There is something about Reading Festival that you simply cannot replicate elsewhere. Every year, thousands of music fans descend on Richfield Avenue knowing that they are in for a weekend of huge performances, packed crowds, new discoveries and, almost certainly, some questionable weather. Reading 2026 was no different.

Across the weekend, the festival once again offered a huge variety of music, from rock and indie to rap, pop and electronic music. With major names including Charli XCX, Fontaines D.C., Dave, RAYE, Florence + The Machine and Chase & Status, there was plenty to keep the crowds moving from the opening acts through to the headline performances.

For us, one of the standout moments came from Charli XCX. Following the enormous cultural impact of her Brat era, it would have been easy to simply recreate that formula, but she chose to do something very different. Her performance was darker, more theatrical and heavily influenced by the sound and aesthetic of her latest work. A live band and army of dancers gave the set a completely different feel, while tracks such as 360, Von Dutch and Guess ensured that the Brat faithful still had plenty to scream along to.

There was also a reminder that Reading is a festival where you can stumble across something completely unexpected. Royal Blood surprised fans with a secret set at The Gallery, turning the tent into one of the liveliest places on site. Moments like this are part of what makes a festival special — you can plan your entire weekend around a timetable and still end up talking about something you never expected to see.

The weather, naturally, had its own plans. Rain arrived during the weekend and quickly transformed sections of the site into the familiar mixture of mud and wellies that British festival-goers know all too well. Rather than killing the atmosphere, it became part of the experience. Fans carried on dancing, artists played through the conditions and the festival carried on regardless.

Away from the biggest stages, there was plenty to discover. Geese, Declan McKenna, James Marriott, Skye Newman and Villanelle were among the artists providing some of the alternative sounds across the site, while the festival continued to give younger and emerging performers an opportunity to play to a much larger audience.

And that is ultimately what keeps Reading relevant. It isn’t simply about the headline acts. It’s about discovering an artist you hadn’t heard before, arriving at a stage because you have heard a great song from somewhere, bumping into friends in the crowd, getting completely soaked and still refusing to leave, or finding yourself watching a surprise performance that wasn’t even on your original plan.

Reading Festival 2026 delivered all of that. It was big, loud, unpredictable and occasionally very muddy — but above all, it was fun. And isn’t that exactly what a summer festival should be?

Pepsi MAX presents Reading and Leeds Festival is set to return next week (27th – 30th August 2026) and has today unveiled details of an expanded Sustainability Charter implemented across both sites.

‘Look Out For Our Planet’ is an all-encompassing planet-focused pledge that aims to deliver meaningful change over the course of a number of years at both festival sites. A partnership between festival organisers and festivalgoers, this is a call to action that encourages vital next steps in the long-term commitment to a sustainable festival industry. Since 2019, Reading and Leeds Festival has seen a meaningful change in consumer habits, with almost two-thirds of tents taken home in 2025. The festival looks to build on this in partnership with festivalgoers coming to both sites in 2026.

 In 2026, the ‘Look Out For Our Planet’ pledge includes:

• The Campsite Clearance Commitment: A brand new initiative implemented at both festival sites which commits to the Festival Campsites being cleared and returned to their natural state within two weeks following the festival. 
   
• The Ballroom Stage to be powered 100% by Green Energy: Reading Festival will see a festival-first partnership with Grid Faeries and Ecotricity teaming up to power the brand-new Ballroom Stage with fossil fuel-free power. Utilising the Grid Faeries battery system (which with the stored energy and additional wind and solar generation could power an average UK home for 425 days) and green energy supplied by Ecotricity, it marks another major milestone in bringing large-scale renewable power to the UK festival industry.
   
• Local Litter Picking Volunteers: Litter picking group volunteers from Litter Free Leeds and Life’s A Beach will be in the campsites at Leeds and Reading respectively, engaging with and encouraging customers to be proactive about keeping tidy campsites.
   
• Collaboration with local Repair Cafe Networks: New campsite Repariums stalls focused on extending the lifespan of campsite gear by fixing items rather than allowing them to be discarded. festivalgoers can bring broken or damaged items to the hub to be fixed by a group of volunteers, including campsite gear and clothing. Run by local volunteers from the established Repair Cafe networks of Berkshire and Leeds.
   
• 100% compostable and plastic-free food & drinks packaging + cutlery: Implemented across both festival sites, reducing the use of single use plastic which is a long term commitment at Festival Republic. All drinks from bars and food vendors are served in aluminium cans, paper cups, or recyclable tetrapak. 
   
• Local Community Partnerships: Both festival sites have teamed up with 50+ local community groups and charities to redistribute any usable materials post-festival. Food donations will be collected by Oxford Food Hub and Leeds North & West Foodbank who do incredible work within their respective  local communities. 

The ‘Look Out For Our Planet’ pledge is a partnership between organisers and festivalgoers. As a part of this, organisers provide the tools for festivalgoers to honour this pledge by considering green travel options, using the bins provided and taking all camping gear home so nothing is left behind at the event amongst others. This pledge and more information can be found at: https://www.readingfestival.com/info#staying-green

This extends to creating a festival environment which is sustainable and supportive of all within it. As an extension of their ‘Look Out For Each Other pledge’, the festival works closely with local authorities to maximise safety and wellbeing at the festival. This includes:

• AIR Hubs: Back for 2026, AIR Hubs will be located across the campsites and arena at Reading and Leeds. They will provide a 24 hour facility over and above the existing security and stewarding teams, situated in multiple locations in and amongst the camping areas. AIR is an acronym for ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION & RESPONSE and they will be working with local community groups and charities to run these hubs, with the support of existing safeguarding and welfare partners at the festival. The groups involved with the Reading Festival AIR Hubs to date are WAVES, Reading Schools, CGL, Berkshire Women’s Aid, Safer Spaces, Sport in Mind, Oxfam, Aurora New Dawn and Soulscape. At Leeds Festival these hubs will be run by groups and charities including Andy’s Man Club, Angels of Freedom, Leeds North and West Foodbank, Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People, People Matters, Sport in Mind, Ssafe, St George’s Crypt, The Opal Project. Festivalgoers will never be too far away from a friendly face or listening ear when in the campsites.
   
•  Collaborations with various charities and welfare providers: These include Safer Spaces, Festival Medical Services, Emergency Doctors Medical Services, Centurion Medical, The Welfare Crew, iThinc, W.E.L Safe, Samaritans, Salvation Army, Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, Street Pastors, Brighter Futures for Children, Stamp Out Spiking, TVP Consent Tent, Festival Angels, Forward Leeds and more, ensuring a safe, inclusive environment for reporting and support.
   
• Sensory Calm Space on both sites: Run by charity Event Well, the space can be used by anyone who may be feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated on-site, offering a quiet environment to calm down.
   
• Festivalgoers may be subject to more enhanced searches of bags and personal belongings. It is politely requested that everyone cooperates with any security requests and searches, and are advised to pack light.
   
• #LookOutForEachOther posters and screens will be displayed on-site, promoting conversations about drug and alcohol safety, respect and consent within the R&L community.
   
• CCTV recording is in operation across the festival site for crime prevention and public safety.
   
• Reading and Leeds both support the ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign which is operational at all the venues, bars and briefed to all staff members. If you ever feel uncomfortable, ask for Angela and you will be provided with assistance.
   
• Reading and Leeds Festivals are inclusive, supportive places and want attendees to come and have the time of their lives whilst still keeping safe. Unfortunately, a small minority of people do try to bring drugs into the festivals. R&L urges attendees not to attempt to bring any drugs with them or attempt to buy any on site. This year’s festivals have redesigned the search process on the first-time entry and re-entry gates. If you’re found with any amount of drugs on your person, or drug dogs indicate you may have something with you, you will not be permitted access to the festival and may face criminal charges. There is no safe level of drug use and R&L don’t want you to ruin your weekend before it even begins. If you do find yourself in trouble, or you or your friends have taken something that doesn’t feel right, please find one of the help points and get help immediately. 
   
• Through partnering with Stamp Out Spiking, Reading and Leeds Festival recognise that spiking is a crime, and support is required for anyone who feels they may have been spiked. Staff and volunteers operate from a place of belief, so R&L encourage anyone who feels they or someone else has been spiked, to report it immediately so we can support as required and get them the required help.
   
• Reading & Leeds Festival are committed to mitigating violence in any forms but recognising the need to focus on Violence Against Women And Girls. R&L acknowledges that to stop such crimes, we must work together. Therefore, awareness will be formed through staff and volunteer briefings while promoting how to be a ‘Good Bystander’. Ticket holders are encouraged to report any signs of violence or something that doesn’t look or feel right to any member of staff, volunteer or via one of the help facilities. This year, R&L have partnered with Safer Spaces who aim to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence, against women and girls, at festivals and events through education, training and immediate specialist support.

Speaking about the ‘Look Out For Our Planet’ and ‘Look Out For Each Other’ pledges with just under two weeks to go until Reading and Leeds Festival 2026, Melvin Benn, Managing Director of Festival Republic, said: 

“As a leading festival in the global festival calendar, Reading and Leeds Festival takes our responsibility to open up new sustainability models and initiatives with the utmost importance. This year we’re happy to unveil new measures across campsites, staging and within the local community which shows how a festival’s impact can be positive for the environment. It’s vitally important in this partnership that the festival works with its fans to achieve this goal – and we look forward to continuing the great work of recent years with festival fans in 2026.” 

Pepsi MAX presents Reading and Leeds Festival returns at the end of August as the definitive UK festival experience – with this year’s headliners Charli xcx, Fontaines D.C., Dave, RAYE, Florence + The Machine and Chase & Status leading a lineup boasting the likes of Sombr, Skepta, Role Model, Gunna*, Blossoms~, Loyle Carner*, Geese, Jade, Josh Baker, Declan McKenna, Holly Humberstone, Kneecap, Maisie Peters, Slayyyter, Skye Newman, Chris Stussy*, James Marriott, The K’s~, Arthur Hill, Keo, Viagra Boys*, Kingfishr, Jamie Webster~, Bleech 9:3, Westside Cowboy, Florence Road, Silva Bumpa and many more. For the first time ever, Leeds Festival will welcome Kasabian as a Thursday night headliner, with a brand new arean layout seeing six new and improved stages redefining the Reading and Leeds Festival experience into a 2.0 era. 

This year’s Reading Festival Weekend tickets are sold out with only limited Sunday Day Tickets left, available now at https://www.readingfestival.com/ with limited Leeds Festival tickets available at https://www.leedsfestival.com/. 

For more information head to https://www.readingfestival.com/ and https://www.leedsfestival.com/

Soul and disco fans are in for a treat as Soultasia makes its Reading debut with a spectacular open-air concert at Prospect Park on Friday 14 August 2026.

Running from 5:00pm to 10:30pm, the event promises an evening packed with timeless anthems and legendary performers, as one of the UK’s fastest-growing soul and disco concert brands brings its acclaimed live show to Berkshire.

The star-studded line-up features some of the biggest names in classic soul, funk and disco, including The Real Thing, Gwen Dickey – the iconic voice of Rose Royce – Odyssey, Loose Ends, and Phil Fearon & Galaxy. The evening will be hosted by Ian Reading, with DJ Darren Bull keeping the party going throughout the event.

Since launching in 2021, Soultasia has become one of the UK’s leading touring soul and disco festivals, attracting thousands of music lovers with its nostalgic celebrations of classic hits and legendary artists. The brand now stages events across the country, combining iconic live performances with a vibrant festival atmosphere.

Held in the picturesque surroundings of Prospect Park, the Reading edition is expected to draw fans from across the South East for an unforgettable summer evening of live entertainment. Tickets start from around £23 plus booking fees, with VIP Golden Circle upgrades also available for those wanting front-of-stage access and exclusive facilities.

Tickets are still available, but with strong demand expected, organisers are encouraging fans to book early to avoid disappointment.

With feel-good classics, singalong favourites and some of soul music’s most celebrated performers all on one stage, Soultasia Reading is shaping up to be one of the area’s standout live music events of the summer.

Soultasia Reading takes place on Friday 14 August 2026 at Prospect Park, Reading, from 5:00pm until 10:30pm.