Festival News: Reading & Leeds 2025 Announce 80+ New Acts and Two Brand-New Stages
New names from pop to punk join an already stacked lineup, as Reload and Smirnoff stages debut for 2025.
Over 80 new names have been added to the festival, including Waterparks, Leigh-Anne, Skye Newman, Overpass, and more. Two brand-new stages were also announced for 2025: the Reload Stage (Leeds only) and the Smirnoff Stage (Reading only), each showcasing curated lineups of breakthrough talent and DJs. Fan-favourite areas like the Chevron Stage, BBC Introducing, and Aux Stage will also return.
Pop and R&B artists lead several of the headline additions, with Leigh-Anne (of Little Mix) making her solo UK festival debut. She joins Charlotte Plank, Phoebe Green, and LYVIA on the Chevron Stage, while Chloe Qisha and Chanel Yates add extra fire to the Festival Republic lineup. Emerging acts like Jack Dean and Amie Blu are also set for BBC Introducing!
Rock, punk, and alt fans have plenty to look forward to with Waterparks joining the main stage, and Late Night Drive Home, Unpeople, and Sunday (1994) appearing across smaller stages. Festival Republic will host Bartees Strange and Any Young Mechanic, while the BBC Introducing Stage continues to spotlight grassroots alt acts like Girl Group, Cliffords, and WENCH!
Electronic and dance music dominate the new Reload and Smirnoff Stages. These include sets from P-RALLEL, Disrupta, [IVY], Riordan, and Champion, alongside a host of rising DJs like Lu.Re, T-Lex, Charlie Boon, and ANNABEL STOP IT. The Chevron Silent Disco will host Charlie Tee, Badger, and Jeremiah Asiamah, with UPRAWR, FACE DOWN, and Swiftogeddon returning to night slots.
Meanwhile, the Aux Stage and Piccadilly Party areas spotlight creators and podcast talent. Fans can catch Harry Pinero and Darkest Man’s ‘Old & Bald’, JaackMaate’s Happy Hour, and a conversation with Brittany Broski. Digital culture, climate awareness, and music journalism take centre stage across both Reading and Leeds, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to new voices in music and media.
Words by Alexander Peters
