Festivals
Charli Xcx, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C., RAYE And Leeds-Exclusive Kasabian Headline Landmark Reading & Leeds Festival 2026
Reading & Leeds, the biggest European festival this summer, closed the 2026 festival season in style as over half a million music fans gathered to experience the best in live music, on a weekend that marked a bold new chapter for both festivals.
The all UK and Irish headline bill – the festival’s first in 26 years – was a powerful statement of the depth, diversity and global influence of music from these islands. From Charli xcx’s boundary-pushing pop and Dave’s defining British rap to Fontaines D.C.’s visceral alternative rock, RAYE’s electrifying showmanship, Florence + The Machine’s theatricality, Chase & Status’ drum & bass energy and first-ever Thursday night Leeds headliner Kasabian’s indie-rock anthems, the headline programme celebrated artists who have each played a defining role in shaping contemporary music.
Festival fans were treated to secret sets across the weekend, including Jamie T, Lola Young, and Royal Blood, and a stellar roll call of surprise guest appearances including Arrdee, Central Cee, D Double E, James Blake, Kano, Novelist, Professor Green, Tems, Tom Grennan, and many more.
As ever, Reading & Leeds delivered an extraordinary breadth of music across the weekend. SOMBR, Skepta, Loyle Carner, Gunna, JADE, Role Model, Declan McKenna, Kneecap, Slayyyter, Adéla, Blossoms, Viagra Boys, Geese, Maisie Peters, Kettama, Chris Stassy, Josh Baker and SPEED were among the artists spanning rock, rap, pop, indie and electronic music across the festival’s extensive programme.
Across four days, Reading & Leeds Festival unveiled the biggest staging and arena overhaul in its history. Five new spaces – The Gallery, The Warehouse, The Ballroom, The Canopyand The Yard – reshaped the festival experience, providing the ultimate platform for live music, dance, emerging talent and late-night culture.
Dance music was given an even greater presence across the weekend, with The Warehouse hosting artists including Max Dean b2b Luke Dean, Riordan, Rossi., Mall Grab, SOTA and Hybrid Minds, while in Leeds LS23 continued to provide a late-night destination for festival-goers looking to keep the party going long after the main stages had finished.
The new Canopy stage marked a significant evolution in the festival’s approach to emerging talent, with a visually striking design providing a fresh platform for the next generation of artists including December 10, Violet Grohl, Cruz Beckham & The Breakers, The North, Garage Flower, Amma, Finessekid, Day We Ran, Villanelle and many more. Bringing elevated staging and a dedicated home to new music, The Canopy reinforced Reading & Leeds’ commitment to championing the headliners of tomorrow.
Melvin Benn, Managing Director of Festival Republic, said: “I could not be prouder of what the team have achieved this year. They have transformed the vision behind Reading & Leeds, setting out a bold pathway for the future and delivering the biggest festival in Europe this summer. From the strength of the headliners – all-British and Irish – to the transformation of the sites at both Reading and Leeds, to the expansion of our new-music offering, we have set down a marker in the British cultural landscape. The reaction from our audiences, artists, and partners has been incredible, and we can’t wait to share our plans for 2027.”
Relive the standout performances and unforgettable moments on BBC iPlayer, including sets from headliners Fontaines D.C., RAYE, Dave, Florence + The Machine and Chase & Status. Reading Festival Highlights 2026 also airs on BBC One on Wednesday 2 September at 10.40pm, while Radio 1, Radio 1 Dance and 6 Music continue the celebrations with special programming and performances from across the festival.
Reading & Leeds continues to prove that its identity stretches far beyond its headline acts. The 2026 edition marked a significant moment in its evolution, with its biggest ever staging and arena transformation bringing together global superstars and the next generation of talent across rap, rock, pop and electronic music, creating distinct musical worlds, late-night experiences and new ways for fans to discover artists.
Reading & Leeds will return on Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th August 2027.
Presale tickets for Reading & Leeds 2027 will be available on Friday 4th September at 10am BST. General sale begins on Friday 11th September at 10am BST. Fans are encouraged to register now to gain first access to 2027 tickets.
Register now at www.readingandleedsfestival.com.
Festivals
All Things Go DC Adds Remi Wolf, Underscores, Sierra Ferrell to the lineup + All Things Go NY Adds Ethel Cain
All Things Go Festival 2026 has added more names to its 12th annual DC-area edition, bringing back festival favourite Remi Wolf alongside new additions Sierra Ferrell and underscores.
The expanded lineup joins previously announced headliners Hayley Williams, Brandi Carlile and Zara Larsson, along with All Things Go alumni Mitski, MUNA, Lola Young and Ethel Cain. The three-day festival returns to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, from September 25 to 27, with artists performing across two stages.
The festival has sold out for five consecutive years and has built a reputation for its carefully curated, fan-first lineups. This year, that approach extends beyond music, with comedian Robby Hoffman joining Friday’s DC lineup.
Ethel Cain is getting double duty at All Things Go this year. Last week, she was announced as a co-headliner for the festival’s third New York City edition at Forest Hills Stadium, marking her final show of 2026 on the Willoughby Tucker Forever Tour.
The New York lineup features Zara Larsson, who will perform her first-ever headlining festival set, alongside Brandi Carlile, MUNA, Lola Young and Carly Rae Jepsen. The three-day event will feature a mix of established acts and emerging artists, including The Beaches, Rebecca Black, Cara Delevingne, CMAT, Jensen McRae and Hemlocke Springs. Comedian Meg Stalter joins the NYC lineup, marking the first time the festival has added a comedian to its New York edition.
Lola Young is returning to the festival after previously appearing at All Things Go.
“All Things Go, we have unfinished business. I feel blessed and ready to take it to the next level. Thank you for having me back.”
The festival’s reputation extends beyond its lineups. All Things Go has developed a strong sense of community among its audience, with its inclusive atmosphere earning affectionate nicknames such as “Gay-chella,” “All Things Gay” and “Lesbopalooza.”
That spirit was summed up by Lorde during her appearance at the All Things Go Toronto stage earlier this year.
“This is my second All Things Go! I’m trying to catch them all. It’s a Pokémon situation for me. This is, without a doubt, the coolest festival in North America. It’s the girls, the gays and the theys.”
The Toronto edition took place June 6 and 7 at RBC Amphitheatre, with Lorde, Kesha, The Beaches and Wet Leg among the headliners.
Tickets for the New York festival are already sold out for all three days, September 25 through 27. Remaining single-day tickets and two-day combinations are available, along with three-day tickets for the DC festival, through the official All Things Go website.
All Things Go at Merriweather Post Pavilion
Friday, September 25, 2026
Mitski
Ethel Cain
Rainbow Kitten Surprise
Magdalena Bay
Slayyyter
Stella Lefty
Ninajirachi
underscores
Balu Brigada
Robby Hoffman
Rico Nasty
SYML
Gates open at 3 p.m.
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Hayley Williams
MUNA
Zara Larsson
Suki Waterhouse
Del Water Gap
She & Him
The Beaches
The Beths
Rebecca Black
Naika
Hemlocke Springs
Haute & Freddy
Grace Ives
Zolita
Love Spells
Susannah Joffe
Glom
Kevin Atwater
Gates open at 11 a.m.
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Brandi Carlile
Lola Young
Remi Wolf
Father John Misty
Sierra Ferrell
Tinashe
Flipturn
Wolf Alice
CMAT
Jensen McRae
Ryan Beatty
Rochelle Jordan
Tiny Habits
Trousdale
Violet Grohl
Natalie Jinju
googly eyes
Jake Minch
Wes Parker
Gates open at 11 a.m.
All Things Go at Forest Hills Stadium
Friday, September 25
Zara Larsson
Lola Young
Rebecca Black
Cara Delevingne
Blu DeTiger
Chloe Qisha
Gates open at 2 p.m.
Saturday, September 26
Brandi Carlile
Ethel Cain
CMAT
Jensen McRae
Meg Stalter
Natali Jinju
Gates open at 2 p.m.
Sunday, September 27
MUNA
Carly Rae Jepsen
The Beaches
Hemlocke Springs
Grace Ives
Cherry Bomb
Gates open at 2 p.m.
Festivals
PNE Summer Night Concerts – Pierce The Veil
By the time Pierce The Veil took the stage at Vancouver’s Freedom Mobile Arch on September 5, the place was packed and the anticipation was impossible to miss. As part of the PNE Summer Night Concerts, the San Diego post-hardcore veterans delivered a set that mixed nostalgia and chaos.
The show opened with “May These Noises Startle You in Your Sleep Tonight” and “Hell Above.” From there, the night barely let up. “Bulls in the Bronx” got the crowd going, followed by “Circles” and “I’m Low on Gas and You Need a Jacket.”
There was plenty for longtime fans, too. “I’d Rather Die Than Be Famous,” “Yeah Boy and Doll Face” and “Floral & Fading” reached back into the band’s catalog, while their cover of the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind?” provided one of the evening’s fun surprises.
Visually, Pierce The Veil made the most of the outdoor stage. Tony Perry and Jaime Preciado were constantly moving, throwing themselves around the stage with guitars in hand, while drummer Loniel Robinson provided the thunder behind them. At the centre was Vic Fuentes, whose voice still carries the emotional weight that has defined the band since its early days.
The emotional high point came with “Hold On Till May,” a song that has become deeply personal for many fans as phones went into the air and voices rose across the venue. Predictably, the place lost its mind when they ended with “King for a Day.”
After nearly 20 years, Pierce The Veil still know exactly what their music means to their fans. On this night, Vancouver gave that love right back.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
PIERCE THE VEIL
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell