Discover The Best UK Music Festivals in 2023

Tuesday 21 February 2023
View from the crowd looking at the stage at the music festival Creamfields, evening light

Festivals have become much more than music and drinks, with Britain championing exciting events from the likes of electronic music to social initiatives, and fringe and food festivals. Whichever type of festival, what can be promised is a great atmosphere with music, food, drinks and world class entertainment. Britain has always been and continues to be a leader in the festival world attracting top class performers, up and coming acts and hosting the stars of the future. Every year sees a different line-up – so there is something for everyone.

Here are a variety of unmissable festivals taking place this year…

 

Terminal V, Edinburgh

8 – 9 April

Terminal V, one of Scotland’s biggest techno events, returns to Edinburgh across two days of the Easter weekend. The event features a huge lineup of the worlds biggest electronic music artists and party goers can expect incredible mind-blowing indoor stages complimented by further outdoor stages and festival areas alongside techno and house music elitists.  Artists include: Amelie Lens, Big Miz, Charlotte de Witte, Ewan McVicar, Folamour (A/V), Kettama + more.

 

Cross The Tracks, London

28 May

Cross The Tracks is lining up an irresistible celebration of soul, jazz and funk and more for Brockwell Park, London on May Bank Holiday 2023. This year's event is a cultural wonder packed with 70+ hours of music and loved for its open minded crowd, free-spirited atmosphere and mix of musical class - some old, some new, plenty of things in between but all of it innovative and fresh.  The lineup includes NxWorries (aka Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge), Children of Zeus, Yazmin Lacey, Son Little and Annahstasia. But the music is not all there is scheduled with a creatives' market, talks, panels, workshops by charity partners and site art

 

City Splash Festival, London

29 May

City Splash is a huge one day spectacular at Brockwell Park. Reggae, Dancehall and Afrobeats will all be represented across seven stages with a wealth of black-owned food, drinks and creative markets all making it an unmissable celebration of Caribbean and African culture. The influence of reggae and all things Caribbean and African on the UK's culture is undeniable. It has helped enrich the music scene for over 50 years and all of that is reflected at the annual festival. Artists include: Chronixx, Koffee, Shenseea, Skillibeng, Ayra Starr, Gyakie, Stylo G, Jah9, Max Romeo, Uncle Waffles, Lutan Fyah, Jah Youth, Twinkle Brothers and more.

 

Glastonbudget, Leicester

26 – 28 May

Glastonbudget is set to return to Turnpost Farm. The tribute festival will host Metallica Reloaded, Korn Again, Royal Blood, of Kings and Captains, the Ed Sheeran Experience. Recreating the biggest hits from the biggest British bands, renowned tribute acts Antarctic Monkeys, Kazabian and Oasish have also joined the line-up.

 

Download Festival, Leicestershire

8 – 11 June

This year Download Festival, the UK’s premier rock festival, celebrates its 20th Anniversary. Bring Me The Horizon, Slipknot, and Metallica will headline in 2023, with the latter playing two completely unique sets! Plus Architects, Evanescence, Disturbed, Placebo, Parkway Drive, Ghost and many more acts will appear across the weekend. Download Festival takes place at the hallowed grounds of rock, Donington Park, next to East Midlands Airport.

 

The Cambridge Club Festival, Cambridgeshire

9 – 11 June

With stars like Lionel Richie, Grace Jones Kool & The Gang, Billy Ocean, Alexander O’Neal, Sophie Ellis-Bextor performing this festival will be one to add to the calendar. Taking place at Childerley Orchard, there will be a range of camping and glamping options on The Field of Dreams campsite.

 

Femme Fest, Peak District

9 – 12 June

A fun loving and colourful celebration of women, the Femme Fest is set in the surrounds of the Peak District and is an action-packed weekend for LGBTQ women and female allies. This year, expect an all-female line-up full of singers, bands, DJs, and some of the UK’s top tribute artists, including acts of the icons Pink, Alanis UK, Essentially Cher.

 

Parklife, Manchester

10 – 11 June

The largest metropolitan music festival in the UK, Parklife is held at Manchester's Heaton Park. The annual event features beats from multiple music genres including hip hop, grime, pop, rock, club, house and dance. The non-camping northern festival has developed a reputation for its wonderfully diverse and eclectic line-up, attracting some of the world's biggest names and hottest emerging talent to its multiple stages. With over 100,000 people attending across two days, Parklife’s line-up includes The 1975 Aitch (UK Festival headline exclusive),  Fred Again…,  The Prodigy,  Little Simz and many others.

 

Isle of Wight Festival, Newport

15 – 18 June

The Isle of Wight hosts several musical festivals each year, the largest of which is the Isle of Wight Festival, first held in 1968. Drawing together a cluster of rock, pop and indie acts, with some big dance names for later in the night, it’s four days of musical fun in an idyllic spot. Headliners for 2023 include acts from a variety of genres: Pulp, George Erza, Chemical Brothers, Robbie Williams, OneRepublic, Sugarbabes.

 

Glastonbury, Somerset

21 – 25 June

With multiple stages and a huge variety of entertainment from different genres over five-days, Glastonbury is one of the biggest and the best. So far, Elton John is the only act to be confirmed for Glastonbury 2023, playing the last night of the festival.

 

TRNSMT, Glasgow

7 – 9 July

Scotland’s biggest music festival welcomes 50,000 each day to Glasgow Green for three days of rock, pop and indie sounds including international acts in addition to local heroes. Headliners include Pulp, George Erza, Niall Horan, Sam Fender, Royal Blood, Becky Hill.

 

Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival, Birmingham

7 – 9 July

Set in the beautiful landscape of Moseley's private park in Birmingham, it’s a diverse, vibrant festival, celebrating ground-breaking, innovative UK music alongside international trailblazers. Although it’s just 2 miles from the centre of Birmingham it is a world away from city life. It is the perfect setting for a festival, with sloping grounds, creating a natural amphitheatre in front of the beautiful lake. This year the festival will host Fat Freddys drop, Ezra Collective, KC and the Sunshine band.

 

The Proms, London

14 July – 9 September

Billed as the world's greatest classical music festival, The Proms is a series of concerts throughout the summer. Most concerts are held in London's Royal Albert Hall but events are also broadcast across the UK on big screens as part of Proms in the Park events. Don't miss the famous 'Last Night' in September, famous for its silly hats, patriotic tunes and fantastic atmosphere.

 

Latitude, Suffolk

20 – 23 July

Folk, rock, pop, theatre, comedy, wellness, dance and more, Latitude is one of Britain's best-known summer music festivals in a beautiful setting. Headliners include Pulp, Paolo Nutini, George Ezra, the Kooks, Metronomy, Paul Heaton.

 

Mela Festival, Birmingham

22 – 23 July

Mela is Britain’s biggest South Asian music festival. This big extravaganza of an event features more than 150 artists from Birmingham to Bangladesh including some of the biggest names on the scene, fabulous food, dance and live music.

 

Kendal Calling, Lake District

27 – 30 July

Set in the Lake District the festival features over 250 artists across 13 stages to be the biggest part the region has ever seen. Experiences also include a Desert Island Disco, Cinema and healing field. Headliners include  Kasabian, Royal Blood, Blossoms, Nile Rodgers & Chic.

 

Siren, Bristol

27 - 29 July

Bristol will host a brand-new music event series, with Fabio & Grooverider, the Outlook Orchestra, David Rodigan and Gardna headlining. 

 

We Are FSTVL, London

25 – 27 August

Welcoming some of the biggest names in dance music to Upminster in East London, This year We Are FSTVL celebrates its 10th Anniversary. With twice as many stages as previous years and production boundaries being pushed to the experiential limit, We Are the only summer FSTVL everyone needs in his clubbing calendar this summer. This year the festival is bringing the best of the best stage hosts together including Circoloco, Solid Grooves, Trick, XXL, Eastenderz, Abode, Disco Disco, Foreverland, Lovejuice, Dance on Arrival, Boat Club & more to be announced!

 

All Points East, London

18 – 25 August

A festival of music & entertainment in East London's Victoria Park featuring big name acts, DJs and activities during the week. Major headline shows with curated, credible lineups bookend free activities, In The NBHD, during the week. It’s more than just about the music, it’s also about making a positive impact on the local community, and leading the way with our sustainability policies. Headliners include Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Girl in Red, Amyl and the Sniffers, Angel Olsen, Hotwax, Nieve Ella.

 

Reading and Leeds Festivals

25 – 27 August

The festivals share the same line ups in general so one can choose between Reading or Leeds to see established indie & rock acts and up & coming artists. Headliners include Billie Eilish, the Killers, Sam Fender, Foals.

 

EMERGE Music Festival, Belfast, Northern Ireland

26 – 27 August

Emerge Music Festival Belfast returns to Boucher Playing Fields for 2023, bringing a host of International headline acts and local talent to Belfast City. The Headliners include Bicep Live, Camelphat, Carl Cox, Nina Kravitz.

 

Notting Hill Carnival,  London

27 – 28 August

One of the world’s biggest celebrations, Notting Hill Carnival is a vibrant and colourful display of Mas, Soca, Calypso, sound systems and a spectacular parade through the streets of West London.

 

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