Reading & Leeds is around the corner, and the festival have shared their guide to everything you need to know – take a look at all the essential info below.
There’s just 19 days to go until the twin festivals return, where Liam Gallagher, Lana Del Rey, Blink-182, Fred Again.., Gerry Cinnamon and Catfish & The Bottlemen will headline the 2024 edition.
Other acts set to join include 21 Savage, Jorja Smith, Denzel Curry, Kenny Beats, Beabadoobee, Kenya Grace, Nia Archives, Two Door Cinema Club, Fontaines D.C., Reneé Rapp, Pendulum, Teddy Swims, Kid Kapichi, FLO and more.
Excitingly, this year will also feature two new stages: Chevron and The Aux. The latter will showcase “pioneering digital creators” and will allow festival-goers to attend live podcasts, interactive talks, and livestreams and tune into the current media landscape.
Meanwhile, Chevron will replace the festivals’ dual main stage format and will boast the world’s first outdoor floating LED video sky canopy. Reading & Leeds boss Melvin Benn has described the stage as “groundbreaking”, where the 40,000-capacity open-air venue will also host the world’s biggest silent disco with The Prodigy, Sonny Fodera and Skrillex as headliners.
Tickets are on sale now for both locations and are available for purchase here (for Reading) and here (for Leeds) – here’s everything to know about your visit:
Where to stay
All weekend tickets for Reading & Leeds include camping, however there are several different accommodation options when attending the festival depending on your preference, these include:
- Quiet Camp – New for 2024, for those of you who fancy a little extra shut-eye and a break from the party atmosphere of the standard campsites, Quiet Camp is a dedicated area in the standard campsites, located within Orange. You must book your free spot in advance, book for Reading here and Leeds here.
- Solo Camp – Also brand new for 2024, we’re launching Solo Camp. Coming alone? Looking to stay in a dedicated area, ready to make new friends for life? Register your interest here to be notified when more information and free spots are available for booking.
- Eco Campsite – The Eco Campsite is a free to book camp for like-minded people who want to make a difference: you live life with the planet in mind, and want to stay in a clean, green field for a festival you’ll remember. There’s even free Yoga classes in the morning. To stay in the Eco Camp every guest must sign a pledge to respect the environment and those around them across the weekend. Book for Reading here and Leeds here.
- Camping Plus – Located by the main Green Gate entrance to the festival, Camping Plus offers something for everyone’s purse strings. Bring your own tent to save the pennies and cash in on the luxury facilities or truly pamper yourself with an Emperor Tent, Luxury Tipi, Crew Hut or more. Book for Reading here or Leeds here.
- Pink Moon Boutique Village – In 2024 Pink Moon will be back with their unique camping packages to suit all budgets. With a Standard, Classic and Deluxe range, you can find a range of options from the standard tents to luxury bells with options for all price ranges. With access to clean toilets and hot showers, pamper stations, phone charging and much more, the Pink Moon Boutique Village has everything you need to enjoy your weekend at R&L. Book for Reading here or Leeds here.
- General campsites – Be right at the heart of the festival in one of our general campsites included with all general admission weekend tickets. And if you’re still looking for some little luxuries, check out the Refresh Retreat for affordable upgrades in Reading here or Leeds here.
For more information, head to the festival’s ‘Where to Stay’ page.
New for 2024
- The Chevron is Reading & Leeds’ new 40,000 capacity open-air venue in the Main Arena. The bespoke structure, exclusive to the festival, features the world’s first floating video canopy made up of hundreds of thousands of programmable LED lights, turning the sky above into a dazzling, reactive display. Headlined by The Prodigy, Skrillex and Sonny Fodera it will also host performances from Nia Archives and Barry Can’t Swim across the weekend.
- The AUX is a brand new tent in the main arena at both Reading & Leeds, where the programming is focused entirely on digital content creators. It’s the first time a stage at a music festival has been solely created to give digital creators a platform in this way and will feature a mix of interactive shows, live podcasts, streams, and hands-on activities, with no filter and no topic off limits. Currently confirmed for the stage are: The Useless Hotline, The Chunkz & Filly Show, Ash Holme, Ayamé Ponder & M1Podcast.
- For those of you who fancy a little extra shut-eye and a break from the party atmosphere of the standard campsites, Quiet Camp is a dedicated area in the standard campsites. You must book your free spot in advance alongside your Weekend or Weekend + Early Entry festival ticket. Plus an additional campsite for those going by themselves at Solo Camp.
- A Sensory Calm Space run by charity Diverse UK, this area can be used by anyone and offers a quiet environment to calm and relax before getting back to the festivities.
- The Lounge – Upgrade your festival experience & get out of the crowds for a breather with access to the Reading Lounge. It’s a great place to hang out with friends & relax over a drink
What to bring, what not to bring and “sustainable swaps”
Be sure to visit the info page here. To make the most of your festival experience, here are some essential tips:
- Cheap tents just aren’t worth it, they will leave all you and your belongings wet the next morning. Bring a high-quality tent with a rating above HH1500 to stay warm and dry and take it home with you.
- Invest in proper, waterproof boots instead of cheap wellies for comfort and durability.
- Stay informed about banned items to ensure a smooth entry here. Disposable vapes and campfires are not allowed this year.
- Be prepared for thorough searches and cooperate with security requests for everyone’s safety.
- Bring valid ID. Reading & Leeds operates Challenge 25 policy. See here for forms of valid ID.
Banned items
You can view the full list of banned items here. Please do familiarise yourself with them, some examples are:
- Disposable vapes – Do not bring single-use disposable vapes. Banned since 2023, they pollute the environment and incorrect disposal of these can be hazardous at waste centres.
- Campfires – Campfires are not allowed anywhere at the festival, including the campsites. This is to support the Air Quality Action Plan and in consideration of local impacts as set out in our Green Nation Charter. Anyone seen creating or fuelling a fire will be evicted from the festival site. We have to continue to protect our future on this planet.
- Bags in the arena – We strongly advise you not to bring a bag into the Arena as there will be long queues while all bags are searched. If you do wish to bring a bag into the Arena please ensure that it is no bigger than A4 sized 8.27”x11.69”. There is a limited to one A4 sized bag per person permitted into the Arena.
Sustainable swaps
By incorporating the following into your festival packing, you’ll not only have a comfortable time but also contribute to a more sustainable festival:
- Wet wipes > reusable flannels – one for your face, one for your body.
- Plastic soap/shampoo bottles > Choose soap bars for a lighter packing and plastic-free option or share toiletries and suncream with friends to minimise waste. (Realistically are you going to wash your hair?)
- Camping chairs > Save carry those heavy chairs and bring a picnic blanket, much lighter to carry and easier to pack away after.
- Poor quality tent -> Borrow or hire a good quality tent – we’ll be working alongside Decathlon who will provide a tent hiring service with a return point on site! For more information visit here for Reading and here for Leeds.
- Air bed > Use a self-inflating roll mat for a cosy sleep, for light weight carrying and saving space in your bag.
- Poor quality trainers > Invest in quality, durable clothing. Shop from reseller sites and charity shops to find amazing pre-loved clothing.
- Bottled water > Carry a refillable water bottle – free water points are situated all around the festival.
- Disposable ponchos > Bring a proper waterproof coat instead, reducing single-use waste and look way cooler.
- Travel > use public transport, Big Green Coach, carpool with friends or use a service like Liftshare to reduce your carbon footprint.
Sign up to stay in the ECO camp, which was left absolutely spotless last year. After completely selling out early in 2023, R&L has maintained its eco-conscious offerings, providing a unique experience for like-minded eco-friendly campers who believe in leaving no trace. Act quickly and visit here to secure your spot!
Staying safe and if you need assistance
The festival has put in place all necessary measures to maximise public safety, working closely with local authorities at the highest level. For full safeguarding info see here.
- AIR HUBS. A new concept brought in for 2023 which is growing bigger and better for 2024. An AIR Hub’s sole purpose is to provide our ticket holders with Assistance, Information and a Response if required. These were an addition to the festival’s existing welfare facilities and security/stewarding teams. At Reading Festival these hubs will be run by groups/charities including WAVES, Reading Schools, Hope After Harm, Tonic, Mind, CGL, Trust House, SoulScape, GamCare, Lady Garden, Mind in Berkshire, Berkshire Womens Aid, Sport in Mind, Mind in Haringey and Oxfam. They will be offering 24/7 support from Wednesday to Monday. At Leeds Festival these hubs will be run by groups/charities including People Matters, Tadcaster and Rural CIC, Festival Angels, Age UK, Andys Man Club, Oxfam, SSafe, Leeds South and East Food Bank. With 13x AIR Hubs in the camping and arena areas, festival-goers are never far from friendly support.
- The festival collaborates with various charities and welfare providers, including Safe Gigs for Women, Festival Medical Services, Brook, The Welfare Crew, Samaritans, Salvation Army, Narcotics Anonymous, Street Pastors, Brighter Futures for Children Festival Angels, Forward Leeds and more, ensuring a safe, inclusive environment for reporting and support.
- New for 2024, Reading & Leeds will offer a Sensory Calm Space onsite. Run by charity Diverse UK, the space can be used by anyone who may be feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated onsite and offers a quiet environment to calm down.
- Festival-goers may be subject to more enhanced searches of bags and personal belongings. We request that you cooperate with any security requests and searches. Please pack light!
- Look out for #LookOutForEachOther posters and screens on-site, promoting conversations about respect and consent within the R&L community.
- CCTV recording is in operation across the festival site for crime prevention and public safety.
- Reading and Leeds both support the ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign which is operational at all the venues, bars and briefed to all staff members. If you ever feel uncomfortable, ask for Angela and you will be provided with assistance.
- Reading and Leeds Festival are inclusive, supportive places and we want you to come and have the time of your life whilst still keeping safe. Unfortunately, a small minority of people do try to bring drugs into the festivals. We urge you not to attempt to bring any drugs with you or attempt to buy any on site. This year’s festivals have redesigned the search process on the first-time entry and re-entry gates. If you’re found with any amount of drugs on your person, or our drug dogs indicate you may have something with you, you will not be permitted access to the festival and may face criminal charges. There is no safe level of drug use and we don’t want you to ruin your weekend before it even begins. If you do find yourself in trouble or you or your friends have taken something that doesn’t feel right, please find one of our help points and get help immediately.
Set times
The place to get up-to-date set times and info is via the Reading & Leeds Festival App. These are updated throughout the weekend with new info, exciting offers, safety messaging and more – so make sure you’ve downloaded this before arrival.