Max SteventonFollowing a challenging few years for festival operators, there appears to be a renewed sense of optimism among many in the industry, with the 2026 summer season set to see the launch of both major new festivals and a string of boutique events across the UK.
According to research by the Association of Independent Festivals, the number of festivals in the UK fell from 900 in 2019 to 592 last year, largely due to the huge uplift in production costs, and stiff competition for artists.
At the dawn of 2026, there are forecasts of increased stability in the festival industry, with some events selling out in record time while other relative newcomers, including GemFest and The Brit Fest, are enjoying strong growth.
Here, we highlight the festivals set to debut this year:
Roundhay Festival
In September, AEG Presents revealed its plan to take its BST Hyde Park event model to Leeds. Roundhay Festival, named after its site, Roundhay Park, will take place from 3–4 July with a daily audience capacity of 65,000.
Headliners already unveiled for Leeds’ second major festival include Pitbull on 3 July, while Lewis Capaldi will top the bill on 4 July. As with BST Hyde Park, the event will be held in partnership with American Express.
Roundhay Park has hosted several major live music events in the past, including shows by the Rolling Stones, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen.
State Fayre
Organised by Live Nation’s Festival Republic, the 30,000-capacity new festival State Fayre has been hailed as the ‘UK’s largest music and BBQ festival’.
Located at Hylands Park in Chelmsford, the event is scheduled for 26–28 June. Kings of Leon, Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts, The Lumineers, and Elvis Costello all feature in the star-studded lineup for the inaugural festival.
WOMAD Glasgow
The long-running WOMAD festival brand will extend its reach to Scotland for the first time in early July.
The festival will debut at Kesingrove Park, Glasgow, which has a capacity of 8,000. The event will be produced in partnership with culture charity Glasgow Life, while Glaswegian world and folk festival Celtic Connections will help with programming.
Meanwhile, following a fallow year in 2025, England’s stalwart WOMAD edition will take place at a new site this summer; Neston Park in Corsham.
Where It All Began
Announced at the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) Congress last year, Where It All Began festival is the work of a collective of independent venue and festival operators.
Scheduled for 18-21 June, Where It All Began will be located in Cambridgeshire, using the same site as the Secret Garden Party.
Organisers of the festival, led by Chai Wallahs and Diplomats of Sound creative director Si Chai, said the aim of staging the event is to secure the future of grassroots music, venues and festivals.
The 8,000 capacity festival has the backing of several players in the industry including AIF, Save Our Scene, Music Venue Trust and Arts Council England, with a crowdfunding campaign launched in November last year.
Show of Hands
Show of Hands festival is Somerset’s newest independently-run festival, which is led by event director Alex Lane, previously of Truck Festival and Green Man.
The festival will be located on a 300-acre farm in Somerset, near the market town of Bruton, and will run across the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Described by organisers as a ‘brand new independent jazz, electronica and arts experience’, headliners include Lady Wray, Submotion Orchestra, and General Levy.
The Big Retreat Cambridgeshire
Another established festival brand branching out next year is The Big Retreat, which is set to expand to two events for 2026 with a new festival in Cambridgeshire joining the existing event held at Lawrenny, Pembrokshire.
The wellbeing and music event will make its Cambridgeshire debut on 11-13 September at Abbot Ripton, a site that has previously been home to other festivals including We Out Here.
The Big Retreat was founded by Amber Lort-Phillips and is independently-run by The Big Retreat Community CIC.
Blackbird Festival
Blackbird Festival, set to take place at Cardiff Castle, is the latest rock and metal festival launch in the UK.
Curated by American metal band Alter Bridge, the festival will form part of the TK Maxx Presents Depot Live series at Cardiff Castle that is promoted by Live Nation’s Cuffe and Taylor.
Playing alongside Alter Bridge are Skindred, Bush, and Florence Black, among others. The one day event is set for 27 June.
Blenheim Palace Festival
The arrival of Blenheim Palace Festival was announced last summer and is set to feature a packed lineup. Taking place at the historic UNESCO World Heritage site, it is scheduled for 27 June-4 July.
Organisers promise an “eclectic line-up of global superstars, award-winning artists, and emerging talent”. Among these are Pete Tong, Alanis Morissette, Teddy Swims, Katy Perry, Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts and Michael Buble.
It is produced through a collaboration between Cuffe & Taylor and event producers IMG Arts & Entertainment.
SMK Live
Stadium MK’s SMK Live is a one-day festival planned to take place on 27 June at Milton Keynes’ 30,000 capacity stadium.
The lineup features Ella Henderson, Clean Bandit and Basement Jaxx and will be promoted by both Stadium MK Group and Full Fat 360.
Stadium MK Group said SMK Live will be one event in a “packed programme of year-round live music”at the stadium.
Start of the Line
Start of the Line festival is a new one-day arts festival to be held at Morden Park, London, on 20 June.
Merton Council, which is organising and producing the event, said the aim is to build on the success of We Are Merton Festival in May 2025 which drew a crowd of 10,000. The full lineup is yet to be announced.
The Great British Farm Fest
The independently run The Great British Farm Fest will make its inaugural appearance this year at NAEC Stoneleigh, scheduled for 22–24 May.
The festival will offer a mixture of music and talks, with organisers aiming to reimagine the traditional British Farming Show. Headliners include Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Groove Armada (DJ set), while the likes of Jeremy Clarkson and Caleb Cooper will be involved in live talks and demonstrations.