Reading and Leeds Festival is unveiling its biggest staging and arena overhaul in 37 years, introducing six new stages—The Grid, The Gallery, The Warehouse, The Canopy, The Ballroom, and The Yard (Leeds only)—to usher in the event’s next phase.

Tickets for the festival remain on sale via the official website.

Benn frames the changes as a collaborative, long-term plan with empowered leadership to sustain growth and relevance in a competitive live music landscape.

A shared headline lineup features Charli XCX, Fontaines D.C., Dave, RAYE, Florence + The Machine, and Chase & Status, along with acts such as Geese, Kneecap, Holly Humberstone, Skepta, Viagra Boys and more.

The Ballroom will be a chandeliers-and-draping stage designed for a diverse 2026 lineup, while The Canopy highlights emerging talent including Violet Grohl and Camille Blackman.

The overhaul aims to preserve festival community by upgrading on-site performance spaces and camping facilities to deliver memorable experiences and drive ongoing engagement with the brand.

The revamp aligns with licensing activity suggesting potential expansion, such as Reading pursuing an extra festival day in the near future.

Organizers stress these upgrades will elevate the experience and maintain strong artist lineups, with confidence about 2026’s bookings and multiple nights secured earlier than usual.

Planning continues for future additions beyond the initial overhaul, with the upgrade team energized about Reading & Leeds’ future.

The changes are designed to boost both artist exposure and fan experience, keeping the festival a premier platform for acts while preserving core musical continuity.

A broader demographic mix is targeted, with Vista (an over-21 campsite) expanding access for older attendees and a more inclusive approach to age groups.

Booking and programming leadership expands, with Ponnusamy, Kafka, and Mathiszig-Lee taking on enhanced responsibilities to drive the new phase.