New names added to the Reading and Leeds 2026 line-up

More than 60 new artists join the summer's biggest twin festivals, announced alongside news of a brand new dance arena

Reading & Leeds has dropped a hefty second wave of names for its 2026 edition, adding more than 60 artists to an already stacked line-up topped by Charli xcx, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C. and RAYE.

Leading the new additions are Gunna and Loyle Carner – both set for Reading only – alongside Declan McKenna, Maisie Peters and James Marriott. Elsewhere, indie and alt-pop are well represented with Men I Trust and Viagra Boys (both Reading only), Arthur Hill, The Lathums (Leeds only), Holly Humberstone, Julia Wolf and Clara La San joining the bill, while Paris Paloma, Kingfishr, Slayyyter and The K’s (Leeds only) round out a broad sweep of rising and established names.

The festival has also confirmed the debut of a new arena for 2026 – The Warehouse – a purpose-built space dedicated to dance music. Promising a full club experience, the stage will pair high-spec sound with immersive lighting, signalling a clear push into late-night territory. Among those set to take it over are Max Dean b2b Luke Dean (Reading only), Hybrid Minds and a pair of Skepta link-ups – with Prospa in Reading and East End Dubs in Leeds. The line-up leans heavily into underground and crossover club sounds, with sets from Rossi., Mall Grab, Omar+, Hedex, Silva Bumpa and Notion, alongside appearances from Bou (Reading only), Luuk Van Dijk (Reading only) and a Joss Dean b2b Nafe Smallz set at Reading. Leeds exclusives include Alisha, Locky, [IVY] and Jack Marlow, while Hamdi, Riordan, IN PARALLEL and Meeshy are among those playing both sites.

Beyond the headline-grabbing additions, the latest drop digs deep into emerging talent across genres. YT, Niko B and Bassvictim join the weekend’s line-up, alongside bar italia, SPEED and Frost Children (Reading only). Clementine Douglas, Jane Remover (Reading only) and dexter in the newsagent add further depth, with Cardinals, Westside Cowboy and Say Now also confirmed. New names continue across both sites, including The Lilacs (Leeds only), Overpass, Radio Free Alice (Reading only) and Gurriers (Leeds only), while Seb Lowe, Chloe Qisha and Fliss are among the Reading exclusives.

The bill stretches into a new generation of acts too, with Cruz Beckham and The Breakers, Violet Grohl and The Guest List appearing alongside a raft of buzzy newcomers including Mulaa Joans, Amma, Day We Ran and People I’ve Met. Elsewhere, artists such as Ruby Roberts, Raynor, Pozzy and she’s green underline the festival’s continued focus on discovery.

Set to take place across the August Bank Holiday weekend, Reading & Leeds 2026 is shaping up to be one of the festival’s most expansive editions yet – balancing chart-topping headliners with club culture incursions and a deep bench of next-wave talent.

How to get tickets for Pepsi MAX Presents Reading and Leeds festival 2026

Tickets for Reading and Leeds are on sale now. Find camping, non-camping, VIP, parking and souvenir ticket options for Reading here, and Leeds here