As twin festivals Reading & Leeds adapt to new challenges of the British live music landscape, their format has evolved significantly in the last 5 years. The festivals, which take place on the August bank holiday weekend every year, moved to a new site layout in 2021 following the global COVID-19 pandemic, which set up two main stages with 6 full-fledged headliners over the three days of music. Last week, it was announced that following Leeds’ expansion to a Thursday line-up of music headlined by Kasabian, Reading followed suit by applying for licenses to do the same for next year’s edition.

Unfortunately, Festival Republic’s continued evolution for the events has led to new collateral in the shape of the BBC Introducing Stage – a platform which has given public auditions for hundreds of young, unsigned acts since 2008 and served as a launchpad for 2026 headliners Florence + The Machine, Charli XCX, Dave and Raye. Also counted among its graduates are Ed Sheeran, Little Simz, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Glass Animals and Royal Blood. The BBC estimate that 70% of all UK artists on the bill for this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival have performed on the Introducing stage in the past.

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Festival Republic Managing Director Melvin Benn spoke to IQ Magazine about the incoming changes which will take effect this August, describing a full reset with six new stages, all with distinct identities. The Grid will be the new main stage, hosting all of the headliners and the biggest acts of the weekend, while The Gallery will become the new secondary host of bands and louder live acts. With electronic music becoming one of main draws to the event, The Warehouse will be the new venue tailored to all things dance, and The Ballroom will be an exciting stage for defining acts of the current sounds.

The Canopy will be the replacement destination for the up-and-comers, which Benn explained as Festival Republic taking the developmental wing of the festivals in a new direction – “historically we’ve had the BBC Introducing stages for the emerging acts, and it was a really inexpensively presented stage. We want to create something that’s significantly better and stronger and has a great feel about it.”

Tommy Longhurst, lead singer of Reading-based indie group Only The Poets, described the move as “sad news” for the ambitions of future musicians, saying the BBC Introducing Stage “really does a lot for new artists.” Talking to BBC Radio Berkshire, he said “for me I think we’re taking a huge opportunity from up and coming artists,” and explained how his own experience shaped his opinions now – “we hold those memories so highly and it was such a poignant moment for us to get to play a festival that inspired us to start the band.”

A BBC spokesperson has clarified that the decision was solely undertaken by Festival Republic, and that the BBC Introducing platform would continue their activities at other top UK festivals this year with “line-ups including some fantastic up-and-coming artists”.

Reading & Leeds 2026 run from August 27 to 30 at Reading’s Richfield Avenue and Leeds’ Bramham Park, with select tickets still available.

The UK’s second biggest music event returns to Richfield Avenue and Bramham Park from August 25-27, promising ticket-holders a pop spectacle with all the bells and whistles. This year’s addition sees The 1975, Foals, Billie Eilish, The Killers, Sam Fender and Imagine Dragons all topping the bill alongside a plethora of lesser-known bands and artists.

The 1975 were a late addition and will be replacing Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi, who is taking a break from all live performances following a bout of mental and physical complications. 

Weather-wise, forecasts suggest a fairly tame weekend, with both Reading and Leeds due a little rain and and accompanying light breeze. Temperatures at Reading are set to peak at 21°, while Leeds is expected to reach 19°.

Ahead of the next week’s event, and with tickets still available, the official Reading and Leeds websites have published the stage times for each act. Check out the full programme across both festivals below.

– READING FESTIVAL –

Friday August 25:

Main Stage East

12:40 – 13:10 Yard Act
14:10 – 14:45 Tion Wayne
15:45 – 16:20 Mimi Webb
17:20 – 18:00 Wet Leg
19:20 – 20:05 Loyle Carner
21:50 – 23:20 Sam Fender

Main Stage West

12:00 – 12:30 Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls
13:20 – 14:00 Sea Girls
14:55 – 15:35 You Me At Six
16:30 – 17:10 Trippie Redd
18:10 – 19:10 Bicep
20:15 – 21:45 Foals

BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage

12:00 – 12:30 Khazali
13:35 – 14:05 Noisy
14:30 – 15:00 The Murder Capital
15:20 – 15:55 Mother Mother
16:15 – 16:50 Nessa Barrett
17:00 – 17:35 Gryffin
17:40 – 18:15 Soulecta
18:20 – 19:00 Koven
19:05 – 19:45 Vibe Chemistry
20:00 – 20:40 Venbee
20:45 – 21:45 Hedex
21:50 – 23:15 Sub Focus b2b Dimension

Festival Republic Stage

12:00 – 12:30 Bilk
12:45 – 13:15 Lauran Hibberd
13:30 – 14:00 Himalayas
14:15 – 14:45 The Last Dinner Party
15:00 – 15:30 Jesse Jo Stark
16:40 – 17:10 Games We Play
17:30 – 18:00 Pinkshift
18:20 – 18:55 Magnolia Park
19:15 – 19:55 Knocked Loose
20:15 – 20:55 Normandie
21:20 – 22:00 Yonaka
22:30 – 23:20 Palaye Royale

BBC Radio 1xtra Stage

12:50 – 13:20 BZ
13:40 – 14:10 Highlyy
14:30 – 15:00 Killoween
15:20 – 15:50 ShaSimone
16:10 – 16:40 Finn Foxell
17:05 – 17:35 skaiwater
18:00 – 18:35 DJ Target
19:00 – 19:35 D Double E
20:00 – 20:35 Sainte
21:05 – 21:45 Meekz

BBC Introducing

12:30 – 13:00 Cole Bleu
13:00 – 13:30 Haunt The Woods
14:35 – 15:05 Charlotte Plank
15:35 – 16:05 Frozemode
16:10 – 16:40 Blazer Boccle
17:10 – 17:40 Frankie Beetlestone
17:45 – 18:15 Lexie Carroll
19:10 – 19:40 Antony Szmierek
19:50 – 20:20 ALT BLK ERA

Saturday August 26:

Main Stage East

12:00 – 12:30 James Marriott
13:20 – 13:50 Baby Queen
14:40 – 15:10 Holly Humberstone
16:00 – 16:35 Inhaler
17:35 – 18:15 Nothing But Thieves
19:15 – 20:05 Central Cee
21:50 – 23:20 The Killers

Main Stage West

12:40 – 13:10 Jamie Webster
14:00 – 14:30 Arlo Parks
15:20 – 15:50 Easy Life
16:45 – 17:25 Chase Atlantic
18:25 – 19:05 Knucks
20:15 – 21:45 The 1975

BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage

12:00 – 12:35 Somebody’s Child
12:55 – 13:30 Nieve Ella
13:50 – 14:25 Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn
14:50 – 15:25 Caity Baser
15:50 – 16:30 Georgia
16:45 – 17:25 Tibasko
17:30 – 18:15 Jaguar
18:20 – 19:20 Girls Don’t Sync
19:25 – 20:25 Sammy Virgi
20:35 – 21:35 LF System
21:45 – 23:15 MK

Festival Republic Stage

12:00 – 12:30 Anchor Lane
12:45 – 13:15 Fat Dog
13:30 – 14:00 Graphic Nature
14:20 – 14:50 Ekkstacy
15:10 – 15:40 High Vis
16:00 – 16:30 Scowl
16:50 – 17:20 ZAND
17:40 – 18:15 Mothica
18:35 – 19:10 Joey Valence & Brae
20:35 – 21:10 KennyHoopla
21:35 – 22:20 Sleep Token
22:40 – 23:25 Yung Lean

BBC Radio 1xtra Stage

13:00 – 13:30 Malaki
13:50 – 14:20 Proph
14:40 – 15:15 Queen Millz
15:35 – 16:10 JORDY
16:30 – 17:05 Kenny Allstar
17:25 – 18:00 JBEE
18:25 – 19:00 midwxst
19:25 – 20:00 Nippa
20:25 – 21:05 Ken Carson
21:30 – 22:10 Cordae
22:40 – 23:20 Clavish

BBC Introducing

12:20 – 12:50 Bellah Mae
13:20 – 13:55 Hannah Grae
14:30 – 15:00 Chalk
15:00 – 15:30 Pixey
15:50 – 16:20 Native James
16:25 – 16:55 L’objectif
17:25 – 17:55 Lucia & The Best Boys
18:00 – 18:30 Only The Poets
19:45 – 20:10 HotWax

Sunday August 27:

Main Stage East

12:10 – 12:40 The Amazons
13:30 – 14:00 MUNA
14:50 – 15:25 Bakar
16:20 – 17:00 Rina Sawayama
17:55 – 18:35 Declan McKenna
19:40 – 20:25 Steve Lacy
22:00 – 23:20 Billie Eilish

Main Stage West

12:50 – 13:20 Hot Milk
14:10 – 14:40 The Snuts
15:35 – 16:10 Don Broco
17:10 – 17:45 Lil Tjay
18:45 – 19:30 Becky Hill
20:35 – 21:55 Imagine Dragons
23:30 – 01:00 Sigma & Friends

BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage

12:05 – 12:35 Wallice
13:00 – 13:35 Joesef
14:00 – 14:35 Fousheé
14:55 – 15:30 Eliza Rose
15:45 – 16:20 Austin Millz
16:25 – 17:05 Taylah Elaine
17:10 – 17:50 Harriet Jaxxon
17:55 – 18:40 Charlie Tee
18:45 – 19:30 Metrik
19:40 – 20:25 Friction
20:35 – 21:35 Shy FX
21:45 – 23:15 Andy C

Festival Republic Stage

12:00 – 12:30 English Teacher
12:45 – 13:15 Royel Otis
13:30 – 14:00 Artemas
14:15 – 14:45 UPSAHL
15:00 – 15:30 The Royston Club
15:50 – 16:20 Ethel Cain
16:40 – 17:10 Dylan John Thomas
17:30 – 18:00 Giant Rooks
18:20 – 18:50 Mae Stephens
19:10 – 19:40 Tom Odell
20:00 – 20:30 Coin
20:50 – 21:20 Vistas
21:40 – 22:15 TV Girl
22:35 – 23:25 Lovejoy

BBC Radio 1xtra Stage

13:05 – 13:35 Mya Craig
13:55 – 14:25 Temz
14:45 – 15:15 Mnelia
15:35 – 16:10 Artan
16:30 – 17:05 J Fado
18:00 – 18:35 Lost Girl
19:00 – 19:40 Dreya Mac
20:05 – 20:45 Songer
21:05 – 21:50 Lancey Foux
22:30 – 23:20 K-Trap

BBC Introducing

12:30 – 13:00 beaux
13:50 – 14:20 twst
15:15 – 15:45 Pritt
16:10 – 16:40 ADMT
16:50 – 17:20 TS Lagga
17:45 – 18:15 Grandmas House
18:20 – 18:50 Viddy
19:30 – 19:55 Matilda Mann

– LEEDS FESTIVAL –

Friday August 25:

Main Stage East

12:00 – 12:30 The Amazons
13:15 – 13:45 Muna
14:35 – 15:05 Bakar
15:55 – 16:25 Rina Sawayama
17:20 – 17:55 Declan Mckenna
19:00 – 19:40 Steve Lacy
21:20 – 22:50 Billie Eilish

Main Stage West

12:40 – 13:05 Hot Milk
13:55 – 14:25 The Snuts
15:15 – 15:45 Don Broco
16:35 – 17:10 Lil Tjay
18:05 – 18:50 Becky Hill
19:50 – 21:10 Imagine Dragons

BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage

12:00 – 12:25 Wallice
12:45 – 13:15 Joesef
13:35 – 14:05 Fousheé
14:25 – 15:05 Eliza Rose
15:15 – 15:50 Austin Millz
16:00 – 16:40 Harriet Jaxxon
16:50 – 17:30 Charlie Tee
17:40 – 18:30 Metrik
18:40 – 19:40 Friction
19:50 – 20:50 SHY FX
21:15 – 22:45 Andy C

Festival Republic Stage

12:00 – 12:20 English Teahcer
12:40 – 13:00 Royel Otis
13:20 – 13:45 Artemas
14:05 – 14:30 The Royston Club
14:50 – 15:20 Ethel Cain
15:40 – 16:10 Dylan John Thomas
16:30 – 17:00 Giant Rooks
17:20 – 17:50 Mae Stephens
18:10 – 18:50 Tom Odell
19:10 – 19:50 COIN
20:10 – 20:45 Vistas
21:05 – 21:40 TV Girl
22:00 – 23:00 Lovejoy

BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage

13:40 – 14:10 Mya Craig
14:30 – 15:00 Temz
15:20 – 15:50 Mnelia
16:10 – 16:40 Artan
17:00 – 17:30 J Fado
17:50 – 18:20 Lost Girl
18:40 – 19:15 Dréya Mac
19:35 – 20:20 Songer
20:40 – 21:25 Lancey Foux
22:00 – 22:45 K-Trap

BBC Introducing Stage

12:00 – 12:30 Beaux
13:00 – 13:30 The Goa Express
14:00 – 14:30 Twst
15:00 – 15:30 Chalk
16:00 – 16:30 Pritt
17:00 – 17:30 Grandmas House
18:00 – 18:30 TS Lagga
19:00 – 19:30 L’Objectif
20:00 – 20:40 Matilda Mann

Saturday August 26:

Main Stage East

12:45 – 13:15 Yard Act
14:05 – 14:35 Tion Wayne
15:30 – 16:05 Mimi Webb
17:00 – 17:35 Wet Leg
18:50 – 19:40 Loyle Carner
21:20 – 22:50 Sam Fender

Main Stage West

12:00 – 12:35 Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls
13:25 – 13:55 Sea Girls
14:45 – 15:20 You Me At Six
16:15 – 16:50 Trippie Redd
17:45 – 18:40 Bicep (Live)
19:50 – 21:10 Foals

BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage

12:00 – 12:30 Noisy
12:50 – 13:20 The Murder Capital
13:40 – 14:10 Mother Mother
14:30 – 15:00 Nessa Barrett
15:20 – 16:00 Gryffin
16:10 – 16:50 Soulecta
17:00 – 17:50 Koven
18:00 – 18:50 Vibe Chemistry
19:00 – 19:50 venbee
20:00 – 21:00 Hedex
21:15 – 22:45 Sub Focus b2b Dimension (w/ ID)

Festival Republic Stage

12:00 – 12:30 Bilk
12:50 – 13:20 Lauran Hibberd
13:40 – 14:10 Himalayas
14:30 – 15:00 The Last Dinner Party
15:20 – 15:50 Jesse Jo Stark
16:10 – 16:40 Games We Play
17:00 – 17:30 Pinkshift
17:50 – 18:25 Magnolia Park
18:45 – 19:20 Knocked Loose
19:40 – 20:15 Normandie
20:35 – 21:15 Yonaka
21:45 – 22:45 Palaye Royale

BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage

14:00 – 14:30 BZ
14:50 – 15:20 Killowen
15:40 – 16:10 Shasimone
16:30 – 17:00 Finn Foxell
17:20 – 18:20 DJ Target
18:40 – 19:10 Skaiwater
19:30 – 20:15 D Double E
20:40 – 21:25 Sainté
22:00 – 22:45 Meekz

BBC Introducing Stage

12:00 – 12:30 Cole Bleu
13:00 – 13:30 Haunt The Woods
14:00 – 14:30 Frankie Beetlestone
15:00 – 15:30 Blazer Boccle
16:00 – 16:30 Lexie Carroll
17:00 – 17:30 Charlotte Plank
18:00 – 18:30 Frozemode
19:00 – 19:30 Antony Szmierek
20:00 – 20:40 Alt Blk Era

Sunday August 27:

Main Stage East

12:40 – 13:10 Baby Queen
14:00 – 14:30 Holly Humberstone
15:20 – 15:50 Inhaler
16:50 – 17:30 Nothing But Thieves
18:30 – 19:20 Central Cee
21:10 – 22:50 The Killers

Main Stage West

12:00 – 12:30 Jamie Webster
13:20 – 13:50 Arlo Parks
14:40 – 15:10 Easy Life
16:00 – 16:40 Chase Atlantic
17:40 – 18:20 Knucks
19:30 – 21:00 The 1975
23:00 – 01:00 Sigma & Friends (Silent Disco)

BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage

12:00 – 12:20 Somebody’s Child
12:40 – 13:10 Nieve Ella
13:30 – 14:00 Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn
14:20 – 14:50 Caity Baser
15:10 – 15:40 Georgia
16:00 – 16:50 TIBASKO
17:00 – 17:50 Jaguar
18:00 – 18:50 Girls Don’t Sync
19:00 – 19:50 Sammy Virji
20:00 – 20:55 LF System
21:15 – 22:45 MK

Festival Republic Stage

12:00 – 12:25 Anchor Lane
12:45 – 13:10 Fat Dog
13:30 – 13:55 Graphic Nature
14:15 – 14:45 Ekkstacy
15:05 – 15:35 High Vis
15:55 – 16:25 Scowl
16:45 – 17:15 Zand
17:35 – 18:05 Mothica
18:25 – 19:00 Joey Valence & Brae
19:25 – 20:05 KennyHoopla
20:25 – 21:15 Sleep Token
21:45 – 22:45 Yung Lean

BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage

12:20 – 12:50 Malaki
13:10 – 13:40 Proph
14:00 – 14:30 Queen Millz
14:50 – 15:20 Jordy
15:40 – 16:40 Kenny Allstar
17:00 – 17:30 JBEE
17:50 – 18:20 Midwxst
18:40 – 19:10 Nippa
19:30 – 20:10 Ken Carson
20:30 – 21:15 Cordae
21:45 – 22:45 Clavish

BBC Introducing Stage

12:00 – 12:30 Bellah Mae
13:00 – 13:30 Hannah Grae
14:00 – 14:30 ADMT
15:00 – 15:30 Pixey
16:00 – 16:30 Native James
17:00 – 17:30 Viddt
18:00 – 18:30 Lucia & The Best Boys
19:00 – 19:30 Only The Poets
20:00 – 20:40 Hotwax

Get tickets here.