Your Ultimate Festival Guide
Discover the best festivals, events, and experiences near your university. From music to food, culture to sports – we’ve got you covered.
Festival season in 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet, with music, food, culture and arts events taking place across the UK and beyond. Whether you’re planning a summer packed with iconic music festivals, looking for unique cultural celebrations, or just want an excuse for a weekend away with friends, this guide brings together the best festivals happening throughout the year. Explore our picks for 2026 and start planning your next unforgettable festival experience
Reading and Leeds
- 27th - 30th August 2026
- 295+
- 240,000+ festivalgoers (combined)
- Reading & Leeds
Reading & Leeds Festival is one of the UK’s biggest music events, held simultaneously in Reading and Leeds over the August Bank Holiday weekend with the same lineup performing at both sites.
Terminal V
- 18th - 19th April 2026
- 88+
- 40,000 festivalgoers
- Edinburgh
Scotland’s No. 1 electronic music festival featuring an impressive collection of the biggest acts in the world of techno.
Isle of Wight
- 18th - 21st June 2026
- 125+
- 50,000 festivalgoers
- Isle of Wight
Dubbed the European equivalent to ‘Woodstock’, the Isle of Wight Festival takes place annually in Newport. It features a some of the biggest acts in rock, pop and indie.
Primavera Sound
- 3rd - 7th June 2026
- 135+
- 75,000 festivalgoers
- Barcelona, Spain
Held in the epic Parc del Fòrum, Primavera Sound is an annual outdoor eletronic-indie festival by the beaches of Barcelona.
Parklife
- 20th - 21st June 2026
- 101.50+
- 80,000 festivalgoers
- Manchester
Known for being Manchester’s biggest festival, Parklife takes places over a summer weekend in Heaton Park. It’s a non-camping, multiple-stage event that attracts huge headliners in music.
Tomorrowland
- 17th - 19th & 24th - 26th July 2026
- 138+
- 400,000 festivalgoers (combined)
- Boom, Belgium
Download Festival
- 9th - 13th June 2027
- 281+
- 85,000 festivalgoers
- Donington Park, Leicestershire
Hosted at Donington Park, this is the UK’s premier rock and heavy metal event. It features legendary headliners from across the rock and metal world, drawing passionate fans from across the globe.
Latitude Festival
- 23rd - 26th July 2026
- 320+
- 40,000 festivalgoers (daily)
- Henham Park, Suffolk
Set in the grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk, this family-friendly weekend blends huge pop and indie music names with comedy, theatre, and wellness.
Big Love Festival
- 16th - 19th July 2026
- 149+
- 2,000 festivalgoers (daily)
- Cwm Cayo Farm, Usk
A family-friendly music and arts festival set in the beautiful Welsh countryside. Featuring 130+ acts across 6 stages — including a Big Top with circus and cabaret — Big Love is proudly the UK’s friendliest small festival.
Happy Place Festival
- 11th - 12th July & 5th - 6th September 2026
- 24.75+
- 3,200 festivalgoers (daily)
- London & Cheshire
The Big Retreat
- 28th - 31st May 2027
- 120+
- 3,000+ festivalgoers
- Lawrenny, Pembrokeshire
The Big Retreat Festival is a 4-day adventure and wellbeing getaway held in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. It features 300+ workshops, talks, wild activities, and feel-good sessions, with weekend ticket prices ranging from £249–£369.
Foodies Festival
- 10th July - 6th September 2026
- 23.00+
- 5000 festivalgoers (daily)
- Multiple locations
Foodies Festival is billed as the UK’s biggest celebration of food, drink, and music, taking place across multiple locations such as Tatton Park and Syon Park between spring and autumn each year. Events feature live cooking demonstrations from top chefs, hands-on experiences, and family-friendly entertainment.
Great British Food Festival
- Various dates for 2026
- 15.00+
- 4000 festivalgoers (daily)
- Multiple locations
The Great British Food Festival is billed as one of the UK’s leading celebrations of food and drink, with award-winning events held at multiple locations across the country, including Northamptonshire, Berkshire’s Dinton Pastures, and Harewood. Events serve up incredible street food alongside live chef demonstrations.
Edinburgh Fringe
- 7th - 31st August 2026
- 0+
- 2.6m festivalgoers
- Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is one of the biggest arts festivals on the planet, with more than 3,600 shows. The programme spans theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus, cabaret, and children’s shows. Alongside ticketed shows, free programmes such as PBH’s Free Fringe and the Free Festival run throughout August, offering hundreds of free comedy, cabaret, music, and theatre shows.
Edinburgh Fringe
- 7th - 31st August 2026
- 0+
- 2.6m festivalgoers
- Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is one of the biggest arts festivals on the planet, with more than 3,600 shows. The programme spans theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus, cabaret, and children’s shows. Alongside ticketed shows, free programmes such as PBH’s Free Fringe and the Free Festival run throughout August, offering hundreds of free comedy, cabaret, music, and theatre shows.
Reading and Leeds
- 27th - 30th August 2026
- 295+
- 240,000+ festivalgoers (combined)
- Reading & Leeds
Reading & Leeds Festival is one of the UK’s biggest music events, held simultaneously in Reading and Leeds over the August Bank Holiday weekend with the same lineup performing at both sites.
Terminal V
- 18th - 19th April 2026
- 88+
- 40,000 festivalgoers
- Edinburgh
Scotland’s No. 1 electronic music festival featuring an impressive collection of the biggest acts in the world of techno.
The Big Retreat
- 28th - 31st May 2027
- 120+
- 3,000+ festivalgoers
- Lawrenny, Pembrokeshire
The Big Retreat Festival is a 4-day adventure and wellbeing getaway held in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. It features 300+ workshops, talks, wild activities, and feel-good sessions, with weekend ticket prices ranging from £249–£369.
Isle of Wight
- 18th - 21st June 2026
- 125+
- 50,000 festivalgoers
- Isle of Wight
Dubbed the European equivalent to ‘Woodstock’, the Isle of Wight Festival takes place annually in Newport. It features a some of the biggest acts in rock, pop and indie.
Great British Food Festival
- Various dates for 2026
- 15.00+
- 4000 festivalgoers (daily)
- Multiple locations
The Great British Food Festival is billed as one of the UK’s leading celebrations of food and drink, with award-winning events held at multiple locations across the country, including Northamptonshire, Berkshire’s Dinton Pastures, and Harewood. Events serve up incredible street food alongside live chef demonstrations.
Foodies Festival
- 10th July - 6th September 2026
- 23.00+
- 5000 festivalgoers (daily)
- Multiple locations
Foodies Festival is billed as the UK’s biggest celebration of food, drink, and music, taking place across multiple locations such as Tatton Park and Syon Park between spring and autumn each year. Events feature live cooking demonstrations from top chefs, hands-on experiences, and family-friendly entertainment.
Reading and Leeds
- 27th - 30th August 2026
- 295+
- 240,000+ festivalgoers (combined)
- Reading & Leeds
Reading & Leeds Festival is one of the UK’s biggest music events, held simultaneously in Reading and Leeds over the August Bank Holiday weekend with the same lineup performing at both sites.
Isle of Wight
- 18th - 21st June 2026
- 125+
- 50,000 festivalgoers
- Isle of Wight
Dubbed the European equivalent to ‘Woodstock’, the Isle of Wight Festival takes place annually in Newport. It features a some of the biggest acts in rock, pop and indie.
Terminal V
- 18th - 19th April 2026
- 88+
- 40,000 festivalgoers
- Edinburgh
Scotland’s No. 1 electronic music festival featuring an impressive collection of the biggest acts in the world of techno.
Parklife
- 20th - 21st June 2026
- 101.50+
- 80,000 festivalgoers
- Manchester
Known for being Manchester’s biggest festival, Parklife takes places over a summer weekend in Heaton Park. It’s a non-camping, multiple-stage event that attracts huge headliners in music.
Happy Place Festival
- 11th - 12th July & 5th - 6th September 2026
- 24.75+
- 3,200 festivalgoers (daily)
- London & Cheshire
Primavera Sound
- 3rd - 7th June 2026
- 135+
- 75,000 festivalgoers
- Barcelona, Spain
Held in the epic Parc del Fòrum, Primavera Sound is an annual outdoor eletronic-indie festival by the beaches of Barcelona.
Tomorrowland
- 17th - 19th & 24th - 26th July 2026
- 138+
- 400,000 festivalgoers (combined)
- Boom, Belgium