If you’re a music enthusiast or a festival-goer, here are the top 10 summer music festivals in 2026 you can’t afford to miss.
1) Parklife Festival (Manchester)
Parklife Festival at Heaton Park is now in its 10th year, one of the UK’s most popular music events and has been fortunate enough to take place on a hot summer’s weekend!
Line-up and highlights
The headliners for Parklife 2026 are Calvin Harris, Sammy Virji, Skepta, and Swedish pop star Zara Larsson, to perform over the 2-day festival. The festival’s stages showcase a wide range of music styles, including pop, indie rock, house, hip-hop, and grime, although its main focus is on dance and electronic music. It’s not uncommon to go directly from a thumping DJ set to an explosive performance by a grime MC or live band.
Ticket information
Tickets for Parklife have sold out fairly quickly in the past, but this year they have upped their game with adding a new stage and capacity.
General admission for the full weekend costs £163, including fees.
2) Reading & Leeds Festival
With its legacy of rock and alternative music, the dual-site has a reputation for mosh pits and raw energy, setting it apart as a place for rock fans.
Line-up and highlights
Headliners for the Reading and Leeds Festival 2026 are Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + the Machine, Fontaines D.C., and RAYE over the August bank holiday weekend.
Ticket information
A weekend ticket for Reading & Leeds 2026 will set you back around £325.
3) Download Festival (Derbyshire)
An event for fans of heavy metal and rock, Download Festival creates a space for all things loud and lively. Located at the spiritual home of rock, Donington Park, this festival hosts an unrivalled environment for headbanging.
Line-up and highlights
The Download Festival 2026, taking place at Donington Park, Leicestershire from June 10th to 14th, is headlined by Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses and Linkin Park.
The festival continues to build on its legacy by featuring a blend of iconic bands and fresh faces.
Ticket information
A five-day camping pass, which gives you access to the festival’s different music-filled zones, is available for £365.
4) Victorious Festival (Portsmouth)
Set on the picturesque Southsea Seafront with panoramic views of the Solent, this family-friendly festival offers a uniquely British experience.
Line-up and highlights
The Victorious Festival 2025, set to take place in Portsmouth from August 22 to 24, includes an impressive lineup with Richard Ashcroft, Scissor Sisters, and Faithless as the headline acts.
This year’s Victorious Festival offers not only a memorable experience through its headliners but also additional well-known acts such as The Black Keys, Happy Mondays, Kasabian, The Streets, and more.
Ticket information
Victorious Festival is known for its reasonable pricing, with weekend tickets expected to cost £219 for the full experience.
5) Creamfields
For fans of electronic dance music, Creamfields is the place to be. Established as one of the world’s leading EDM festivals, Creamfields transforms the fields of Cheshire into a neon-lit wonderland, with famous DJs.
Line-up and highlights
Leading the bill this year is Calvin Harris, alongside the legendary Swedish House Mafia whose energetic sets have captivated audiences worldwide. Other notable artists include icons Underworld (live), Becky Hill, and Carl Cox.
For those looking to get tickets, especially given the high demand and the limited UK summer festival season, prompt action is advised.
Ticket information
Standard camping prices cost around £290 for weekend admission.
6) Isle of Wight Festival
The Isle of Wight Festival holds a special place in many hearts, for those who appreciate an eclectic mix of music, laid-back vibes, and stunning coastal scenery.
Line-up and highlights
The Isle of Wight Festival 2026, taking place from June 18th to 21st, features an exciting lineup of headliners, including Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris, and The Cure.
In addition to the headliners, the festival has a rich lineup of artists across various stages, including familiar acts like Two Door Cinema Club, Rick Astley, and The Sex Pistols, among others.
The Isle of Wight Festival, set in the picturesque Seaclose Park, offers attendees not only a weekend filled with exceptional music but also a unique cultural experience in one of the UK’s most scenic locations.
Ticket information
The Isle of Wight Festival weekend camping ticket costs around £320.
7) Boomtown Fair (Winchester)
Scheduled for the 12th to 16th of August, 2026, under the theme ‘Radical Redesign’, Boomtown stands out for its commitment to creating an immersive parallel world. With 12 main stages and over 50 hidden venues, it showcases a broad spectrum of musical genres.
What sets Boomtown apart is not just its vast lineup but its dedication to building a living, breathing city where each district has its own unique identity.
Line-up and highlights
You expect a mix of music genres that will keep you dancing and singing with the headlines of Kneecap, Scissor Sisters, and Madness.
As well as General Levy, Shaggy, and Skrillex are set to perform.
Ticket information
A standard camping ticket for Boomtown Fair is likely to set you back by £350, giving you access to all areas of the fantastical festival world.
8) Wireless Festival (London)
Wireless Festival uses London’s Finsbury Park as the backdrop for this high-energy event. Catering to the R&B, hip-hop, and dancehall communities, Wireless attracts urban music fans from across the globe.
Line-up and highlights
The Wireless Festival for the year 2026, held in Finsbury Park from July 10th to 12th*, has yet to confirm their line-up, but if it’s anything like the previous years, you can expect big names and plenty of dance tunes.
The festival’s growing reputation as the number one event for fans of hip-hop, rap, and urban music is proven by this year’s lineup.
*Unconfirmed dates.
Ticket information
A weekend pass typically costs around £300, offering up to three days of urban music in the heart of the capital.
9) TRNSMT Festival (Glasgow)
Renowned for its electric atmosphere, TRNSMT takes place in the heart of Glasgow, a city that has its own distinct musical legacy.
Line-up and highlights
The TRNSMT Festival 2026, taking place in Glasgow, is set to feature headliners that include Richard Ashcroft, Kasabian, Lewis Capaldi, and Loyle Carner.
For those interested in attending, the festival runs from June 19th to 21st.
Ticket information
For around £229.50, you can secure entry to the weekend’s worth of headline acts.
10) Latitude Festival (Suffolk)
The festival’s idyllic setting at Henham Park in Suffolk makes it an attractive alternative to the usual music festival format.
Line-up and highlights
The festival takes place from July 23rd to 26th and has an eclectic and exciting lineup of headliners. This year, there will be performances by David Byrne, Teddy Swims, and Lewis Capaldi.
The festival will also feature comedian Ross Noble, further highlighting Latitude’s tradition of integrating music with other art forms.
Ticket information
Latitude Festival tends to cost around £320 for a weekend pass, offering a festival experience that offers more than just music.
Careers in music
Music festival enthusiasts can find that their passion for live performance translates into a fulfilling career within the music industry, a sector which continues to entertain millions of people.
Interested in pursuing a music career? At Access Creative College, we provide a range of further education music courses to suit a range of disciplines, from technical to performance-based. Apply online today!
