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Best UK music festivals to book next summer if you missed out on Glastonbury tickets
When it comes to live music festivals in the UK, we're really spoilt for choice.
Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images
- Olivia Garrett
Published: Monday, 12 October 2026 at 11:31 am
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Yes, I missed out on Glastonbury tickets, no I don't want to talk about it.
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I'd much rather turn my attention to one of the other festivals taking place next summer.
In the UK, we’re incredibly lucky to have access to dozens, if not hundreds, of music festivals lasting throughout the warmer months, from the huge 100,000-plus visitor events to the smaller festivals on your doorstep.
To help you sift through the endless line-ups, camping guides and funky names for tents, I've put together this list of the very best music festivals I'm looking at booking next year.
As a PSA: my taste is pretty mainstream (pop girlies, noughties skater boy and 80s new romantics is my normal diet) and I want a festival that's more than just the music – good comedy and culture tents, plus extra activities like yoga is definitely a perk. Overall, I just want a good part vibe.
So, here's a closer look at what's on offer.
Best 2027 music festivals at a glance
FestivalLocationDatesMusic genreBest forReading & LeedsRichfield Avenue & Bramham Park26–29 Aug 2027Rock, indie, alternative, pop, hip-hop, rapYounger music fansDownloadDonington Park9–13 Jun 2027Rock, metal, punk, hard rockRock & metal diehardsTRNSMTGlasgow GreenTBCIndie, rock, pop, electronicIndie/rock loversBST Hyde ParkHyde ParkTBCMainstream actsHuge artists in London settingIsle of Wight FestivalSeaclose Park17–20 Jun 2027Rock, pop, indie, classic rockA festival holidayParklifeHeaton Park10–11 Jul 2027Dance, house, electronic, hip-hop, grime, pop, rockParty loversLatitudeHenham Park22–25 Jul 2027Indie, alternative, folk, electronicMusic, comedy, arts & culture loversCreamfieldsDaresbury26–29 Aug 2027EDM, house, techno, dance, electronicDance music & rave fansCamp BestivalLulworth Castle29 Jul–1 Aug 2027Pop, indie, rock, dance, family musicFamiliesBoardmastersWatergate Bay & Fistral Beach, Newquay4–8 August 2027Indie, rock, pop, electronicBeach, surfing & a holidayWildernessCornbury ParkTBCIndie, folk, electronic, alternativeFoodies, wellness & culture loversWireless FestivalFinsbury ParkTBCHip-hop, rap, R&B, Afrobeats, grimeRap, R&B & urban music fans
What are the best festivals I'm looking at in 2027?
As well as the aforementioned biggest UK music festivals, here are a range of other festivals to attend in summer 2027:
BST Hyde Park
Neil Young performs at BST Hyde Park 2025. Gus Stewart/Redferns/Getty Images
- Dates for 2027: TBD
- Location: Hyde Park, London
- Ticket cost: £99.95+
One of the most iconic day festivals in London, BST Hyde Park takes place in the UK capital around the start of each summer. Every weekend has a different star headliner from across the music eras from Lewis Capaldi to Pitbull to Duran Duran, plus each comes with its own set of curated supporting acts. As well as a star-studded line-up, the festival also provides a midweek programme called Open House with free activities and entertainment. Tickets and line-up for next year aren't available yet, as they normally go on sale as each act is announced.
My verdict: Mainstream music tastes, check! Plus plenty of choice as you can pick the day and line-up you want and it's cheaper than your average festival. It's not quite the festival experience though because you're only there for one day.
Isle of Wight Festival
Ella Eyre at Isle of Wight Festival 2025. Mark Holloway/Redferns/Getty Images
- Dates for 2027: 17–20 June
- Location: Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight
- Ticket cost: £259+
Isle of Wight Festival is back for 2027 and, if this year is anything to go by, it's got a phenomenally varied line-up! This festival prides itself on providing something for everyone, from their wide range of artists across different musical genres and generations to designated areas like the family-friendly Kidzone. With a blend of new artists and nostalgic hits, as well as people of all ages, Isle of Wight is a staple in the live music scene and an unmissable UK festival, last year saw acts like The Cure, Calvin Harris, Lewis Capaldi, Wet Leg, Teddy Swims and Rita Ora.
My verdict: Isle of Wight feels like the next best thing to Glastonbury – a varied line-up, plenty of space and activities and great vibes for everyone.
Buy Isle of Wight Festival tickets at Ticketmaster
Parklife
Parklife. Burak Cingi / Getty Images
- Dates for 2027: 19–20 June
- Location: Heaton Park, Manchester
- Ticket cost: £162.90+
Manchester's Heaton Park is the home of the UK's largest metropolitan festival, Parklife, which showcases the best of multiple music genres including hip hop, grime, pop, rock, club, house and dance. The 2027 line-up is still TBA, but with past headliners including Mark Ronson, Wu Tang Clan, Disclosure, The xx and the 1975, you can be rest assured you're in good hands.
This is a non-camping festival and also boasts chill out zones, street food, bars and art installations to enjoy.
My verdict: Definitely more for the die-hard music fans, it's one day and you should go if you're ready to soak up the best of the best.
Buy Parklife tickets at Ticketmaster
Latitude Festival
Teddy Swims. Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images
- Dates for 2027: 22–25 July
- Location: Henham Park, near Southwold, Suffolk
- Ticket cost: £320+
From the legendary Obelisk Arena to the intimate Alcove, Latitude Festival has been helping live music fans create memories for 19 years.
With a 2026 line-up that included David Byrne, Self Esteem and Lewis Capaldi, you're in for a treat. But Latitude offers much more than music, with dance, comedy, poetry, theatre, literature, podcasts, family activities, and wellness all included too. Plus, there's lake swimming, outdoor yoga, and paddle boarding, as well as art installations and food and drink.
My verdict: I'm seriously considering this one – so much to do beyond the headliners, plenty of sport, comedy and more to explore!
Buy Latitude Festival tickets at Ticketmaster
Creamfields
Creamfields. Jack Kimber Photography
- Dates for 2027: 26–29 August
- Location: Daresbury Estate, Daresbury, Cheshire
- Ticket cost: £235+
This year was the 20 year anniversary of Creamfields festival, so and it proved just how good this festival is. During the August Bank Holiday, Creamfields provides the biggest names in electronic music, next-level production, and plenty of unforgettable moments. This key moment in the dance music calendar sees around 80,000 live music fans gather together in the Cheshire countryside.
My verdict: Not my music taste, but definitely an unmissable experience for dance and rave fans.
Buy Creamfields tickets at Ticketmaster
Camp Bestival
Fatboy Slim. Mark Holloway/Redferns
- Dates for 2027: 29 July–1 August
- Location: Lulworth Castle, East Lulworth, Dorset
- Ticket cost: £265+
Curated by Josie and Rob da Bank, Camp Bestival has been a firm favourite since 2008 – after all, the word "best" is right there in its title! This is a particularly great festival for anyone with kids, as it boasts a fantastic line-up of kids entertainment, including The World's Biggest Bouncy Castle and spectacular fireworks displays. Last year Fatboy Slim, Bastille and Billy Ocean was among the headliners.
My verdict: If you want to try out your kids' first festival, this is the perfect choice.
Buy Camp Bestival tickets at Ticketmaster
Reading & Leeds Festival
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
- Dates for 2027: 26–29 August
- Location: Richfield Avenue, Reading/ Bramham Park, Wetherby
- Ticket cost: £326+
Combine the numbers from both Reading and Leeds festivals, and you'll have an attendance of around 200,000. With the same line-up taking to the stage at opposite ends of the country on the same weekend, this festival ensures that people all over the country have access to the most popular live music. Speaking of which, last year featured Charli xcx, Chase & Status, Fontaines DC, Raye and more.
My verdict: Typically, Reading & Leeds are rights of passage for a younger crowd, 16-18-year-olds fresh out of school and ready to try their first solo music festival. The line-up is always very strong though.
Wireless Festival
Prince Williams/Wireimage
- Dates for 2027: TBD
- Location: Finsbury Park, London
- Ticket cost: £85+
Wireless Festival is the biggest rap and hip-hop party of the summer, with around 135,000 fans flocking to Finsbury Park in London each year. Last year's event was cancelled amid chaos around Kanye West's (otherwise known as Ye) booking, but the year before saw Drake headlining all three days of the event, joined by huge names including Summer Walker, BigXthaPlug and Burna Boy. The event is strongly rumoured to be returning next year.
My verdict: The major choice for rap lovers and a great location, let's hope it returns.
Download Festival
Joseph Okpako/WireImage/Getty
- Dates for 2027: 9–13 June 2027
- Location: Donington Park, Castle Donington, Derbyshire
- Ticket cost: £330+
If you're a fan of something heavier, then Download Festival is the one for you. This festival always boasts a line-up stacked with rock legends, from old favourites to the new artists at the cutting edge of the genre. Download takes place in iconic rock territory, Donington Park, which sits where the three counties of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derby meet. Handily, it's also right by the East Midlands airport. Last year, over 90 artists took part including Limp Bizkit, Guns 'n' Roses and Linkin Park.
My verdict: Another perfect choice for hardcore music fans, Download is built for lovers of heavy genres ranging from classic rock and nu-metal to death metal and pop-punk.
Buy Download Festival 2026 tickets at Ticketmaster
TRNSMT festival
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
- Dates for 2027: TBD
- Location: Glasgow Green, Glasgow
- Ticket cost: £79.50+
We're taking things all the way up north now, with Scotland's biggest music festival. TRNSMT takes place each year on Glasgow Green and spans a range of genres, including pop, rock, hip hop and indie. TRNSMT is a day festival limited to over-16s only and it's best for indie rock lovers, and hardcore festival-goers. Last year's lineup included Kasabian, Wolf Alice and Richard Ashcroft.
My verdict: TRNSMT is a much-loved member of the festival calendar, especially if you're more up for a concert than camping.
Buy TRNSMT festival tickets at Ticketmaster
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Boardmasters
Dan Mullan/Getty Images
- Dates for 2027: TBD
- Location: Fistral Beach & Watergate Bay, Newquay, Cornwall
- Ticket cost: £259+
Boardmasters is for music fans, surf enthusiasts, skateboarders, and beach-culture lovers looking for a five-day coastal festival experience. Last year's lineup included Fatboy Slim, Kasabian, and Lily Allen performing across the gorgeous clifftop and beach stages at Watergate Bay.
My verdict: Out of all the members on this list, Boardmasters is so much more than a festival. What with beach-life, surfing and so much more to give you the ultimate holiday.
Buy Boardmasters tickets at Ticketmaster
Wilderness
Jim Dyson/Getty Images
- Dates for 2027: TBD
- Location: Cornbury Park, Charlbury, Oxfordshire
- Ticket cost: £278+
Wilderness is for festival-goers, wellness seekers, families, and culture lovers looking for a luxurious, bohemian weekend escape. Amongst the music lineup you'll find yoga, sound baths, massage treatments, forest bathing and all the woodland experiences you need to feel completely cut off from the world.
My verdict: I love the idea of doing this for a bit of wellness and pampering. You'll come away feeling like the world's most luxurious hobbit.
Buy Wilderness festival tickets at Ticketmaster
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