Festivals
Preview
UK festivals 2025: the ultimate guide
Plan your UK festival season in 2025 with this regularly updated list
With line-up announcements in full-swing, it’s never too early to start looking forward to the next festival season. Kicking off in spring with Brighton’s The Great Escape, summer 2025 is already looking stacked as regular big dogs like Download, Isle of Wight and Latitude punctuate the calendar, while relative newbies such as Wide Awake and All Points East continue to evolve.
Updating regularly with new festival additions and line-up announcements, check out our ultimate 2025 UK festival guide below.
The Great Escape
When is it? 14–17 May
Where is it? Various venues, Brighton
Who’s playing? Come May there’ll be between 400–500 artists playing in all sorts of venues across the coastal city, but for now the festival has only announced a spotlight show that sees the return of Rizzle Kicks, as well as their so-called First Fifty, including: TTSSFU; corto.alto; Marysia Osu; Oreglo; Common Goldfish; Loshh; Luvcat and more.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Haggard-looking industry types training it back to London before the weekend’s even begun.
Bearded Theory
When is it? 21–25 May
Where is it? Catton Hall and Gardens, South Derbyshire
Who’s playing? Some big throwbacks as Iggy Pop, Sisters of Mercy and Manic Street Preachers top this year’s bill, but don’t miss the likes of CMAT, Yard Act, Divorce, Nova Twins and Bess Atwell. If Stewart Lee’s 2024 festival appearances were anything to go by, you’ll want to get down early for his set.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Beans on Toast – the singer-songwriter, not the meal – he’s basically the festival’s house band.
Wide Awake
When is it? 23 May
Where is it? Brockwell Park, London
Who’s playing? The festival seems to have veered away from defaulting to post-punk and psych-rock headliners as they appoint Kneecap, the Belfast rap trio on everyone’s lips at the moment, the top of the 2025 bill. That said, you can still get your fix from Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, English Teacher and Mannequin Pussy.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Some trippy vibes going on when Mermaid Chunky are on stage…
Download
When is it? 13–15 June
Where is it? Donington Park, Derby
Who’s playing? Green Day, Sleep Token and Korn are the triumvirate of Download 2025, each of them reflecting the festival’s slightly more eclectic approach to heavy music in recent years. You can also catch Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Bullet For My Valentine, Cradle of Filth and Meshuggah to name a few.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Mosh pits. Mosh pits everywhere.
Rockstar Energy presents Parklife
When is it? 14–15 June
Where is it? Heaton Park, Manchester
Who’s playing? The line-up for Parklife 2025 is yet to be announced, but that’ll put off no one; since its inception in 2010 it quickly became famous for a huge bill that attracts the biggest names in dance, hip-hop and pop music. 2024 saw Disclosure, Digga D, Sugababes, Peggy Gou and Becky Hill perform.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Bucket hats and two-stepping.
Isle of Wight Festival
When is it? 19–22 June
Where is it? Seaclose Park, Newport
Who’s playing? Ever one for all the family, Isle of Wight 2025 invites Sting, Faithless, Stereophonics, Justin Timberlake, Teddy Swims and more to Seaclose Park.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Everyone in the crown attempting to bring sexy back after multiple Aperol Spritzes.
American Express Presents BST Hyde Park Tickets
When is it? 27 June – 13 July
Where is it? Hyde Park, London
Who’s playing? Olivia Rodrigo will be the festival’s youngest ever headliner for her biggest UK show to-date. Other dates see Jeff Lynne perform his timeless ELO hits, honky tonk country from Zach Bryan, folk-pop goosebumps from Noah Kahan, while Hugh Jackman brings a little musical theatre to Hyde Park.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Groups trying to stake their claim as close to the stage as possible with picnic blankets!
Let’s Rock!
When is it? 28 June (Exeter) & 12 July (Shrewsbury)
Where is it? Powderham Castle, Exeter & The Quarry, Shrewsbury
Who’s playing? The line-up for Let’s Rock! 2025 hasn’t been announced yet, but expect a lot of 80s throwbacks – Jason Donovan, Kim Appleby and The Human League were among names in the 2024 edition.
Don’t be surprised if you see: A lot of dad dancing… and why not?
TK Maxx presents Lytham Festival
When is it? 2–6 July
Where is it? Lytham Green, Lytham St. Anne’s
Who’s playing? Celebrating 30 years of Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette opens a weekend that also sees Justin Timberlake, Simple Minds and Texas take to the stage.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Crowds in their thousands singing along to ‘Hand In My Pocket’ like there’s no tomorrow.
Love Supreme Jazz Festival
When is it? 4–7 July
Where is it? Glynde Place, East Sussex
Who’s playing? Neo-soul singer and producer Maxwell is the first to be announced for Love Supreme 2025, his only UK performance of the year. Previous editions have included Chaka Khan, Olivia Dean, Erykah Badu and Gregory Porter.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Your new favourite jazz act.
Rockstar Energy presents TRNSMT
When is it? 11–13 July
Where is it? Glasgow Green Park, Glasgow
Who’s playing? The line-up for TRNSMT 2025 is yet to be announced, but it consistently brings the biggest names in pop, rock and indie music to Glasgow Green. Liam Gallagher, Gerry Cinnamon and Calvin Harris topped this year’s poster.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Irn Bru on the menu.
Latitude
When is it? 24–27 July
Where is it? Henham Park, Suffolk
Who’s playing? Fatboy Slim, Snow Patrol and Sting headline Latitude 2025, with hundreds of names across music, comedy, literature and theatre yet to be announced.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Festival goers going for a dip in the lake. Don’t forget your swimmers, though you may want to avoid towards the end of the festival…
Camp Bestival Dorset
When is it? 31 July – 3 August
Where is it? Lulworth Castle, Dorset
Who’s playing? The line-up for Camp Bestival Dorset 2025 is yet to be announced. Previous editions have included everyone from McFly, Paloma Faith and Clean Bandit to Dick and Dom, Mr. Tumble and Horrible Histories.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Kids partying as hard as the parents; this is one of the UK’s most family and children-friendly festivals, with everything from circus shows, comedy clubs and arts and crafts on offer for attendees of all ages.
Audi Presents Wilderness
When is it? 31 July – 3 August
Where is it? Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
Who’s playing? The line-up for Wilderness 2025 is yet to be announced, but the festival curates a strong bill of acts from the worlds of indie rock, dance and soul, with Michael Kiwanuka, Bicep, Faithless and Jessie Ware topping the 2024 poster. For many, though, the dining experiences on offer are the real headliners…
Don’t be surprised if you see: Some boujie food options – Wilderness has always been about the indulgence.
Rockstar Energy presents Creamfields 2025
When is it? 21–24 August
Where is it? Daresbury Estate, Shropshire
Who’s playing? The line-up for Creamfields 2025 is yet to be announced, but expect the biggest names in house, techno, EDM and d’n’b. Martin Garrix, Peggy Gou, Armin Van Buren, Hannah Laing and Charlotte de Witte all played in 2024.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Halo, a new 45 metre diameter, cyclical outdoor arena with pioneering 360 and overhead video, with immersive sound and visuals. You’ll want to be here for the firework display.
All Points East
When is it? 22–24 August
Where is it? Victoria Park, London
Who’s playing? The Maccabees make their return at All Points East in 2025, having said farewell eight years ago. Joining them on other days are modern soul diva RAYE and Scotland’s dance sensation Barry Can’t Swim.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Some cuddles and smooching when The Maccabees play ‘Toothpaste Kisses’.
Rockstar Energy Presents Reading & Leeds
When is it? 22–24 August
Where is it? Richfield Ave, Reading / Bramham Park, Leeds
Who’s playing? The lineup for Reading & Leeds 2025 is yet to be announced, but its curation has historically evolved to reflect the shifting trends in popular culture, on one day boasting a pop mega star and the next a pyrotechnics-blasting metal band. Billie Eilish, Fred Again., Sam Fender, Liam Gallagher, Dave and The Arctic Monkeys have all performed in recent years.
Don’t be surprised if you see: Ecstatic students celebrating the end of their college years with this late summer party.
Photo by Luke Brennan/Getty Images
