Reading Festival Leeds: Reading and Leeds 2026 features six British and Irish headliners and a major site overhaul

For anyone checking the reading festival leeds schedule, the 2026 Reading and Leeds Festival runs from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August, with headline sets from Charli XCX, Fontaines D.C., Dave, RAYE, Florence + The Machine and Chase & Status. BBC coverage is scheduled across television, radio, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds and BBC Music’s YouTube channel.

Reading and Leeds 2026 features six British and Irish headliners and a major site overhaul

The festival’s six main-stage headliners are Charli XCX and Fontaines D.C. on Friday, Dave and RAYE on Saturday, and Florence + The Machine and Chase & Status on Sunday. According to BBC Newsbeat’s festival report, this is the first time in 25 years that all the headliners at the sister festivals have been British and Irish acts.

Festival Republic says the 2026 edition includes the “biggest staging and arena overhaul” in the festival’s history, with redesigned major stages and new spaces. These include a campsite for people aged over 21 and “The Oasis”, a rebranded quiet zone. BBC Newsbeat reports that there has been high demand for both spaces.

The changes come as the festival considers how it is perceived by different age groups. Some festival-goers told BBC Newsbeat that Reading and Leeds has developed an image of attracting a younger audience, while others said its focus on young people is a positive part of the event and helps audiences discover new music.

BBC TV and iPlayer schedule

BBC coverage begins on Friday 28 August. BBC iPlayer is scheduled to show archive highlights from Reading’s Ultimate Performances and Arctic Monkeys’ 2022 set from 3.30pm, followed by live coverage from the festival site from 6pm.

Friday’s broadcast includes headline performances from Charli XCX and Fontaines D.C. Fontaines D.C.’s Reading Festival set is scheduled for 10.40pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

On Saturday 29 August, BBC iPlayer coverage is scheduled from 6pm to 11.30pm, featuring performances from across the festival and headline sets by Dave and RAYE. RAYE’s Reading Festival performance is also scheduled for 11pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Sunday’s BBC iPlayer coverage is scheduled for 6pm to 11.30pm, with Florence + The Machine and Chase & Status among the featured acts. Chase & Status’ Reading Festival set is scheduled for 11.40pm on BBC One and iPlayer. These programme details are set out in the BBC’s Reading and Leeds 2026 coverage guide.

Performances and highlights are due to remain available on BBC iPlayer for 30 days after the festival, while some tracks are also scheduled to appear on the BBC Music YouTube channel.

Radio coverage and what follows the weekend

BBC Radio 1 is broadcasting from Reading during the festival weekend. RadioToday reports that the station is scheduled to broadcast from 10am to 4pm on Friday 28 August and from 11am to 4pm on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August, with listeners able to follow the coverage on Radio 1 and BBC Sounds.

Radio 1 will also air a retrospective programme on Monday 31 August from 6pm to 1am. BBC Radio 6 Music’s Indie Forever stream is scheduled to feature an hour of Reading headline sets each day at midday from Monday 31 August, including performances by Nirvana, Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C. and The 1975.

The BBC’s festival programming continues beyond the bank holiday weekend. Reading Festival Highlights 2026 is scheduled for 10.40pm on Wednesday 2 September on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, while Radio 1 Dance is due to focus on The Warehouse Stage on Thursday 3 September from 6pm to 10pm.