2020 made festivals a fantasy, but this year, while a handful have been cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic, a solid amount are still going ahead. The hardest part is picking which one to go with, but whether you opt for a daytime boogie in the city or a camping festival further afield, you can be guaranteed a great time.
Ready to get grooving? We've rounded up a selection of the best UK music festivals that have confirmed a line-up for the remainder of 2021.
All Points East
When? August 27-30, 2021
Where? Victoria Park, London
Who’s playing? Jamie xx, London Grammar, Slowthai, Arlo Parks, Romy, Bicep, Foals, Bombay Bicycle Club, Tom Misch and more.
Held in London's leafy Victoria Park over three days on the August bank holiday weekend, All Points East boasts an impressive lineup with a focus on über cool alternative acts. Not to be missed if you're an east London cool kid.
We Out Here
When? August 19-22, 2021
Where? Abbots Ripton, Cambridgeshire
Who’s playing? Alfa Mist, Ezra Collective, Gilles Peterson, Yussef Dayes, Nubiyan Twist, Moses Boyd, Steam Down and more.
Joining the musical dots between soul, hip hop, house, afro, electronica and jazz, We Out Here is a celebration of various elements of UK club culture. It takes place over four days in a beautifully landscaped site in the heart of Cambridgeshire, with an emphasis on delicious food and drink, arts and cultural offerings, family activities and wellness.
Reading and Leeds Festival
When? August 27-29, 2021
Where? Reading, Berkshire and Leeds, West Yorkshire
Who's playing? Stormzy, Liam Gallagher, Biffy Clyro, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Post Malone, Disclosure and more.
Renowned as two of the best UK music festivals and a right of passage for festival-goers young and old, Reading Festival and its little sister Leeds have welcomed many a big-time music legend to the stage over the years, including the likes of New Order, Kendrick Lamar, Green Day, The Libertines and Bjork. This is guaranteed to be a weekend you won't forget.
Isle of Wight Festival
When? September 16-19, 2021
Where? Seaclose Park, Isle of Wight
Who’s playing? Liam Gallagher, Snow Patrol, David Guetta, Duran Duran, Tom Jones, Sam Fender and more.
Isle of Wight Festival is a legendary music festival that kicked off in the '60s and has hosted the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Who, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell and Jimi Hendrix. This year – as always – there will be a slew of big-draw musical acts alongside comedy, film screenings, theatre performances and a wide range of food. Sandy beaches and a charming coastal town serve as a picturesque backdrop.
Parklife
When? September 11-12, 2021
Where? Heaton Park, Manchester
Who’s playing? Megan Thee Stallion, Earl Sweatshirt, Skepta, Mabel, Jamie xx, Burna Boy, Peggy Gou, AJ Tracey and more.
Fusing pop, hip-hop, electronic and alternative music, Parklife hosts an eclectic mix of household names and rising stars. Held over three days in the vast greenery of Manchester's Heaton Park, it's the largest metropolitan music festival in the UK. Go for the music, stay for the good vibes.
Don't forget to pack some comfy drawstring shorts and a pair of minimalist sneakers.
