Reading Festival applies to extend main stage music to Thursdays

Reading Festival organisers have applied for a licensing change that would allow music on the main stage on a fourth day of the event.

More than 100,000 people attend the festival each year, with the Wednesday and Thursday seen as warm-up days, where people with camping tickets can arrive ahead of the main event days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Festival Republic has applied for amplified music to be added to the licence for Thursdays, on the main stage only, from 17:00 BST until midnight.

Any change to the events licenses require approval from Reading Borough Council and, if granted, would come into effect from 2027.

Additionally, the organisers have applied to extend the hours alcohol can be sold.

The festival has already undergone some changes since restarting after the coronavirus pandemic in 2021.

From that year until 2023, the site had two main stages, until the dual main stage format was replaced with the Chevron Stage in 2024.

British stars Charli XCX, Dave and Raye will headline this year’s festival and its sister event in Leeds.

Irish rock band Fontaines DC, electronic duo Chase & Status and band Florence + The Machine will also top the bill at both events.

The events will take place at Reading’s Richfield Avenue and Bramham Park in Leeds between 27 to 30 August, with artists rotating the days they perform.