Author: Jack Needham

Junction 2 returns to Boston Manor Park, London, for its 10th edition in 2026. Taking place on 25-26 July and 2 August, Junction 2 will encompass two main stages – the open-air dancefloor The Bridge and the aptly named nature space The Woods – to host some of the biggest house and techno DJs and clubbing brands across three days. On 25 July, Junction 2 collaborates with London club fabric to bring Nina Kraviz, Jeff Mills, Gabrielle Kwarteng b2b Peach and more to the London festival, while 26 July will welcome Miss Monique, Indo Warehouse, Carina Lawrence and more. On 2 August, Junction 2 will host I Hate Models, Funk Tribu, Charlie Sparks, AMMARA, and more. The festival also…

Kaiser Chiefs, Levellers, Feeder and Sophie Ellis-Bextor have been announced for Cheltenham’s Wychwood Festival, which will celebrate its 20th edition this year. Taking place at Cheltenham Racecourse from 29-31 May 2026, the festival will also welcome Boney M, The Pigeon Detectives, Newton Faulkner and Chesney Hawkes. A Friday headline act is also yet to be announced. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wychwood Festival (@wychwoodfestival) The newly announced acts join The Subways, Adult DVD, Nuns Of The Tundra, Dub Pistols and more. For 2026, Wychwood has also expanded its billing and will open its gates on Thursday to encompass four days of live music…

British pop star Lily Allen has been added to Gothernburg’s Way Out West festival, and joins the newly announced Wilco, Current Joys and Lambrini Girls. Taking place at Slottsskogen Park in Gothenburg from 13–15 August 2026, soul act Jalen Ngonda and singer-songwriter Veronica Maggio also join the line-up. View this post on Instagram A post shared by wayoutwestfestival (@wayoutwestfestival) They will join the previously announced headliners The Cure, Gorillaz and Ravyn Lenae, alongside the likes of Zara Larsson, Lorde, Four Tet, Dijon, Anna von Hausswolff and more.  Celebrating its 18th edition in 2026, Way Out West is known for its eclectic pop, rock and rap line-ups alongside a staunch ethos…

The Manchester-based community festival Green Island has announced that 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald, DJ Paulette, Blue Lab Beats and more will play during its 2026 residency. Taking place at the Hulme Community Garden Centre and NIAMOS on 6 June, 25 July and 5 September, the South African band BCUC (Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness), JayaHadADream, Ruf Dug and more will also play the festival. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Green Island Festival (@greenisland_festival) Now in its sixth year, the festival is a celebration of both global and local sounds in the unique surroundings of a…

The Wrexham-based, multi-venue festival for new music that is FOCUS Wales has announced a fresh round of 105 acts for its 16th anniversary edition. Newly announced acts include the likes of North Wales band Bau Cat, Canadian hip-hop group Boutique Feelings and Palestinian artist BASYL.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by FOCUS Wales (@focuswales) The fresh acts for FOCUS Wales 2026 include artists from across 22 countries spanning USA, Canada, Scotland, Indonesia and more, says the festival. Some of those joining the event, taking place from 7-9 May, also include Beijing’s art-pop act KyoYoko, classical musician Oskar Haag, folk-trad artist Ceitidh Mac and more. Taking…

Sarah Mason, Senior Production Manager at Shambala, shares why sticking to your guns means more than money.

Super Furry Animals, Beverly Glenn-Copeland & Elizabeth Copeland, Kurt Vile & The Violators and more have been announced for End of the Road 2026. Now in its 20th year, the Dorset festival has also added Lucinda Williams, Ty Segall, Fat Dog, caroline, YHWH Nailgun, Just Mustard and james K to this year’s weekender. They all join the previously announced headliners CMAT, Mac DeMarco and previous UK Festival Award winners Pulp. View this post on Instagram A post shared by End Of The Road (@endoftheroad) Welcoming 15,000 attendees across the weekend, End Of The Road has five musical stages hosting over 100 live…

From throwback bangers and funk to the world’s biggest rappers, here are some of the best pop and hip-hop festivals happening this year.

The long-running music festival Solfest has announced it has entered administration. Held at the North Lakes Country Park, near Silloth in Cumbria, the festival has ran for more than 20 years. In its time, it has welcomed the likes of De La Soul, The Libertines, Orbital, The Charlatans and more. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Solfest Music Festival ☀️🌞🎪 (@solfestofficial) In a statement shared to Instagram, the festival said its decision “follows a series of significant challenges, many of which were outside the control of the festival team.” This includes financial damage caused by bad weather…

For all loves of books, film and more, then here are some of the best places to celebrate our cultural heritage this summer (and beyond).