Reading Festival Proposes Expansion to Four-Day Format Including Thursday Performances

Festival Republic, the organizers behind Reading Festival, has submitted a licensing application to expand the event into a four-day festival by introducing musical performances on Thursdays.

At present, the festival’s primary programming runs from Friday through Sunday, with Wednesday and Thursday dedicated to camping arrivals and site setup. According to BBC News, the new proposal seeks permission for amplified music on the main stage specifically, with scheduled sets running from 5:00 PM until midnight on Thursdays. Should the Reading Borough Council grant approval, this expanded format could debut as early as 2027.

The 2025 edition of Reading Festival is scheduled for August 27–30. Its companion event, Leeds Festival, which occurs simultaneously, already holds a license for Thursday performances and is set to utilize it this year with Kasabian headlining. High-profile acts including Fontaines D.C., Florence + The Machine, DAVE, Charli XCX, RAYE, and Chase & Status are confirmed for both festival sites.

This year also marks a significant transformation of the festival’s infrastructure, which organizers have described as the largest overhaul in the event’s history. Both Little John’s Farm in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds will feature up to six stages. This includes major upgrades to the primary stage, now rebranded as “The Grid,” alongside the introduction of new stages: “The Gallery” and “The Warehouse.”

The Gallery will serve as an immersive undercover stage featuring innovative LED lighting and high-end production, while The Warehouse provides a new, purpose-built environment specifically for dance music. Additionally, new zones named The Ballroom and The Canopy will highlight emerging talent. Reading will also feature “The Yard,” an open-air stage constructed from shipping containers designed to capture the industrial essence of alternative club culture, offering a unique atmosphere distinct from the rest of the festival.

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