The iconic Reading Festival is plotting its biggest move yet – a seismic shift that could rewrite the rulebook on the UK's most revered music events. Organisers have submitted an application to Reading Borough Council to revolutionise the festival, extending it from three days to four with the introduction of Thursday evening performances. The main stage will be alive with amplified music from 5pm until midnight, transforming what was once a quiet day into a pulsating prelude to the weekend's mayhem.
Get ready for a longer and louder Reading Festival from 2027, if this ambitious plan gets the green light! The event would finally be on par with its sibling in Leeds, which has had permission to rock out on Thursdays since day one. This year, Leeds Festival is giving it a go, with Kasabian headlining the main stage on Thursday night – a tantalising taste of what's to come if Reading gets the nod.
This summer's festivals in Reading and Leeds are already making waves, boasting some of the most extensive staging and arena overhauls in their history. The Little John's Farm site in Reading will play host to up to six stages, including the revamped Main Stage (now rebranded as The Grid) – a technological tour-de-force featuring state-of-the-art LED screens. Meanwhile, new additions like The Gallery and The Warehouse promise an electrifying experience for dance music fans.
But that's not all – Reading Festival is also introducing cutting-edge stages like The Ballroom and The Canopy to give up-and-coming artists a platform. And in a bold move, the festival will debut The Yard, an open-air industrial-style stage situated amidst shipping containers, guaranteeing a unique sonic experience for attendees.