The best music festivals in London for 2026

All Points East returns to Vicky Park for its eighth edition in 2026. Since debuting in 2018, the festival has garnered a reputation for building some of the most exciting line-ups in the UK. Tyler, The Creator has been anounced for not one, but two, headline shows, while other days will be headlined by Jorja Smith, Tems, Lorde, Twenty One Pilots, and Deftones. 

Line-up includes: Tyler, The Creator, Lorde, Deftones, Twenty One Pilots, Djo, Rex Orange County, Turnstile, Amyl & The Sniffers, PinkPantheress, Oklou, Zara Larsson, JPEGMAFIA, Jorja Smith and Tems

Victoria Park, E9 7DD. Aug 28-29. 

Seasoned London festival-goers have been singing the praises of this 10,000-capacity Southwark Park festival since it debuted in 2023, thanks to its boutique size, community vibe and collaborative line-ups created with help from some of the city’s best culture venues. And for the fourth edition, the line-up is curated by Blood Orange, who will will bring his signature blend of synth funk, experimental beats and emotional depth to Southwark Park. Dev Hynes will headline, and has selected the likes of techno producer Daniel Avery, ethereal electronic artist james k and the legendary Optimo (Espacio) to appear alongside him on the day.

Line-up includes: Blood Orange, Daniel Avery, james k, Optimo (Espacio), Smerz, Jump Source, GENA, Parris.

Southwark Park, SE16 2TX. Aug 29. 

Having outgrown its first home in Hackney Wick, London’s queer nightlife festival Body Movements levelled up in 2024 making a dazzling debut in Southwark Park with five stages showcasing the great and good of the LGBTQ+ party scene in the capital and beyond. We’re thrilled that the great and good of the London queer scene will once again come together in the same location for its 2026 edition, on the Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend. This year, the five stages of Body Movements (Mother, The Strap, Snatch, Hot Mess, and Glory Hole) will be helmed by DJs including Babymorocco, Blasha & Allatt, FAFF, Roza Terenzi, Marie Malarie and GIDEÖN as well as collectives like Dalston Superstore, Daytimers, Fèmmme Fraîche and Queer House Party. More names are still to be announced. 

Line-up includes: Babymorocco, Blasha & Allatt, FAFF, Roza Terenzi, Marie Malarie, GIDEÖN, Amaliah, Byron Yeates and Hannah Holland  

Southwark Park, SE16 2PA. Aug 30. 

After making a spectacular debut last summer with headliners Charli XCX, Jamie XX and Massive Attack, Lido festival 2026 was looking to be another magnificent party. The second edition of the fest was set to take place in mid-June with performances from CMAT, Bombay Bicycle Club and Maribou State, but the majority of the festival will no longer take place owing to ground conditions in the Tower Hamlets park.

CMAT and Bombay Bicyle Club’s shows on June 12 and 14 have been totally cancelled but Maribou State’s show has been rescheduled. The electronica duo will now headline Victoria Park on August with support from Kelis, Folamour and Theo Parrish b2b Moodymann and more to be announced.

RECOMMENDED: More great London festivals this summer

After a successful first edition last autumn new festival Jazz on Wick is back for round two this September. Created by the minds behind award-winning small festival Brainchild, Hackney Wick nightclub Colour Factory, nu-jazz collective Orii Community and Voices Radio, it’s doing a full-venue takeover of Hackney Bridge for a day-to-night celebration of jazz and adjacent astral sounds, featuring 9 stages and more than 50 artists. And tickets start at £25, making it far cheaper than most London festivals.  

Line-up includes: D Double E feat. Zeñel, Natural Jazz, Shae Univers,Jas Kayser, 30 Years of Barely Breaking Even, Movimientios DJs.

Hackney Bridge, E15 2SJ. Sep 5. 

Organised by the people behind Percolate and Love International festival in Croatia, mid-September’s electronic music one-dayer Waterworks is a final chance to squeeze every last drop of festival fun out of the summer. This year’s expanded 36-hour event will take place at Docklands superclub The Cause, across seven stages including open-air spaces, intimate rooms, late-night dancefloors and chill out zones. 

Line-up includes: Alex Kassian, babyschön, djrum, Midland and Sofia Kourtesis, and B2Bs from Bradley Zero and Erol Alkan, Christian AB and Craig Richards, and Raresh and Sonja Moonea.

Gunnersbury Park, Pope's Lane, W3 8LQ 

Bringing together a wide spectrum of voices from various disciplines of alternative East and South-East Asian creativity, Margins United is back for its third one-dayer this autumn. Created by Eastern Margins, a platform for alternative Asian culture in the UK, the day-to-night festival will feature a full takeover of the Club360 in Tottenham, with a line-up featuring K-pop and J-pop acts, plus a bunch of international DJs and producers. Tickets available for the day part, the night part or the whole thirteen-hour marathon if you can hack it.

Line-up includes: Yves, F5ve, The Deep, Heroic Dragon, Amanda Sze, DJ Love (Sherwin Tuna), Tamanaramen.

Club360, N15 4QN. Sep 26.

Pitchfork Music Festival is gearing up for another edition, with a jam-packed schedule of eclectic live music encompassing everything from avant-rock and post-punk to UK rap and deconstructed dance music on an ultra-eclectic line-up of 80 artists, including  a whole bunch of emerging talents you’ve likely never heard of but will no doubt feature on your Spotify Wrapped come December 2027. Gigs take place across a plethora of London’s best venues, including Colour Factory, Union Chapel, Village Underground, Earth Theatre, Royal Festival Hall and 93 Feet East.

Line-up includes: Actress, The Avalanches, Noname, Horse Jumper of Love, Panda Bear, Elijah Wolf, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Working Men’s Club, Bloodsports, Kiwi jr. 

Various London venues. Nov 2-8.

Every year, the EFG London Jazz Festival brings together the best and brightest of the genre in venues across the city, from the capital’s major arts venues like Southbank Centre and Barbican, to atmospheric gig spots like Village Underground, EartH Theatre and Union Chapel. The line-up promises a bounty of bops, whether you’re looking to discover some emerging talents or witness legends in action. And it’s not just jazz on offer either; there’s fado, electro-swing, trip-hop, drum and bass, and loads more. 

Line-up includes: Church of Sound, Dave Okumu & Friends, Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet, Emma-Jean Thackray, Morcheeba, Yasuaku Shimizu, Goldie, Kyoto Jazz Massive.

Various London venues. Nov 13-22.