Author: Jack Needham

The world’s biggest megastars don’t just confine themselves to arenas and VIP green rooms anymore. They’re turning up in our local green fields, and 2026 is set to be a bumper year for pop and hip-hop fans in the UK. From throwback bangers and funk to Grammy-winning rappers, here are some of the best pop and hip-hop festivals happening this year. Mighty Hoopla Festival: Mighty Hoopla Location: Brockwell Park, LondonDates: 30-31 May 2026 Acts: Lily Allen, Scissor Sisters, Five, Jodie Harsh, Horse Meat Disco and more. Featuring more pink than a Barbie house party, Mighty Hoopla is a celebration of…

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…

While many festivals host arts, comedy, theatre and dance stages in their fields, there are plenty of dedicated festivals out their for arts and literature enthusiasts. We are a nation built on Shakespeare, Lord of the Rings and Brontë after all. 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). Manchester Film Festival Festival: Manchester Film Festival Location: Manchester, UKDates: 19-29 March 2026 Known as Manchester’s biggest celebration of new and independent film, Manchester Film Festival hosts live screenings, Q&As and red carpet events…

The Cornish festival Boardmasters has unveiled that Lily Allen will join Fatboy Slim and Kasabian as its 2026 headliners. The beach festival will also welcome Joy Crookes, BRITs Critics’ Choice winner Jacob Alon, Lucy Spraggan and Beans on Toast for its 2026 edition. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Boardmasters (@boardmasters) Dance and electronic music is also represented by the DJ crew Fleetmac Wood, Hamdi, Sicaria, Lens and Gotham B2B Deekz, while pop fans are catered to by the likes of Rose Gray, Etta Marcus, Charlotte Plank, Holysseus Fly, and Chloe Qisha.  Taking place at Fistral Beach on 509 August 2026, the much loved festival also hosts a range of non-music activities, from surf…

Held in Norton Disney, Lincolnshire, from 27-30 August, Lost Village will bring the Mercury prize-winning Ezra Collective, Pale Jay, Fcukers, Soulwax and more to its woodland home. The festival that celebrates music, arts, food and culture is also inviting the likes of Dixon, Confidence Man, Ben UFO, DJ Koze, Ross From Friends, Peggy Gou, The Avalanches and more for its 2026 edition. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lost Village (@lostvillagefestival) The weekend will also see a curated selection of B2B performances, including a debut pairing between Caribou and Solomun, Bradley Zero and Ewan McVicar and a…

Festivals are held in small woodlands and intimate spaces, but sometimes people want something a little bigger. That’s where the majors step in, that often act as someone’s first festival or a place to see that living legend outside of an arena. And as there’s no Glastonbury this year, the world’s biggest acts are heading outside of Somerset. If you’re searching for big stage moments then here are some of the best major festivals you can head to this year. Reading & Leeds Festival Festival: Reading & Leeds Festival Location: Reading and Leeds, UKDates: 27-30 August 2026 Acts: Charli XCX,…

There’s always a place for the majors, where we can see the Drakes and Arctic Monkeys of this world perform before a sea of thousands. But sometimes, we need something more intimate, away from the big brand partnerships and warm 4% beer. Here, we pick a selection of some of the best independent festivals you should be heading to in 2026. Show of Hands Festival: Show of Hands Location: Bruton, SomersetDates: 22-24 May 2026 Acts: Submotion Orchestra, General Levy ft. TC & The Groove Family, Lady Wray and more. New for 2026 comes Show of Hands, a crowdfunded, 2,500 capacity…

“It’s a bloody nightmare starting a new festival,” begins Alex Lane, founder of the Show of Hands. He’s not exactly wrong. Set across 300-acres in an organic farm, Show of Hands will welcome 2500 revellers for three-days of pioneering jazz and electronic music set across the ancient fields and woodlands of Somerset. But Show of Hands is an anomaly, something that’s increasingly rare in 2026. It’s a brand new festival. Yes, a fresh, independent festival has emerged from the post-COVID wreckage. Alex is undertaking a brave task, one perhaps born through madness but also experience and a deep understanding of…

The disco, funk and soul festival Boogietown returns on 11 July with Gloria Gaynor, Shalamar, Gabrielle, Earth, Wind & Fire by Al McKay, Soul II Soul and more. Taking place at Surrey’s Apps Court Farm, the festival will also see performances from Maxi Priest, Heather Small, Aswad, Sonique, Baby D, K-Klass and Gok Wan. Brutus Gold Love Train, Boney M, Odyssey the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club and more also join the one-day festival. View this post on Instagram A post shared by boogietown (@boogietownuk) The much-loved festival of all things funky will celebrate its fifth edition in 2026, and has expanded its site to five stages hosting…

KNEECAP, Kettama, ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U and more have been announced for AVA Belfast 2026. The city festival, which takes over the Titanic Slipways on 29–30 May 2026, will also welcome Annie Mac, Honey Dijon and Interplanetary Criminal. Known for its cutting-edge electronic music programming and immersive production values, AVA also encompasses a London-based live showcase and conference, which takes place from 24-26 September. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AVA Festival (@avafestival) The AVA Belfast will also host a B2B set from Octo Octa and Eris Drew, a live set from techno heavyweight Blawan, future-trance sounds from Evian…