Green fields, great bands, joyous atmospheres and air temperatures that make sleeping in a tent bearable (and, yes, let's ignore the muddy years). We might be biased, but nowhere in the world does outdoor music festivals quite like the UK.
Listed in alphabetical order, here are our 11 picks for 2026, including world-famous options, boutique wonders and folk favourites. Just don't forget your tent.
Must-visit music and folk festivals in Britain
Beautiful Days
Ottery St Mary, Devon. 21-23 August 2026
For me, the Levellers played one of the great Glastonbury gigs in 1994, coming on after Rage Against the Machine to produce an unforgettable Friday night under the Pyramid lights (especially for an impressionable 13-year-old).
And, if politically charged folk rock is your thing, they're still one of the UK’s most joyous live acts; still touring each year to sold-out gigs across the country and still delivering the singalongs – One Way, Another Man’s Cause and Liberty Song to name but three – from the classic Levelling the Land album.
Held in Devon since 2003, the Levellers' own Beautiful Days festival at Escot Park near Ottery St Mary is a celebration of folk, reggae and punk-leaning music, with the lack of corporate sponsorship or branding all part of the ethos (the Glastonbury-bashing Neil Young would have little to quibble with here).
It’s also hugely welcoming and family friendly, with theatre stages, youth workshops and more. Not forgetting the winning beer from the local Otter Brewery.
The capacity of 17,500 also feels like a festival sweetspot – big enough to create an atmosphere, but not too big that you’re queueing for the toilets for an hour. An adult weekend camping ticket is £210 for 2026.
Between the Trees
Merthyr Mawr, South Wales. 27-30 August 2026
If ever a festival sounded like a hit with BBC Countryfile Magazine fans it’s Between the Trees, which describes itself as: ‘all about reconnecting people, of all ages, with the natural world. It blends the enjoyment of indie-folk music with science and nature, spoken word, dance and the arts’. All that's missing is a DJ set from John Craven.
Now in its eighth year, the festival is set in the 100 acres of Candleston Woods, which is adjacent to the Merthyr Mawr National Nature Reserve and its mighty sand dunes and sweep of gorgeous sand. Both day and weekend tickets are available, with adult weekend tickets starting at £180.
The full lineup is yet to be revealed, but it’s about so much more than the music, with forest bathing, holistic massage, foraging walks, creative arts, a ‘slip-n-slide’ and much more on offer over the August bank holiday weekend. There’s also barely any phone signal, meaning you can truly escape from work emails and those loft insulation calls for a weekend at least.
Camp Bestival
Lulworth Castle, Dorset. 30 July – 2 August 2026
Held since 2008 in Dorset, Camp Bestival from Radio 1 DJ Rob Da Bank has long been one of the UK’s essential family-friendly festivals.
Comedy shows, literature programmes, a vast children’s area, workshops and more are all held within the castle grounds, with star performers in 2026 including a Fatboy Slim & Friends Takeover (the full lineup is coming soon).
General camping, boutique options and campervans are all available within the 30,000-capacity site (a Tier 3 adult ticket is £243). The Lulworth Castle location in the Isle of Purbeck is another reason to venture to Camp Bestival, with the magnificent Durdle Door beach just a 10-minute drive away.
End of the Road
Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset. 3-6 September 2026
Cherished equally for Simon Taffe’s discerning indie line-up and its beatific site at Larmer Tree Gardens, End of the Road keeps those in the know coming back year after year. A regular award-winner and regular sellout, it's one of the UK’s festival success stories that’s beloved by its punters and acts alike for its atmosphere and beauty.
The 13,500-capacity event takes place at the lovely Larmer Tree Gardens on the Dorset and Wiltshire border in late August/early September each year, with the lineup often a mix of critically adored and eclectic guitar bands, alt-country acts and folk musicians.
2026’s headliners include Irish star CMAT (more below) and the resurgent Pulp, whose More was one of 2025's most acclaimed albums, with the full lineup set to be revealed soon.
Away from the music, there’s comedy, cinema, literature events, art galleries, games areas, woodland workshops, a forest and healing gardens, and a wealth of quality food trucks and bars. Tickets regularly sell out before the festival weekend (a Tier 4 adult camping ticket is £315), so you’ll need to get your skates on to buy a ticket.
Green Man
Crickhowell, Wales. 20-23 August 2026
In tough times for the UK music festival scene, the multi-award-winning Green Man is one of the heartening success stories. Tickets sell out faster than hot (Welsh) cakes, being gobbled up within hours of the festival going on sale in September (2026's edition is sold out but mark your diaries for 2027's release date), drawing plenty of discerning music lovers from Cardiff and Bristol and much further afield.
And what a line-up the festival regularly produces, with unforgettable sets in 2025's sun-drenched edition including US wonderkind MJ Lendermann, Friday headliners Wet Leg and a joyous Saturday night performance from Irish country-pop sensation CMAT (2026's lineup has yet to be revealed). Away from the music, there's also comedy, cabaret, a wealth of leading writers and talks, a packed schedule for kids, traditional crafts and more.
The Glanusk Estate and the surrounding Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) provide the majestic backdrop for this family-friendly festival, which is also known for its non-corporate and ethical ethos. It even has its own festival beer and cider, namely the Growler and Guzzler.
Knockengorroch
Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland. 21-24 May 2026
In with a healthy shout of having the most beautiful location of any music festival, Knockengorroch is set on the glistening Water of Deugh against a backdrop of south-west Scotland’s rugged mountain peaks.
Founded in 1998, the weekend festival in Dumfries & Galloway celebrates music from the Celtic diaspora, as well as global folk music, ska, reggae, jazz, dance music and more. Cabaret, spoken word, comedy and dance events also take place over the weekend, with the dance area staying open until 5am.
There are no shops, ATMs, petrol stations or urban ‘civilisation’ for 10 miles, which gives this a proper feeling of being in the wilderness. Dogs are welcome, too.
Priddy Folk Festival
Priddy, Somerset. 10-12 July 2026
Perched high in the Mendips Hills National Landscape, the Priddy Folk Festival is one of the friendliest festivals around. Aided no doubt by the fact it’s a charity venture entirely run by volunteers whose profits are channelled back into community causes.
The entertainment is always memorable as well, including an array of folk music acts, a children’s festival, maypole dancing and more, while the catering gets tastier and tastier each year. As does the local ale and cider from the bars.
There are also guided wildlife and archaeological walks into the Mendips, stalls selling clothes, handicrafts and a mix of ticketed and free events. Day or weekend tickets are available (adult weekend tickets start at £125) and camping is in the village of Priddy itself. We’ll see you around the maypole.
Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau
Dolgellau, Wales. 16-19 July 2026
Regularly attracting thousands of spectators to north-west Wales, Sesiwn Fawr offers a celebration of folk, Welsh and Celtic music, traditional Welsh dance, literature, children's activities, comedy and more in the pretty town of Dolgellau.
The festival celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022 and Dolgellau’s dramatic location in South Eryri (Snowdonia) is one of the many attractions of the weekend jamboree.
For the camping-agnostic amongst you, the town-based nature of the festival means you can stay in one of Dolgellau’s indoor establishments, although there are campsites relatively nearby. Full lineup TBC.
Shrewsbury Folk Festival
Shrewsbury, Shropshire. 28-31 August 2026
Held at the West Mid Showground near the banks of the River Severn since 2007, the Shrewsbury Folk Festival is a much-loved gem that celebrates traditional and contemporary folk music, roots and Americana.
Acts already announced for 2026’s August bank holiday edition include folk legend Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders, Cara Dillon and Ferocious Dog featuring The Celtic Folk Orchestra.
Again, there’s more than just main stage-action here, with ceilidhs, craft fairs, food stalls, a brilliant array of ales and ciders, and youth music programmes – my children loved the Shrewsbury experience in 2025 thanks to its musical instrument workshops, circus skills and friendly atmosphere.
Day, weekend and weekend camping tickets are available, with a weekend adult ticket starting at £231.
WOMAD
Neston Park, Wiltshire. 23-26 July 2026
Welcome news for 2026 – there’s a new UK home for long-running world music festival WOMAD in 2026. Co-founded by Peter Gabriel in Shepton Mallet in 1982, the event had been held at Charlton Park, Wiltshire, since 2007. After a year off for the UK edition in 2025 (there are many worldwide WOMADs as well), however, it will now burst back to life in the grounds of Neston Park, a nearby stately home, from 23-26 July.
The festival’s motto is Building Bridges Not Walls, so expect a colourful, feelgood and inclusive atmosphere. Full lineup set to be revealed soon.
Wychwood Festival
Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire. 29-31 May 2026
One of the first camping festivals of the season is Wychwood, held on the semi-rural surrounds of Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire since 2005.
Bands set for 2026 include the Kaiser Chiefs, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and indie legends The Wedding Present.
But music is only one part of the mix at this award-winning family-friendly fest. The annual Village Green programme features activities, circus skills, workshops and more for all the family, including silent discos. And if you want to exercise those vocal cords, look no further than the ‘Barrioke’ session with, yes, Barry from Eastenders.
An adult weekend camping ticket is £139.50 (Tier 2), while boutique and ‘park and pitch’ options are also available.
Main image: MJ Lenderman at Green Man 2025. Credit: Patrick Gunning
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