UK festivals 2024: music events and line-ups this summer, from Boardmasters to Mucky Weekender

Lost Village emerged as one of highlights of the festival season  (Lost Village)
Lost Village emerged as one of highlights of the festival season (Lost Village)

Festival season is finally upon us, and there’s never been a better time to make last-minute summer plans.

The UK provides plenty of choice when it comes to festivals, with every type of music fan catered to across the country – whether you're a hardcore rocker or raver, or someone who fancies something more tranquil.

Stuck for where to begin? We've created a comprehensive guide to all of the top UK festivals on offer, regularly updated with artists and ticket prices to assist your eager hunt for your year's plans.

Here's our big guide to UK festivals in 2024:

Boardmasters

Beginning its days as a UK surfers competition, this Newquay-based five-day beach bash has become one of the hottest tickets of the festival season.

When? August 7-11

Where? Newquay, Cornwall

Who’s on the line-up? Stormzy, Chase & Status, Becky Hill, Bicep, Chroma, Tom Odell, Nia Archives, Kenya Grace, Sam Fender, Katy B, Songer, Andy C, Katy B, Overmono, Kate Nash, Los Bitchos, Royel Otis, Bakar, Issey Cross, A.M.C & Phantom and more.

Tickets: Friday and Sunday day tickets still available from £85; boardmasters.com

Boomtown

With mega stage productions accompanying the thumping sounds of drum and bass and techno pumped out at this five-day extravaganza, this has to be one of the most surreal festivals in the calendar. Be sure to snap tickets up soon.

When? August 7-11

Where? Winchester, Hampshire

Who’s on the line-up? TBC

Tickets: Tickets are now sold out; boomtownfair.co.uk

Houghton Festival

Crafted by London-based DJ Craig Richards, Houghton is a festival like no other, with its stunning stage designs and light displays offering a big draw for dance music fans. Past line-ups have been packed with the most exciting DJs on the scene.

When? August 8-11

Where? Houghton Hall, Norfolk

Who’s on the line-up? Adam Shelton, Surgeaon (live), Felix Dickinson, Steffi, Dr Banana, Sherelle, Alex Downey, Partok, James Massiah (live), Gigi FM, Horsemeat Disco, Move D, Mr Scruff, Anna Wall, OR:LA, Pangaea, Awkward Moments (live), Actress (live) and more.

Tickets: General admission still available £297.50; houghtonfestival.co.uk

Live from the Yard

Live from the Yard is a new festival that is set to host up to 16,000 people and feature a range of live music concerts across one August weekend.

When: Aug 8-11

Where: Zebedee’s Yard, Hull

Who’s on the line-up: Calum Scott, Ocean Colour Scene, Ministry of Sound Classical and Razorlight

Tickets: Tickets are still available for the individual events, from £16.80; livefromtheyard.co.uk

We Out Here

We Out Here is broadcaster Gilles Peterson’s award-winning weekender, which is perhaps why the festival’s music is always on point. With a packed roster of live music acts as well as club DJs, plus a programme of family-friendly and wellness activities, the 2024 edition is set to continue its winning ways, following its recent move to Dorset.

When? August 15-18

Where? Wimborne St Giles, Dorset

Who’s on the line-up? Floating Points, André 3000, Mount Kimbie, Sampha, Mala, Mansur Brown, Yaya Bey, Mansur Brown, aja monet, Nana Benz du Togo, Moses Yoofee Trio, Lonnie Holley, aja monet, CASISDEAD, Thandii, Joy Orbison, Asha Puthli (all live) and more.

Tickets: Final release tickets are still available, from £275; weoutherefestival.com

Green Man

Green Man is one of the festival season’s top picks, spanning multiple genres, with a programme that covers everything from comedy to science. 2024’s edition sold out in what appears to be record time even before the line-up is announced, but keep an eye on the official resale site Fanticks just in case.

When? August 15-18

Where? Crickhowell, South Wales

Who’s on the line-up? Sampha, Big Thief, Jon Hopkins, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Arlo Parks, Ezra Collective, Mount Kimbie, Devendra Banhart, Nadine Shah, Fat White Family, Julia Holter, Omar Souleyman, Joy Orbinson, Max Cooper (live AV), John Maus, Bar Italia, Royel Otis, Metz, Lambrini Girls, Sherelle, Lime Garden, Hannah Holland and more.

Tickets: Sold out; greenman.net

Beautiful Days

This superb family-friendly rock and folk festival, which was founded by Brighton folk-rock band the Levellers in 2003, has been heralded for rejecting corporate sponsoring and branding, and for its large and imaginative children’s areas.

When: August 16-18

Where: Escot park, Devon

Who’s on the line-up: The Saw Doctors, Richard Ashcroft,the  Levellers, The Damned, New Model Army, Toyah & Robert, Fisherman’s Friends, This Is The Kit, System 7, Utah Saints, DJ Rap, King Kong Company and more.

Tickets: Now sold out; beautifuldays.org

Hardwick Festival

The three-day family music event is the largest greenfield festival in the Northeast of England with a capacity of 10,000. It promises to keep all entertained: there are various smaller stages for DJs, brass bands, comedy shows and children’s programmes running alongside the Main Stage and Discovery Stage.

When: Aug 17-19

Where: Hardwick Hall, Durham

Who’s on the line-up: Becky Hill, Snow Patrol, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Jack Savoretti, Richard Ashcroft, Crazy P Soundsystem, Eats Everything and many more.

Tickets: Tier two weekend tickets still available, from £194.25. Friday day tickets from £66.15; hardwickfestival.co.uk

All Points East

All Points East takes over Victoria Park in east London for another year of day-festivals. Previous editions have showcased some of the biggest names in music across multiple genres.

When? Weekend August 16, 17, 18, August 23, 24

Where? Victoria Park, London

Who’s on the line-up?

August 16: Kaytranada, Victoria Monét, Thundercat, Lancey Foux, Channel Tres, Amaarae, Jyoty (tier five tickets available from £96.55)

August 17: Loyle Carner, Nas, Ezra Collective, Sainté, Joe James, Enny, Navy Blue (tier five tickets available from £85.55)

August 18: Mitski, Beabadoobee, TV Girl, Ethel Cain, Arlo Parks, Sir Chloe, Wasia Project, Infinity Song (tier five tickets available from £85.55)

August 23: LCD Soundsystem, Jai Paul, Pixies, Floating Points, Jockstrap, Nation of Language, Sofia Kourtesis, Eyedress, Vagabon (tier five tickets available from £85.55)

August 25: The Postal Service & Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists, Phoenix, Gossip, Sleather-Kinney, Yo La Tengo, Teenage Fanclub (tier three tickets available from £74.45)

allpointseastfestival.com

Shambala Festival

Spend four days over the Bank Holiday under the stars revelling in a wild experience of entertainment from cabaret and circus shows to over 200 music acts, interactive theatre, stand-up comedy and soul-stirring poetry.

When: August 22-25

Where: Secret Country Estate, Northamptonshire

Who’s on the line-up: Al The Beat Maker, Alaska, Bryan G, Randolph Matthews, Honeyfeet, Stacey Cohen, Hun Grrr and many more.

Tickets: Tier three tickets still available from £297.45; shambalafestival.org

Field Day

East London staple all-dayer Field Day has been a fixture of the city since 2007, and excluding a couple of years at other venues, it’s mostly taken place in Hackney’s Victoria Park. This year’s 17th edition will be headlined by French dance duo Justice.

When? August 24

Where? Victoria Park, Hackney

Who’s on the line-up? Justice, PinkPantheress, 2manydjs, Yves Tumor, Yaeji, Mura Masa (live), Romy (live), Brutalismus 3000, Bambii, Shygirl presents Club Shy, Skin on Skin & KETTAMA and more.

Tickets: Tier five tickets still available from £80.00; fielddayfestivals.com

Lost Village

Described last year by the Standard as “baby Glastonbury” this Lincolnshire party is one of the UK’s standout boutique forest fests thanks to its immersive attention to detail. “Overall, Lost Village is best summed up by its tagline: “those on the outside will never understand.” You have to admit, it feels akin to the way people talk about the antics over at Worthy Farm each year,” we wrote in our review of last year’s edition.

When? August 22 -25 August

Where? Norton Disney, Lincolnshire

Who’s on the line-up? Maribou State (live), Floating Points, The Blessed Madonna, Jyoty, Folamour, Ben UFO, Fatima Yamaha (live), Job Jobse, Solomun, SG Lewis, Flight Facilities, Yaeji (live), Neil Frances (live), SBTRKT (live), Midland, Âme b2b TRIKK, Hudson Mohawke, HAAi, System Olympia, Sofia Kourtesis (live), Pangaea, Ross From Friends and Shanti Celeste b2b Peach and more.

Tickets: Resale tickets available from £330; lostvillage.com

Creamfields

Always one of the biggest dance music festivals on the calendar, Creamfields is a sure-fire gathering of some of the best-known DJs on the world circuit - and this summer, they're unveiling a brand new 30,000 capacity indoor stage called APEX

When? August 22-25

Where? Daresbury, Cheshire

Who’s on the line-up? Calvin Harris, Jamie Jones, Sub Focus, Tiësto, Peggy Gou, Fatboy Slim, Dimension, Charlie Sparks, Barry Can’t Swim, Solomun, Pete Tong, Franky Wah, Eric Prydz, Charlotte de Witte and more.

Tickets: Tickets with camping still available from £260.00; creamfields.com

The Long Road

The Long Road transports you to the States with its BBQ food, Kentucky bourbon masterclasses, a Honky-tonk bar, and an exciting line-up of country music stars. Expect a “hot wing eating, hard liquor drinking and foot stomping community of music lovers,” says the festival.

When: August 23-25

Where: Stanford Hall, Leicestershire

Who’s on the line-up: Russell Dickerson, Flatland Cavalry, Wyatt Flores, American Aquarium, Chapel Hart, Red Clay Strays, Randall King, Colbie Caillat, Brittney Spencer, Andrew Combs, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Kristian Bush, Sugarland, Pokey Lafarge and more.

Tickets: Final tier tickets available from £200; thelongroad.com

Big Feastival

Now in its 13th year, the Big Feastival returns on Bank Holiday, with a promise to deliver a blend of good music and good food from acclaimed chefs. The festival will be hosted by Blur bassist Alex James at his  rustic Cotswolds farm, where you will find an array of taste bud-tingling street food to satisfy every craving while you listen to this year’s incredible line-up of performers.

When: August 23-25

Where: Kingham, The Cotswolds

Who’s on the line-up: So far, Ella Henderson, Becky Hill, Snow Patrol, Cat Burns, Natasha Bedingfield, Kate Nash, Scouting for Girls, The Florentinas, The Cuban brothers, Jalen Ngonda, Cian Ducrot, CMAT, Joel Corry and more.

Tickets: Weekend tickets sold out, day tickets still available from £95.00; thebigfeastival.com

Rally

After a soggy but successful inaugural year at Southwark park in 2023, RALLY is back again; and though details of the bill are still under wraps, once again the general focus is on booking left-field choices and acts with underground or DIY credentials.

When? August 24

Where? Southwark Park, London

Who’s on the line-up? Mount Kimbie (live), Actress (live), Nilüfer Yanya, bar italia, Sorry, DJ Marcelle, Call Super and many more.

Tickets: Second release tickets available from £52.30; rallyrallyrally.co.uk

Body Movements

Returning for its fourth edition, the LGBTQ+-focused dance festival is bringing over 50 artists to the stage this year to its new playground in Southwark Park. Among the exciting line-up of performers to look forward to is the festival’s co-founder, Dublin DJ and producer Saoirse.

When: August 25

Where: Southwark Park

Who’s on the line-up: COBRAH (Live), Confidence Man,  Harry Gay, Or:la,  Peach, Pxssy Palace, Saoirse, Shanti Celeste, TAAHLIAH, and many more.

Tickets: Final release (entry before 12:30pm) tickets available from £51.10 and before 2:30pm, £66.00; bodymovements.co.uk

Reading and Leeds

A rite of passage for British festival-goers, these two festivals - which take place over the same weekend, and share a line-up - often feel like a sort of Spring Break style event for hedonistic school-leavers, and are always among the biggest on the UK calendar.

When? August 21-25

Where? Bramham Park, Wetherby (Leeds Festival), Little John’s Farm, Reading (Reading Festival)

Who’s on the line-up?

Reading:

Friday: Blink-182, Gerry Cinnamon, Spiritbox

Saturday: Fred Again.., Lana Del Rey, Raye, Digga D

Sunday: Liam Gallagher, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Skrillex

Leeds:

Friday: Liam Gallagher, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Skrillex

Saturday: Blink-182, Gerry Cinnamon, Spiritbox

Sunday: Fred Again.., Lana Del Rey, Raye, Digga D

Tickets: Weekend tickets from £325.00, readingandleedsfestival.com

Manchester Pride Festival

Manchester Pride Festival brings a “party as protest” ethos, and in the past, huge names in music have flocked to the city for the weekend. Even with the star power they attract (yes, Ariana Grande headlined!), the core message of equality is never lost.

When? August 23-26

Where? Canal Street, Manchester

Who’s on the line-up? Angie Brown, Charlieeeee, DJ Paulette, Ghetto Fabulous, Queer Stage Revolution, JSKY, Lauren Lo Sung, Michelle McKenna (Platnum), Mix-Stress, Pecs: Black is King, Rozalla, Stephani B and The Enby Show.

Tickets: Weekend tickets from £49.25; manchesterpride.com

Victorious

Down on the south coast, this Portsmouth festival consistently draws in some big names, covering rock, Britpop, indie rock, and more.

When? August 23-25

Where? Southsea, Portsmouth

Who’s on the line-up? Fatboy Slim, Snow Patrol, Biffy Clyro and Jamie T headline this year's festival. Wet Leg, Yard Act, Arlo Parks, Louis Tomlinson, and Holly Humberstone will also play.

Tickets: Weekend tickets from £225.00; victoriousfestival.co.uk

Eastern Electrics

This dance music festival moved up to Lee Valley Showground for its 2022 edition, bringing some floor-filling DJs with it.

When? August 24

Where? Lee Valley Showground, London

Who’s on the line-up? Jamie Jones, Skream b2b Sosa, Barry Can’t Swim, The Martinez Brothers, Crazy P, Denis Sulta, Joseph Capriati, Seth Troxler, Kerri Chandler, Groove Armada (DJ set), Sven Väth, Âme (live), Bedouin and more.

Tickets: Final release from £65.95; easternelectrics.com

Forwards Festival

This inner-city music festival, which debuted last year, boasts three stages and some major international acts. As well as its music performances, Forwards hosts a discussion space, titled The Information, where creatives, writers and thinkers come together to speak about difficult issues such as food poverty and the black experience.

When? August 31 - September 1

Where? Clifton Downs, Bristol

Who’s on the line-up? Loyle Carner, Four Tet, Maribou State, Floating Points, Romy and Yussef Dayes are among the acts on Saturday’s bill, while Sunday features LCD Soundsystem, Jessie Ware, Yard Act, CMAT, Baxter Dury and more.

Tickets: Weekend tickets still available from £137.84; forwardsbristol.co.uk

End of the Road

Another multi-disciplinary delight spanning the spectrum of music, comedy, literature, film and beyond, the festival is back for 2024 with a typically on-point line-up that sets it apart from the rest of the crowd.

When? August 29-September 1

Where? Larmer Tree Gardens, Salisbury

Who’s on the line-up? IDLES, Slowdive, Fever Ray, Bonnie Prince Billy, Yo La Tengo, Sleater-Kinney, Lankum, Baxter Dury, Jockstrap, CMAT, English Teacher, Sprints, NewDad, HotWax, Heaertworms, Gently Tender, and many more.

Tickets: Weekend tickets (including camping) still available from £270.30; endoftheroadfestival.com

Mucky Weekender

This small but mighty festival, which is named after the Dub Pistols song, was set up by the band in 2019 as a way to connect with their fans. It’s been a blast ever since, with the Dub Pistols showcasing some of their favourite acts – headliners have included Mungo’s HiFi, The Selecter, Hollie Cook and The Hempolics. And with this year’s event titled The Mad Hatters Tea Party, it’s set to be more bonkers fun.

When? September 5-7

Where? Vicarage farm, Winchester

Who’s on the line-up? The Dualers, Dub Pistols, Dreadzone, Dutty Moonshine Big Band, Congo Natty, Marshall Jefferson, LTJ Bukem, Micky Finn, London Electricity, General Levy, Dynamite MC, Leeroy Thornhill, Dr Meaker, Beans On Toast and many more.

Tickets: Tier two tickets available from £155; mucky-weekender.co.uk

Reminisce Festival

This feel-good nostalgia-fest, located near Liverpool, usually comes with a fun line-up of artists: last year, they hosted Vengaboys, Love Inc, and Boyzone and Westlife supergroup Boyzlife.

When? September 7

Where? Sherdley Park, St. Helens

Who’s on the line-up? DJ Sammy, Basshunter, Deedee, Jonny Crane, Tommy MC, Chesney Hawkes, Awesome 3, Rozalla and many more.

Tickets: Standard tickets still available from £90, reminiscefestival.com

Maiden Voyage

A relatively new arrival on the London scene, Maiden Voyage is run by the same people who helm the Jazz Cafe in Camden. The venue’s focused eclecticism is matched on the festival’s line-up.

When? September 14

Where? London

Who’s on the line-up? Arca (live), Adonis, Lady Shaka, Young Marco, Tai Lokum, Hunee, James Newmarch, DJ Gigola, Bitter Babe and more.

Tickets: Final release (entry before 6pm) £65.95; maiden-voyage.co.uk