jorja Smith, Raye, Skrillex, Spiritbox and Digga D are the huge names announced so far. Expect many more!
Don’t be surprised if you see: Body glitter still turning up everywhere a month later.
Skepta & Festival Republic Present Big Smoke Festival
When is it?
Saturday 6 July
Where is it?
Crystal Palace Park, London
Who’s playing? Curated by Skepta and Más Tiempo, the full line-up is TBC.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Grime and dance music fans coming together like you’ve never seen before.
Not sure which festival is for you? Use our festival finder to plan your perfect summer here.
Photo credit: Getty
