Reading Festival, taking place 27th-30th August 2026, has undoubtedly one of its biggest line-ups to date, complemented by a rebrand and a focus on British and Irish acts. The August Bank Holiday weekend festival boasts six headliners, notably with a 50:50 gender split, including Charli XCX, Raye and Florence + The Machine. With over 100 artists playing at Richfield Avenue, it is easy to miss the artists making up the poster's small print, but here are a few of the artists who could be Reading Festival’s next headliners.
Chloe Qisha
With a sophisticated sound that blends alternative pop with carefully crafted lyrics, Qisha has new music on the way, releasing her third single of 2026 in May. With two songs featured on the viral new series Off Campus, Qisha is not an artist to sleep on. Named as one of mitb.’s 2026 “it girls”, the London-based singer makes every listener her best friend as confessional anecdotes are soundtracked by 80s pop inflexions.
Listen to: ‘YDH’
ADÉLA
BRAT green is rapidly becoming ADÉLA pink. Originally gaining popularity for her involvement in reality show Dream Academy, her debut EP, ‘The Provocateur’, was released in August last year. With a blend of grittiness and high-energy, dance-pop beats, it is unsurprising that her latest singles, ‘KGB’ and ‘Red Bottoms’, are already amassing millions of streams.
Listen to: ‘KGB’
Beth McCarthy
With an impressive ability to craft both heartbreaking ballads and sexy pop-rock tracks, McCarthy is going from strength to strength. Building a reputation for playful queer anthems and captivating live shows, McCarthy wears their heart on their sleeve in every lyric, inviting in a close-knit, yet ever-expanding, fan base.
Listen to: ‘Hey Handsome’
unpeople
A busy festival season this summer acts as a prelude to unpeople’s upcoming debut album, ‘we are unpeople’, set to release in October. The alternative four-piece serves as a reminder of Reading Festival’s intention to be a rock and alternative festival, with a discography fuelled by heavy guitar lifts lightened by punchy melodies.
Listen to: ‘the garden’
Florence Road
Irish four-piece, Florence Road, are swiftly becoming a familiar name and are set to gain even more fans from their Reading Festival appearance. Having supported both Olivia Rodrigo and Wolf Alice, they have discovered their spellbinding depth of sound and vulnerability, drawing listeners far beyond the indie-rock genre. Formed as childhood friends, their uninhibited musical and emotional understanding translates into an unmissable live set.
Listen to: ‘Hanging Out To Dry’
Reading Festival takes place at Richfield Avenue on 27-30 August 2026. Final tickets are available here.
Maisy Neale
@maisycreative