The Best UK Festivals To Look Forward To In 2026

Already got a Glastonbury-shaped hole in your calendar for 2026? Worthy Farm might be taking a break next year, but never fear – there are plenty of other UK festivals on the horizon to scratch that itch.

In fact, the UK is home to a mighty impressive festival scene from North to South: be it the fairly-new TRNSMT festival in Glasgow, the long-standing Reading and Leeds or the coastal Boardmasters festival, held at Watergate Bay in Newquay, Cornwall.

And it doesn’t stop at just (top-notch) music headliners, either – if food and wellness festivals are more your bag, you’ve got The Big Retreat in Pembrokeshire or the ever-popular Big Feastival in the Cotswolds. Basically, you’re spoiled for choice.

From the acclaimed big-name dance festivals (Creamfields, Boomtown) to the one-day, multi-genre favourites (All Points East) via sustainability-driven galas (Shambala), these are the very best UK festivals 2026 has in store…

Mighty Hoopla

Joseph Okpako/Getty Images

Best for: Camp classics and queer joy. First held in 2016 at a Butlins resort, Mighty Hoopla is all about celebrating the LGBTQ+ community – mainly hosting both contemporary and nostalgic pop acts as well as beloved drag stars. Performers and attendees call it ‘gay Christmas’, so that’s all you need to know really. (Plus, the 2026 line-up is all kinds of excellent, with Lily Allen making her UK festival return to perform West End Girl.)

Line-up: Lily Allen, Scissor Sisters, Trixie Mattel
Date: 30-31 May 2026
Location: Brockwell Park, London
Tickets left? Yes.

Creamfields

Paul Harness