The best music festivals to try around the UK in 2026 – and how to get tickets

There's no better way to perk yourself up during the cold and miserable months than by starting to plan ahead for festival season.

While it may seem a million miles away, plenty of festivals have already released line-ups and tickets.

In the UK, we’re incredibly lucky to have access to dozens, if not hundreds, of music festivals lasting throughout the summer months, from the huge 100,000-plus visitor festivals like Download to the smaller festivals on your doorstep.

To help you sift through the endless line-ups, camping guides and funky names for tents, we’ve put together this list of the very best music festivals to try in 2026.

From camping festivals in the countryside to day festivals in some of the UK's most vibrant cities, there's a festival in this list for everyone.

While you're here, check out our roundups of the best UK concerts and the best comedians on tour in 2026.

Jump to:

• Best 2026 music festivals at a glance
• What are the top 5 music festivals in the UK?
• What are the best festivals on in the UK in 2026?

Best 2026 music festivals at a glance

• Reading Festival
• Leeds Festival
• Download Festival
• TRNSMT Festival
• BST Hyde Park
• Isle of Wight Festival
• Parklife
• Latitude Festival
• Creamfields
• Camp Bestival

What are the top 5 music festivals in the UK?

Of course, the top five music festivals will differ from person to person, depending on your taste in music. But if we're going based off attendance, here are the five biggest UK music festivals, according to Last Minute Musicians:

Glastonbury

Receiving around 210,000 visitors, Glastonbury is the UK's biggest and most famous festival. It first started in 1970 and has grown into one of the most important live music events in the world, each year attracting musicians of all genres from across the world.

If you've been looking forward to celebrating at the famous UK festival, we're afraid you'll have to wait just a little bit more. 2026 will be Glastonbury's "fallow year"; a break taken from the festival once every five years to allow the farmland to recover.

Reading and Leeds Festival

Combine the numbers from both Reading and Leeds festivals, and you'll have an attendance of around 200,000. With the same line-up taking to the stage at opposite ends of the country on the same weekend, this festival ensures that people all over the country have access to the most popular live music.

Tickets have already been released for Reading and Leeds 2026; you can read more about this in our guide to Reading and Leeds 2026.

• Buy Reading festival tickets at Ticketmaster
• Buy Leeds festival tickets at Ticketmaster

Wireless Festival

Wireless Festival is the biggest rap and hip-hop party of the summer, with around 135,000 fans flocking to Finsbury Park in London each year.

While dates and line-ups are unconfirmed for 2026 (it's rumoured to be taking place from 10th — 12th July), you can be rest assured that the line-up will be packed full of the biggest and most relevant names in the industry. We'll be updating this article with all the latest info as soon as it's revealed.

Last year saw Drake headlining all three days of the event, joined by huge names including Summer Walker, BigXthaPlug and Burna Boy. Bear in mind that this is a day festival and camping is not an option.

Download Festival

If you're a fan of something heavier, then Download Festival is the one for you. This festival always boasts a line-up stacked with rock legends, from old favourites to the new artists at the cutting edge of the genre.

Download takes place in iconic rock territory, Donington Park, which sits where the three counties of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derby meet. Handily, it's also right by the East Midlands airport.

Over 90 artists have already been announced for Download 2026 and some tickets are already at low or limited availability, so be sure to get one while you still can!

Buy Download Festival 2026 tickets at Ticketmaster

TRNSMT festival

We're taking things all the way up north now, with Scotland's biggest music festival. TRNSMT takes place each year on Glasgow Green and spans a range of genres, including pop, rock, hip hop and indie.

TRNSMT is a day festival limited to over-16s only. You can also get your hands on accessibility tickets, with a two-for-one (free PA/carer ticket) policy for eligible guests.

Tickets for the festival went live on 14th November 2025, but it looks like there's still good availability on the Ticketmaster website.

Buy TRNSMT festival tickets at Ticketmaster

What are the best festivals on in the UK in 2026?

As well as the aforementioned biggest UK music festivals, here are a range of other festivals to attend in summer 2026:

BST Hyde Park

One of the most iconic day festivals in London, BST Hyde Park takes place in the UK capital around the start of each summer.

As well as a star-studded line-up, the festival also provides a midweek programme called Open House with free activities and entertainment.

One of BST Hyde Park's standout features is its range of VIP and hospitality ticket options, allowing you to take your festival experience to the next level. You can also purchase VIP tickets at hospitality site Seat Unique.

• Buy BST Hyde Park tickets at Ticketmaster
• Buy BST Hyde Park hospitality tickets at Seat Unique

Isle of Wight Festival

Isle of Wight Festival is back for 2026 with a phenomenally varied line-up!

This festival prides themself on providing something for everyone, from their wide range of artists across different musical genres and generations to designated areas like the family-friendly Kidzone.

With a blend of new artists and nostalgic hits, as well as people of all ages, Isle of Wight is a staple in the live music scene and an unmissable UK festival.

Buy Isle of Wight Festival tickets at Ticketmaster

Parklife

Manchester's Heaton Park is the home of the UK's largest metropolitan festival, Parklife, which showcases the best of multiple music genres including hip hop, grime, pop, rock, club, house and dance.

The 2026 line-up is still TBA, but with past headliners including Mark Ronson, Wu Tang Clan, Disclosure, The xx and the 1975, you can be rest assured you're in good hands.

This is a non-camping festival and also boasts chill out zones, street food, bars and art installations to enjoy.

Buy Parklife tickets at Ticketmaster

Latitude Festival

From the legendary Obelisk Arena to the intimate Alcove, Latitude Festival has been helping live music fans create memories for 18 years.

With a 2026 line-up including David Byrne, Self Esteem and Lewis Capaldi, you're in for a treat. But Latitude offers much more than music, with dance, comedy, poetry, theatre, literature, podcasts, family activities, and wellness all included too.

Plus, there's lake swimming, outdoor yoga, and paddle boarding, as well as art installations and food and drink.

Buy Latitude Festival tickets at Ticketmaster

Creamfields

This year will be the 20 year anniversary of Creamfields festival, so you can't miss out on this one!

During the 2026 August Bank Holiday, Creamfields will be providing the biggest names in electronic music, next-level production, and plenty of unforgettable moments.

This key moment in the dance music calendar sees around 80,000 live music fans gather together in the Cheshire countryside.

Buy Creamfields tickets at Ticketmaster

Camp Bestival

Curated by Josie and Rob da Bank, Camp Bestival has been a firm favourite since 2008 – after all, the word "best" is right there in its title!

This is a particularly great festival for anyone with kids, as it boasts a fantastic line-up of kids entertainment, including The World's Biggest Bouncy Castle and spectacular fireworks displays.

So far, only Fatboy Slim & Friends have been announced as headliners, but it has been confirmed that he'll be hosting a Fatboy Slim & Friends All Day Castle Stage takeover on Sunday 2 August.

Buy Camp Bestival tickets at Ticketmaster

For more live entertainment, here are the best UK musicals on tour.