2024 summer festival guide: from Glastonbury to Notting Hill Carnival, we’ve got the low-down
If there’s one thing we do well here in the UK, it’s a festival.
Come rain or shine, the world’s best bands are bound for a field somewhere near you, so here’s our guide to the summer’s best festivals…
Glastonbury Festival
When: June 26-30
Where: Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset
The most famous music and performing arts festival in the world, featuring top international and local acts across diverse genres. Highlights this year include Dua Lipa making her Pyramid Stage debut on Friday night headliner, along with Glastonbury veterans LCD Soundsystem and PJ Harvey, while Coldplay return on Saturday night – making them the first act to headline Glastonbury five times. The much talked-about Sunday teatime legend slot will be filled by Shania Twain, who makes her first trip to Worthy Farm.
Highlights: alongside the vibrant atmosphere, it’s always worth a trip to the Green Fields for some restorative and calming moments; plus there are always some completely bonkers circus and theatre performances to be seen all over the site.
Festival tip: a muddy Glasto can be a slog so prepare for all weathers and pack your wellies and a waterproof jacket (as well as something to sit on).
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
When: August 2-26
Where: Edinburgh, Scotland
The Fringe is the world's largest arts festival, offering a vast array of performances including theatre, comedy, dance and music. It's impossible to capture even a fraction of the action but this year's themes centre on climate and sustainability; the female experience; neurodiversity; tech and AI; and capitalism.
Highlights: thousands of shows in various venues, street performances on the Royal Mile, and the opportunity to discover emerging talent – expect the unexpected!
Festival tip: wear comfortable shoes for walking around the city, and make the most of all the free events and previews: there are 354 free shows and 577 pay-what-you-can / want shows in this year’s programme.
Notting Hill Carnival
When: August 25-26
Where: Notting Hill, London
Europe's largest street festival always takes place over the August bank holiday weekend with an epic celebration of Caribbean culture packed with colourful parades, music, and food – and plenty of bass in your face!
Highlights: vibrant costumes, steel bands, calypso and soca music, and delicious food.
Festival tip: stay hydrated (and keep an eye out for your nearest loo, which can be a challenge) and be mindful of your belongings in the crowd.
Reading and Leeds Festivals
When: August 23-25
Where: Richfield Avenue, Reading, and Bramham Park, Leeds
These twin music festivals share the same line-up of major international acts play for both locations over the weekend. There is always a heavy emphasis rock, alternative and indie music and this year’s big names includes Lana Del Rey, blink-182, Skrillex, 21 Savage, The Prodigy and Fred Again..
Highlights: as well as the main stage headliners, you can catch the stars of tomorrow on the NME/Radio 1 stage, plus there are two new stages for 2024: Chevron, which boasts the world’s first outdoor floating LED video sky canopy, and The Aux, set up to showcase “pioneering digital creators” with live podcasts, interactive talks and livestreams.
Festival tip: without wanting to sound like your mum, things can get LOUD – so take ear protection.
Latitude Festival
When: July 18-21
Where: Henham Park, Suffolk
A family-friendly festival combining music, comedy, theatre and literature, one of the main draws of Latitude is its beautiful setting. And it’s truly a melting pot of music with culture and the arts – there’s loads for foodies, you can swim in the lake and even try yoga on a paddleboard! For those who are all about the tunes, the epic list of headliners ranges from Duran Duran, London Grammar, Keane, Kasabian and Khruangbin to The Vaccines, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Rick Astley and Orbital.
Highlights: the utterly eclectic line-up, stunning woodland surroundings and a variety of activities for all ages.
Festival tip: take advantage of the wellness and family areas, try different types of performances, and enjoy the art installations around the site.
Don’t miss a moment
With the BBC covering almost every second of Glastonbury action, you can watch on demand or listen to the radio.
And with Jackery, music fans never have to miss out – you can keep your devices charged, even on the go or while you’re camping.
So whether you’re heading for the green fields of Somerset or Suffolk, or you want to listen to the headliners from the comfort of your home or garden, check out the Jackery Explorer 300 Plus, a light and compact innovation in portable power solutions.
With a robust 293Wh lithium-ion battery, the Explorer 300 Plus provides reliable energy for all your adventures; it is capable of powering everything from laptops and smartphones to small appliances and medical devices. Pair it with the new 40W Mini SolarSaga panel, and you can even charge when you’re out and about!