Leeds Festival 2026 Adds Villanelle, December 10, Beth McCarthy – Leeds 2026

Key Points

• Leeds Festival has announced 13 new artists joining the 2026 lineup alongside both festival sites
• Villanelle, December 10, Beth McCarthy, After, JD Cliffe, Untitled, Alex Spencer, unpeople, SINN6R, 54 Ultra, Kibo, and Camille Blackman confirmed for both Reading and Leeds
• Leeds-specific additions include Dylan John Thomas, The Clause, M60, and 4AM Kru
• The festival runs Thursday 27–Sunday 30 August 2026 at Bramham Park, Leeds
• Headliners include Charli xcx, Fontaines D.C., RAYE, Dave, Florence + The Machine, and Chase & Status
• Kasabian will headline Thursday night exclusively at Leeds, with Blossoms making a special guest appearance
• Weekend camping tickets for Reading have sold out; Leeds camping tickets remain available
• A new dance arena called “The Warehouse” debuts in 2026 with dedicated club music programming
• Villanelle is a Manchester-based grunge revival rock trio formed in 2023
• December 10 is an English-Irish boy band formed on Simon Cowell’s Netflix series “The Next Act” in 2025
• Beth McCarthy is a York-based singer-songwriter who has played Latitude and Green Man festivals
• Weekend camping tickets cost £325 with camping from Thursday

Bramham Park (The Leeds Times) June 4, 2026 – Leeds Festival has unveiled a fresh wave of artist additions to its 2026 lineup, bringing 13 new acts to the already stacked bill that will perform over the August Bank Holiday weekend at Bramham Park.

As reported by Myles Smith of Dork, “Reading & Leeds has announced a fresh wave of additions to its 2026 line-up, with Villanelle, December 10, Beth McCarthy, After, Nine Vicious, JD Cliffe, Untitled, Alex Spencer, unpeople, SINN6R, 54 Ultra, Kibo and Camille Blackman all joining the bill”. The announcement confirms what festival-goers have been anticipating: even more fabulous artists will welcome to Leeds Festival over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Which Artists Are Performing at Leeds Festival 2026?

The newly announced acts join a headline lineup headed by Charli xcx, Fontaines D.C., RAYE, Dave, Florence + The Machine, and Chase & Status. According to Ticketmaster’s coverage, “Reading & Leeds has dropped a hefty second wave of names for its 2026 edition, adding more than 60 artists to an already stacked line-up topped by Charli xcx, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C. and RAYE”.

Festivalgoers can also catch sets from Sombr, Skepta, Gunna, Loyle Carner, Jade, Josh Baker, Geese, Kneecap, Kettama, Declan McKenna, Holly Humberstone, Maisie Peters and more, alongside a special guest appearance from Blossoms at Leeds Festival and a Thursday night headline set from Kasabian at Leeds.

What Makes This Lineup Different From Previous Years?

The 2026 edition represents one of the festival’s most expansive lineups, with over 60 new artists added across both festival sites. As noted in Ticketmaster’s analysis, the bill

“balances chart-topping headliners with club culture incursions and a deep bench of next-wave talent”.

The festival has also confirmed the debut of a new arena for 2026 – The Warehouse – a purpose-built space dedicated to dance music promising “a full club experience” with high-spec sound and immersive lighting.

What Do We Know About Villanelle?

Villanelle are a UK rock trio formed in summer 2023 in Manchester, consisting of Gene Gallagher (vocals and guitar), Ben Taylor (guitar), and Jack Schiavo (bass). According to Eventim, “They emerged during a fresh wave of grunge revivalism, combining raw authenticity with visceral energy to bring a bold new voice to the modern rock scene”.

Their debut single “Hinge” (2025) marks Villanelle’s entry into the music world, with their debut EP “Measly Means” released on May 6, 2026. The band draws influence from Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, My Bloody Valentine, Dinosaur Jr, and The Who.

Who Is December 10?

December 10 is an English–Irish boy band formed on Simon Cowell’s Netflix series, “The Next Act” in 2025. Their debut single “Run My Way” reached the top 75 of the UK Singles Chart. The band members are Cruz Lee-Ojo, Danny Bretherton, Hendrick Christoffersen, John Fadare, Josh Olliver, Nicolas Alves, and Sean Hayden.

According to Universal Music NZ,

“They’re very much their own lads, though, and are ushering in a thrilling new phase of pop music together”.

Who Is Beth McCarthy?

Beth McCarthy is a York-based singer-songwriter whose genre spans singer-songwriter, acoustic, and pop. She has appeared on prime-time television in front of an audience of 10 million viewers and has been mentored by Kaiser Chiefs’ frontman Ricky Wilson.

McCarthy has completed two tours of the UK and played numerous festivals including Latitude and Green Man, with support slots alongside The Orchestra (formerly E.L.O), Nizlopi, and Shed Shed Seven. Her music

“mixes personal lyrics with atmospheric electronics and textured pop/rock arrangements that reflect influences like Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding”.

What Are the Leeds-Specific Additions?

The update also brings site-exclusive performances. As reported by Dork, “Leeds Festival has added Dylan John Thomas, The Clause, M60 and 4AM Kru, while Reading Festival will host exclusive sets from Fiona-Lee, Ceebo and KING BOOO!”.

This means Leeds attendees will have access to four additional acts not performing at Reading, adding extra value to the Leeds-specific experience.

How Does Ticket Availability Stand for Leeds Festival 2026?

Reading Festival weekend camping tickets have now sold out, while weekend camping tickets for Leeds Festival remain available. According to Leeds Ticket Hub,

“Weekend tickets allow access to campsites from Thursday, 27th August 2026 until close of campsite on Monday, 31st August 2026 – and access to the Arena on all show days”.

Weekend Camping Ticket price is £325.00, with camping included from Thursday. A maximum of 4 tickets per person and per household applies, with tickets in excess of 4 being cancelled.

What Are the Age Requirements?

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult ticket holder aged 18 or over who must remain on site throughout the weekend as the under 16-year-old’s guardian.

No unaccompanied under 16s are allowed on site. Under 13s (12 years and under) are admitted free without a ticket but must be accompanied by a paying ticket-holder aged 18 or over at all times (maximum 2 children per adult).

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Where Is Leeds Festival Located and What Accommodation Options Exist?

Leeds Festival takes place at Bramham Park, Leeds, LS23 6ND, a historic estate around ten miles east of Leeds city centre. According to Premier Inn,

“Some of the closest hotels to Leeds Festival include our Premier Inn York South West hotel and our Premier Inn Leeds East hotel, both a 20-minute drive away”.

Just a 30-minute drive away from Bramham Park, you’ll find Premier Inn York North West hotel, Premier Inn Leeds City Centre (Leeds Arena) hotel, Premier Inn Harrogate South hotel, and Premier Inn York City (Blossom St North) hotel. Early booking is recommended due to high attendance.

What Else Is New at Reading & Leeds 2026?

Beyond the headline-grabbing additions, the latest drop digs deep into emerging talent across genres. According to Ticketmaster, YT, Niko B, Bassvictim, bar italia, SPEED, Frost Children, Clementine Douglas, Jane Remover, and dexter in the newsagent add further depth to the lineup.

The bill stretches into a new generation of acts with Cruz Beckham and The Breakers, Violet Grohl, and The Guest List appearing alongside buzzy newcomers including Mulaa Joans, Amma, Day We Ran, and People I’ve Met.

What Is the Background of This Development?

Reading and Leeds Festival 2026 is a UK music festival held over the August Bank Holiday weekend from Thursday 27 August to Sunday 30 August 2026 across Reading’s Richfield Avenue and Leeds’ Bramham Park. The festival has revealed a brand new update for 2026, including six major headliners and a stage change on the Leeds Festival site.

The first wave of six headlining performers was unveiled in December 2025, with Charli XCX, Dave, RAYE, Fontaines DC, Florence and Machine, and Chase and Status confirmed as the primary headliners. Kasabian was confirmed as a Thursday night exclusive headliner for Leeds, adding value for early attendees.

The 2026 edition comes during Glastonbury’s fallow year, meaning many festival-goers without Glastonbury options are turning to Reading and Leeds. As noted in Skiddle’s coverage,

“Reading and Leeds Festival looks primed to attract many a music fanatic, and with the headliner’s almost reading like a Glastonbury bull, many of those would be attendees without anywhere to go in it’s fallow year”.

The festival has undergone a 2026 rebrand with stage updates and the introduction of The Warehouse, a purpose-built dance arena. This represents a clear push into late-night territory with underground and crossover club sounds.

How Will This Development Affect Leeds Festival-Goers?

For Leeds festival-goers, the addition of 13 new artists across both sites plus four Leeds-exclusive acts significantly expands the value proposition. With Reading weekend camping tickets sold out, Leeds becomes the more accessible option for those seeking weekend camping experiences.

The diverse genre representation means attendees across musical preferences will find their moment. As Rockshot Magazine noted,

“The lineup balances chart-topping pop, hard-hitting rock, rap, and genre-bending newcomers, ensuring that every festival-goer finds their moment”.

For music discovery enthusiasts, the deep bench of emerging talent offers significant value. The inclusion of grunge revival acts like Villanelle, boy band pop from December 10, and singer-songwriter content from Beth McCarthy demonstrates the festival’s commitment to genre diversity.

The new Warehouse arena specifically targets dance music fans with a full club experience, appealing to attendees seeking late-night programming beyond traditional festival stages.

For local Leeds attendees, the Thursday night Kasabian headline set and Blossoms special appearance provide additional reasons to attend early, while the 20-minute drive from Premier Inn York South West and Leeds East hotels offers practical accommodation solutions.