As soon as the leaves change colour, we turn our attention to the best festivals in the UK we can lock in for the following summer. There’s something special about festival season here, as we dust off our camping gear once the days grow longer and the first hints of summer arrive – even if a jacket and waterproofs are very wise additions to the packing list. Across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, fields and woodlands become temporary cities and stately homes open up their grounds to the biggest names in music and entertainment. From legendary festivals that draw international attention and place superstars on gargantuan stages to events that see emerging DJs spin tracks among the trees to intimate crowds, there’s something for everyone when it comes to UK festivals. Glastonbury commands the headlines – year-round, thanks to the ticket sale battle – but the country’s cultural calendar stretches far beyond Somerset’s famous fields. Whether you’re seeking a weekend of dancing beneath the stars, a thought-provoking cultural escape or an excuse to discover somewhere new, these are the best UK festivals worth pencilling in ahead of time.
The best festivals in the UK: at a glance
- Wilderness
- Creamfields
- End of the Road
- Boardmasters
- Houghton
- Reading and Leeds
- Boomtown
- Lost Village
- Latitude
- Isle of Wight
- Glastonbury
Wilderness Festival
Wilderness, Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
5 - 8 August 2027
Best for: Boutique bliss
2027 line-up: TBC
Don't miss: Banquet experiences led by top chefs
Wilderness has long been known as one of the best boutique festivals in the UK. Where else can you ease into the day at a morning yoga session before feasting on a celebrity chef’s fare in a banquet hall, then dancing the night away in a valley among technicolour strobe lights? Oh, not to forget leisurely afternoons swimming in the lake, getting out on a rowing boat or indulging in spa treatments between hot tub dips. It’s worth planning the packing list well in advance before Wilderness, as days come with themes that are worth getting involved in – we’ve spotted distressed wedding dresses and glittery bugs over the years. The boutique offering is also among the best out of the UK festivals. The showers, bathrooms and private dining areas are much appreciated between the festival chaos, and glamping options range from tipis to campervans and mini huts. It’s also one of the best UK festivals for families; there’s even a childminding service on-site.
Creamfields
Jack KimberCreamfields, Cheshire
26 - 29 August 2027
Best for: Hands-in-the-air dancing bliss
2027 line-up: The Prodigy, Josh Baker, Prospa
Don’t miss: The out-of-this-world production at some of the bigger stages
Creamfields celebrates 30 years of stellar electronic music line-ups in 2027, so we expect the biggest names in the industry in the festival’s booths. While there are the usual quieter spaces and quirky corners, Creamfields is primarily one for the ravers – of all ages, mind. Over the years, the likes of David Guetta, Martin Garrix and Calvin Harris have kept the party going late into the night, with strobe lights illuminating the dewy early hours.
End of The Road
Rachel Juarez-CarrEnd of the Road Festival, Wiltshire
3 - 6 September 2027
Best for: Natural mystics
2027 line-up: TBC
Don’t miss: Woodland comedy sets that see festivalgoers lounge around for sun-soaked belly laughs
End of the Road stands out as a true original in an age of commercial, carefully targeted festivals. Akin, perhaps, to Green Man Festival but a little noisier, this emerges from the undergrowth on a Salisbury estate where peacocks roam, and a sense of magical realism settles over the countryside for a long weekend. It’s expertly curated with impeccable attention to detail and a bagful of surprises – it’s adventurous and avant-garde while maintaining a real sense of community (the kids will love it as much as their parents).
Boardmasters, Cornwall
Andrew WhittonBoardmasters, Cornwall
4 - 8 August 2027
Best for: Beachside partying
2027 line-up: TBC
Don’t miss: The chance to take to the waves between the musical action with recommended local surf schools
This beachside festival attracts a younger crowd looking to dance the days and nights away on the pristine sands of Cornwall. Alongside the music – a mix of indie, rock, hip hop and dance – there are tons of activities to inspire outdoorsy types (kayaking, coastal runs, surf lessons), plus wellbeing workshops and yoga sessions. When you need some calm, simply find a quiet spot on the beach and kick back. Alternatively, local venues and pop-ups keep the party going late into the night with silent discos and after-parties.
Houghton
Houghton Festival, Norfolk
5 - 8 August 2027
Best for: Exemplary sound systems and DJ sets to match
2027 line-up: TBC
Don't miss: The eclectic art scattered around the site, including the sculpture park
Founded by Craig Richards of legendary London club Fabric, Houghton has a vibe that’s firmly electronic, with a glittering selection of DJs and producers supplying underground house, techno, disco and leftfield grooves in a tucked-away forest paradise. The 24-hour music licence means you can operate on your own time schedule, whatever that might be – just remember to pace yourself to lessen the festival blues.
Reading Festival
Getty ImagesReading and Leeds Festivals
26 - 29 August 2027
Best for: Younger crowds
2027 line-up: TBC
Don’t miss: The cutting-edge Chevron Stage
Reading first launched in 1961 as the National Jazz Festival, making it one of the world's oldest popular music festivals. Since then, it's successfully adapted to new music tastes and trends and is bigger than ever. Reading Festival's little sister, Leeds launched in 1999, with the same acts performing on different days. It's a rite of passage for younger festival-goers in particular, as they pile in after the release of GCSE and A Level results.
Boomtown Fair, Hampshire
Jody HartleyBoomtown Fair, Hampshire
12 - 16 August 2027
Best for: Experiential adventuring
2027 line-up: TBC
Don’t miss: ‘The Story’ – feel completely immersed in the Boomtown tale by picking up a Daily Rag newspaper
Some festivals have a bit of a theme – then there’s Boomtown. This wonderland of an event goes so deep into its ever-evolving immersive plot that it’s difficult to know where the story stops and where reality begins, particularly after partying with the gleefully chaotic hordes for a few days. The result is a brilliantly imaginative experience that’s as much about production, performers and being part of the many ‘districts’ as it is about the music, which goes in heavy on beats and bass, alongside dub, reggae, soul, disco and some punky live acts.
Lost Village
Samantha MilliganLost Village, Lincolnshire
26 - 29 August 2027
Best for: Exploratory raving
2027 line-up:
Don't miss: The energy garden, with hot tubs, Finnish sauna, massage and yoga sessions
There are plenty of festivals where you can wander through a forest, but none quite like Lost Village, where you’ll encounter abandoned houses and vehicles, old airports, eerie woodland trails and other mysterious scenes. If you prefer to relax rather than roam, there are banquets, an extensive wellness programme, comedy, talks, interviews, and free workshops. Music at Lost Village is about making people move, so expect top DJs and energetic live acts. Go off-map for a host of surprises – the deeper into the forest you go, the more you can immerse yourself in a meticulously crafted universe.
Latitude
Sarah KouryLatitude, Suffolk
22 - 25 July 2027
Best for: Laidback fun
2027 line-up: TBC
Don't miss: The lavish lounge arena for art and film installations, luxurious treats and sofas to relax on and take in the DJ sets
Insider tip: Don’t just swim in the lake – get a stand-up paddle-boarding taster lesson
Latitude radiates a relaxed, inclusive air, a great choice for families and everyone else. Performing arts are a big part of the festival and the music, so expect to find great comedy, poetry and literary readings. 2027 sees various award-winning performers take to various stages, meaning something for every type of festival-goer. And don’t forget to make the most of the lush woodland setting, which is perfect for returning to nature. Food is a big part of the festival, with various global dishes on offer.
Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight Festival
17 - 20 June 2027
Best for: Stadium-filling artists
2027 line-up: TBC
Insider tip: Add a few days on either side of the festival to explore the island’s foodie charms
Steeped in musical history thanks to the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell and The Doors playing there back in 1970, the Isle of Wight Festival leans more toward big-draw names rather than counterculture legends these days, but it remains a massive event nonetheless. Aside from the music, you’ll find comedy, film screenings, theatre performances, a wide range of food and plenty to keep families happy.
Glastonbury, Somerset
Getty ImagesGlastonbury, Somerset
23 - 27 June 2027
Best for: Ticking off an über-festival from the wish list
2027 line-up: TBC
Don’t miss: Shangri-La; a wild, anarchic party universe of its own, with performance, art, satire and all-night DJ sets
If you didn’t secure tickets this October – join the club – then this may feel like rubbing salt into the wound. However, there’s still the resale to come, and it wouldn’t feel like a complete list of the best festivals in the UK without name-dropping the one that steals the spotlight every summer. There’s so much to discover on Worthy Farm that every year is an opportunity to discover something new tucked away in the corner of a field. The rumour mill starts spinning well ahead of time – Harry Styles, Sam Fender and Madonna are among the names going round for 2027 – and the festival sells out in minutes, months before any headliners are announced. There are a limited number of tipis on-site, although glamping options are primarily based off-site in the surrounding fields.