Best UK Festivals 2026 With Tickets Still Available (Updated May)

The State of Play: Summer 2026 Festival Tickets

Glastonbury sold out in November. Most headline acts confirmed. But half the UK festival calendar still has availability—though supply's tightening fast. We've checked each festival's ticket portal this week. Prices listed are standard general admission; payment plans vary by promoter. Book now or watch your backup festival choice vanish by June.

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1. Reading & Leeds Festival

Weekend: £249–£289. Day tickets: £149. Headliners confirmed for both sites include Foo Fighters, The National, and Metronomy. Two separate sites (Reading and Leeds run parallel weekends in August) means you pick your lineup. Best for: anyone wanting a genuine festival town vibe without the trek to Somerset. Watch out for: coach travel from London sells out weeks before August.

2. Latitude Festival

Weekend: £199–£229. Day tickets: £89–£119. Suffolk's most civilised festival—comedy, theatre, film alongside The National, Bon Iver, and Khruangbin. Mid-July, relatively quiet region means cheaper camping nearby. Best for: people who want live music but won't camp in mud for three days straight. Watch out for: the town of Southwold gets rammed; book accommodation weeks early.

3. Wireless Festival

Weekend: £199–£239. Day tickets: £99–£129. London's urban hip-hop and R&B event (July, Finsbury Park). Drake, Skepta, and Central Cee rumoured for lineups. Best for: Londoners avoiding a drive, strong grime and rap focus. Watch out for: day tickets can flip quickly; capacity's lower than field festivals, so morning entry queues are brutal.

4. Boomtown Fair

Weekend: £189–£219. Day tickets: £99–£119. Hampshire's immersive "city" build each August, heavy on electronic, reggae, and left-field acts (2024 saw Four Tet, Andy C). Tickets released in phases; early batches already gone. Best for: electronic music obsessives and anyone who values set design over artist count. Watch out for: the final ticket phase is usually marked-up 20–30%.

5. British Summer Time Hyde Park

Single day: £89–£149. Multi-day passes: £249–£349. London's ticketed park series (June–July). Stray Kids, Olivia Rodrigo, and Pulp booked across weekends. Best for: tourists and day-trippers who want West End nightlife after the show. Watch out for: you're paying a London venue premium; the same artist costs £20–£40 more than regional festivals.

6. Camp Bestival

Weekend: £219–£259. Day tickets: £129–£169. Dorset's family-friendly festival (July). Fatboy Slim, Example, and everything from dance to indie confirmed. Best for: parents who actually want to attend; kids' areas and comedy are serious, not tokenistic. Watch out for: late July school holidays mean accommodation fills fast—book by May for nearby hotels.

7. Wilderness Festival

Weekend: £199–£239. Day tickets: £89–£129. Oxfordshire's arts-heavy festival (August). Bicep, Jon Hopkins, Everything Everything. Theatre, talks, and installations match the music. Best for: people who see a festival as a cultural weekend, not just a gig. Watch out for: day ticket stock dries up fastest here; book early if you're not camping.

8. Boardmasters Festival

Weekend: £159–£189. Day tickets: £79–£99. Newquay beach festival (August), lightweight lineup but serious surf scene and drum & bass acts. Best for: anyone combining a beach holiday with live music on a budget. Watch out for: August school holidays mean Newquay accommodation trebles in price—consider staying 20 minutes inland and driving in.

9. Creamfields

Weekend: £169–£219. Day tickets: £99–£139. Cheshire's electronic heavyweight (August). Calvin Harris, Adam Beyer, and house/techno lineups confirmed. Reliable weather record relative to other bank holiday weekends. Best for: serious electronic music fans who've been to it before and know the camping drill. Watch out for: payment plan fees add 15–20% to the final cost; check if you're paying upfront is cheaper.

How to Actually Book

Most festivals use Ticketmaster, See Tickets, or their own portals. Payment plans (usually 4–6 instalments, interest-free) are faster than thinking you'll save money—you won't. Book this week if you have a shortlist; July festivals are entering final-sale phase. Resale sites (Twickets, StubHub) list returned tickets at markup, rarely discount. Check your festival's camping cap before buying; some cap glamping early.

FAQs

Is Glastonbury actually sold out?

Yes. Sold out in November 2024 for summer 2026. No release expected before 2027 booking window. Move on.

Can I still get payment plans in May?

Most festivals offer them until 6–8 weeks before the event. Book now if you want that option; cash-only deadlines are creeping forward.

Which festival is cheapest?

Boardmasters (Newquay) at £159 for a weekend. Boomtown runs close. Both are August bank holiday weekends with solid lineups.

Will more acts be added?

Yes. Expect second and third lineup announcements May–June. But main headliners (listed above) are locked. Don't wait hoping for your specific artist.

Is it worth buying resale tickets?

Only if the original event is sold out. Otherwise you're paying 10–30% markup for no gain. Original retailers still have stock across this list.

Do day tickets sell out before weekends?

Inversely. Day ticket stock lasts longer because fewer people buy them; weekends vanish first. But Wireless and Boomtown have unpredictable sell patterns.

Which has the best weather usually?

August banks (Creamfields, Boardmasters) historically driest. July festivals (Latitude, Camp Bestival) wetter. Pack waterproofs regardless.

Are coach packages worth it?

Only if you're coming from a major hub (Manchester to Reading, London to Latitude). Otherwise hire a minivan with mates; parking costs are the same.