Reading & Leeds First Line-up Boasts Florence, Charli XCX and Fontaines D.C.

The UK Festival Releases Well Rounded First Names

Reading and Leeds have announced the first line-up for 2026. The August festival operates across two sites that run in parallel, with artists swapping between locations over the three days. The first wave of names includes headliners Charli XCX, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C., RAYE, Dave and Chase and Status.

Notable undercard acts include alt pop newcomers Sombr and Role Model, Irish rap trio KNEECAP and indie rock’s latest wunderkind Geese. Reactions to the announcement have been mixed, with some pointing to the absence of a major rock headliner and others welcoming the range of quality artists and the focus on newer acts being pushed into headline positions.

The only difference between the two Line-ups is the notable inclusion of Kasabian on the Leeds poster but not on at Reading. Reading & Leeds festivals take place from the 27th till the 30th of August in the UK.