Dave Brings Star-Studded Lineup Including James Blake, Central Cee, and Kano to Reading 2026

Dave transformed the main stage of Reading Festival 2026 into a powerhouse of collaborative chemistry, welcoming a stellar arsenal of guests — including James Blake, Central Cee, and Kano — to the legendary festival ground at Little John’s Farm.

Commanding “The Grid”, the main stage, Dave marked a monumental milestone as this landmark headline performance was his first top-billing appearance at the festival since 2022. The set landed at the peak of his extensive ‘The Boy Who Played The Harp’ world tour, wrapping up the series on August 30 at Leeds Festival.

The performance was a masterclass in musical diversity. James Blake opened the guest sector with an electric performance of “Both Sides of a Smile,” drawing from Dave’s 2021 multi-platinum album, *We’re All Alone In This Together*. The stage lit up with a heavy blend of rock and grime as an extended guitar riff from The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” seamlessly bridged into the heavy-hitting anthem “Thiago Silva.”

The emotional intensity rose as grime veteran Kano re-united with Dave for a raw and blistering run of their 2023 freestyle “Three P’s*”, followed by a deeply tender, stripped-back performance of “Chapter 16” that ended in a heartfelt embrace between the two.

The orchestration was a key highlight of the evening, with Dave repeatedly collaborating with a live string section on stage to deliver a soul-stirring rendition of the title track, “The Boy Who Played The Harp”. The tempo and crowd energy spiked to an absolute fever pitch when Central Cee stepped onto the stage, bringing their massive 2023 chart-topping collaboration “Sprinter” into the live rotation.

A breathtaking curtain call featured spectacular fireworks accompanying Dave’s performances of “Starlight” and “Raindance,” leaving a lasting impression of grandeur on the final performance of the night.

Dave’s Full Reading 2026 Setlist Was:

‘Verdansk’
‘Clash’
‘Location’
‘Both Sides Of A Smile’ (with James Blake)
‘Screwface Capital’
‘Professor X’
‘Funky Friday’
‘Thiago Silva’
‘No Words’
‘Three P’s*’ (with Kano)
‘Chapter 16’ (with Kano)
‘Trojan Horse’
‘The Boy Who Played The Harp’
‘Sprinter’ (with Central Cee)
‘Starlight’
‘Raindance’

These massive summer anthems are backdropped by Dave’s critically acclaimed third studio album, The Boy Who Played The Harp, which dropped last October. The record includes key collaborations with James Blake on “History” and Kano on “Chapter 16,” alongside features from Jim Legxacy, Tems, and Nicole Blakk. The landmark project has earned a prestigious nomination for Mercury Prize 2026.

Continuing his legendary status, Dave originally became the youngest solo artist to headline Reading Festival in 2022 at just 24 years old. That five-star performance featured surprise appearances by AJ Tracey for “Thiago Silva” and Stormzy for “Clash,” earning *NME*’s coveted “history-making set” label.

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