With all eyes on July 19, these are the festivals that still hope to go ahead in 2021
n 2020, the pandemic made our hopes of hopping from festival to festival throughout the summer little more than a fantasy. But now there is hope that we could return to something close to normality this year.
Festival organisers were looking forward to June 21, the day the Government had hoped to lift all restrictions on social contact. But that was pushed back to July 19, which has proved a risk too far for some events.
WOMAD and Kendal Calling are among the latest festivals to call things off for 2021. Both were hoping to take place in late July, but with the roadmap still subject to change, neither felt it was possible to take the risk of another extension scuppering their plans.
Other festivals in July are still set to go ahead. Latitude will take place as part of the Government’s Event Research Programme, while Standon Calling will require proof of a negative Covid test before entry. Both are set to welcome full capacity crowds.
Here, we’ve rounded up the biggest festivals to have confirmed a line-up for 2021. Tickets are on sale now, and if you’re wondering whether or not to buy, remember that you’ll be entitled to a refund if the event no longer goes ahead as planned, or if the dates are changed, which they may well be. Just make sure you buy from the official retailer, otherwise your consumer rights might be jeopardised.
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With fingers crossed, here’s the best of the bunch.
This idyllic countryside retreat prides itself on being more than just a music festival — previous editions have brought in everything from comedy to stand-up paddleboarding.
When? July 22-25, 2021
Where? Henham Park, Suffolk
Who’s on the line-up? Wolf Alice, Bastille, The Chemical Brothers, Bombay Bicycle Club and more.
Tickets: from £226.80, latitudefestival.com
Returning for its 15th edition in 2021, this festival is a crowd-pleaser for all the family, with a wide-ranging line-up and plenty to keep the kids entertained too.
When? July 22-25, 2021
Where? Standon, Hertfordshire
Who’s on the line-up? Bastille, Hot Chip, Primal Scream, Craig David, De La Soul, Everything Everything and more.
Tickets: from £169, standon-calling.com
Sheffield’s biggest city-based music festival is always a popular one, and as so many 2020 ticket holders carried over into 2021, only a few more tickets will be available from midday on April 30.
When? July 23-25, 2021
Where? Hillsborough Park, Sheffield
Who’s on the line-up? The Streets, Royal Blood, Richard Ashcroft, The Kooks, DMA’s, Dizzee Rascal and more.
Tickets: from £45, tramlines.org.uk
This multi-arts one-dayer is blessed with one of the best festival sites in London, set within the grounds of Alexandra Palace and offering panoramic views of the capital.
When? July 24, 2021
Where? Alexandra Palace, London
Who’s on the line-up? Groove Armada, The Coral, Norman Jay MBE, Matt Jam Lamont, Irvine Welsh and more.
Tickets: £44.95, kaleidoscope-festival.com
One for the family-sized festival-goers, this one caters to all ages with a programme of events to keep the kids occupied, as well as the adults.
When? July 29-August 1, 2021
Where? Lulworth Castle, Dorset
Who’s on the line-up? Fatboy Slim, Groove Armada, Becky Hill, Kelis, Friendly Fires, Sophie Ellis Bextor feat. Sink The Pink and more.
Tickets: from £185 for adults, from £62.50 for kids, campbestival.net
A dance music celebration down on Peckham Rye Park, the broad focus here is on house and disco, but expect a fair few curveballs chucked into the mix too. It expands to two days for the first time in 2021.
When? July 30-August 1, 2021
Where? Peckham Rye Park, London
Who’s on the line-up? Jayda G, Gilles Peterson, Horse Meat Disco, Motor City Drum Ensemble, DEBONAIR and more.
Tickets: Friday tickets on sale 10am, April 30, thisisgala.co.uk
A new concert series taking place within the newly revived Crystal Palace Bowl, it will spread across almost the entire month of August.
When? August 5-31, 2021
Where? Crystal Palace Bowl, London
Who’s on the line-up? Dizzee Rascal and the Outlook Orchestra, The Streets, Max Richter, Supergrass, English National Opera and more to be announced.
Tickets: from £35, southfacingfestival.com
The house music favourite, which always draws in some of the biggest names of the genre, returns to north London for 2021.
When? August 7, 2021
Where? Trent Park, London
Who’s on the line-up? Louie Vega, Kenny Dope, Francois K, Joe Claussell, Danny Krivit, Roger Sanchez, Dimitri From Paris, Todd Edwards and more.
Tickets: from £35, 51ststatefestival.com
Styled as a festival of both music and wellness, this one-dayer will take place within the splendid grounds of Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath.
When? August 7, 2021
Where? Kenwood House, London
Who’s on the line-up? Tom Findlay (Groove Armada), Zero 7, Rob Da Bank, Phil Mison, Chris Coco and more.
Tickets: from £70, beat-retreat.com
Sun, surf and some excellent music: that’s the offering at this beach-side festival down in Cornwall.
When? August 11-15, 2021
Where? Newquay, Cornwall
Who’s on the line-up? Foals, Gorillaz, Jorja Smith, Sam Fender, Loyle Carner, Dizzee Rascal, Kano and more.
The brainchild of DJ and label boss Gilles Peterson, this festival does what he’s been doing for much of his career: connecting the dots between jazz and club culture with electrifying results.
When? August 19-22, 2021
Where? Abbots Ripton, Cambridgeshire
Who’s on the line-up? Ezra Collective, Gilles Peterson, Greentea Peng, Moses Boyd, Steam Down and more.
Tickets: Sold out, weoutherefestival.com
Always one of the biggest dance music festivals on the calendar, Creamfields is a sure-fire gathering of some of the best-known DJs on the world circuit.
When? August 26-29, 2021
Where? Daresbury, Cheshire
Who’s on the line-up? Peggy Gou, Carl Cox, Martin Garrix, Deadmau5, Carl Cox, Scooter, Tiesto, Anna, Andy C and more.
Tickets: Sold out, creamfields.com
Down on the south coast, this Portsmouth festival always draws in some big names, covering rock, britpop, indie rock, and more.
When? August 27-29, 2021
Where? Portsmouth, Hampshire
Who’s on the line-up? Madness, The Streets, Royal Blood, The Kooks, Richard Ashcroft, Supergrass, Fontaines D.C. and more
Tickets: from £30, victoriousfestival.co.uk
A rite of passage for British festival-goers, these dual-running festivals will rejig themselves slightly for 2021, with two main stages hosting six headliners from the worlds of rock, rap and beyond.
When? August 27-29, 2021
Where? Reading, Berkshire and Leeds, West Yorkshire
Who’s on the line-up? Stormzy, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Post Malone, Disclosure, Liam Gallagher, Queens of the Stone Age and more.
Tickets: from £232, readingfestival.com/leedsfestival.com
One of the biggest festivals in London, with consistently impressive line-ups across a range of genres. It will take place across just one weekend in 2021, instead of the usual two.
When? August 27-30
Where? Victoria Park, London
Who’s on the line-up? Jamie xx, Kano, Foals, Bombay Bicycle Club, Slowthai, Little Simz, Arlo Parks, Nubya Garcia and more.
Tickets: from £59.95, allpointseastfestival.com
A new festival set for south London in 2021, this will be a “celebration of Black culture from around the world”, organisers say.
When? August 29, 2021
Where? Clapham Common, London
Who’s on the line-up? Davido, Kehlani, Honey Dijon, Pa Salieu, Fatoumata Diawara, Yemi Alade and more.
Tickets: from £59.50, yamcarnival.com
Another new arrival on the London scene, this one is run by the same people who helm the Jazz Cafe in Camden. The venue’s focused eclecticism is matched on the festival’s line-up.
When? August 29, 2021
Where? London (exact location TBC)
Who’s on the line-up? Biig Piig, Habibi Funk, Moses Boyd, Roy Ayers, Donna Leake and more.
Tickets: from £10, maiden-voyage.co.uk
Originally set to take place at The Drumsheds in north London this July, the one-day festival will move back to its “spiritual home” in Victoria Park on the August bank holiday weekend.
When? August 29, 2021
Where? Victoria Park, London
Who’s on the line-up? Bicep, The Blessed Madonna, Floating Points, Mount Kimbie, Josey Rebelle, Ross From Friends and more.
Tickets: Sold out, fielddayfestivals.com
A new festival that was meant to make its debut on the London festival scene last year, this one-dayer returns with a blend of cutting-edge sounds from leftfield indie to jazz.
When? September 3, 2021
Where? Brockwell Park, London
Who’s on the line-up? Black Midi, Daniel Avery, Lena Willikens, Erol Alkan, Tropical F*** Storm and more.
Tickets: from £29.50, wideawakelondon.co.uk
The LGBTQ-friendly festival always has one of the best vibes in London with a line-up that never takes itself too seriously. It’s shifted to this slightly later date than usual for 2021.
When? September 5, 2021
Where? Brockwell Park, London
Who’s on the line-up? Cheryl, Becky Hill, En Vogue, Eve, Gabrielle, Atomic Kitten and more.
Tickets: Sold out,mightyhoopla.com
The third in a trio of Brockwell Park festivals on this September weekend, Cross The Tracks takes us on a journey through jazz, soul, funk and beyond.
When? September 5, 2021
Where? Brockwell Park, London
Who’s on the line-up? Lianne La Havas,The Cinematic Orchestra, Sister Sledge, Nubya Garcia, Jordan Rakei, Yussef Dayes, Greentea Peng and more.
Tickets: Sold out, xthetracks.com
Moving away from its usual home in Finsbury Park for the first time since 2014, the festival moves down south to Crystal Palace Park.
When? September 10-12, 2021
Where? Crystal Palace Park, London
Who’s on the line-up? Skepta, Future, Migos, Megan Thee Stallion, AJ Tracey, Headie One, Rick Ross and more.
Tickets: from £82.50, wirelessfestival.co.uk
This family-friendly festival is expanding to the full weekend experience for the first time in 2021, offering up a wide spread of music, comedy, talks, food and more.
When? September 10-12, 2021
Where? Childerley, Cambridgeshire
Who’s on the line-up? Van Morrison, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Beverley Knight, Jack Savoretti and more.
Tickets: from £56, thecambridgeclub.com
This Glasgow festival is always one of the liveliest music events north of the border, with a guitar-heavy line-up.
When? September 10-12, 2021
Where? Glasgow, Scotland
Who’s on the line-up? Courteeners, Liam Gallagher, The Chemical Brothers, Primal Scream, Little Simz, AJ Tracey, Dermot Kennedy and more.
Tickets: from £62.50, trnsmtfest.com
This south-east London one-dayer was a very welcome addition to the capital’s festival scene back in 2019, with a strong focus on the relationship between new-age jazz and electronic music.
When? September 11, 2021
Where? Beckenham Place Park, London
Who’s on the line-up? Hunee, Sherelle, Joe Armon-Jones, LTJ Bukem, Awesome Tapes From Africa and more.
Tickets: from £31, nakedcityfestival.com
Celebrating reggae music and all the genres its influenced over the years, this south London one-dayer will also feature a tasty selection of Caribbean street food vendors.
When? September 12, 2021
Where? Beckenham Place Park, London
Who’s on the line-up? Barrington Levy, Lila Iké, Alicai Harley, Channel One, Heartless Crew and more.
One of the capital’s most impressive dance festivals, We Are FSTVL lands in a new location for 2021 but with a typically stacked line-up.
When? September 11-12, 2021
Where? Central Park (Dagenham), London
Who’s on the line-up? Charlotte De Witte, Carl Cox, Andy C, Nina Kraviz, Jamie Jones and more.
Tickets: Sold out, wearefstvl.com
Manchester’s biggest festival is also one of the biggest in the UK, boasting huge names from both sides of the Atlantic on its line-up.
When? September 11-12, 2021
Where? Heaton Park, Manchester
Who’s on the line-up? Dave, Megan Thee Stallion, Disclosure, Skepta, Mabel, Jamie xx, Burna Boy, Peggy Gou, AJ Tracey and more
Tickets: Sold out, parklife.uk.com
Traditionally one of the first big blowouts of the summer, Isle of Wight has moved itself to later on in the year, with hopes to “see out the summer in spectacular fashion”.
When? September 16-19, 2021
Where? Seaclose Park, Isle of Wight
Who’s on the line-up? Liam Gallagher, Snow Patrol, David Guetta, Duran Duran, Tom Jones, Sam Fender and more.
Tickets: from £185, isleofwightfestival.com
Spread across eight stages in this south London park, the two-dayer will bring together a stellar cast of drum’n’bass favourites.
When? September 18-19, 2021
Where? Beckenham Place Park, London
Who’s on the line-up? Netsky, Camo & Krooked, A.M.C, Noisia, Kings of the Rollers + Inja, My Nu Leng and more.
Tickets: Sold out, hospitalityinthewoods.com
Spanning hip-hop, grime, dancehall, drum’n’bass and beyond, this two-day festival is always a lively one.
When? September 18-19, 2021
Where? Childerley, Cambridge
Who’s on the line-up? PARTYNEXTDOOR, Bugzy Malone, Honey Dijon, Koffee, Pa Salieu, Denis Sulta and more.
Tickets: from £62, strawberriesandcreem.com
Making its inaugural appearance on the London scene after a postponed arrival in 2021, this new one-dayer will draw in various strands of electronic music.
When? September 25, 2021
Where? Gunnersbury Park, London
Who’s on the line-up? Ben UFO, Shanti Celeste, Call Super, Moxie, Craig Richards, Midland and more.
Tickets: £TBA, waterworksfestival.co.uk
Promising two days of old-school anthems, this throwback festival will tick all the best nostalgia boxes.
When? September 25-26, 2021
Where? Streatham Common, London
Who’s on the line-up? Oxide and Neutrino, DJ Luck and MC Neat, Fatman Scoop, Majestic, Beverley Skeete and more.
Tickets: from £30.80,kisstoryfestival.com
A festival that very much does what it says on the tin: lots of excellent disco, with a few deviations into its related genres, in various venues around Brixton.
When? October 9, 2021
Where? Brixton, London
Who’s on the line-up? Dimitri From Paris,Crazy P, Dave Lee, Jocelyn Brown, House Gospel Choir, John Morales and more.
Tickets: Sold out, brixtondiscofestival.com
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