Organisers of Reading Festival have applied for a licence change to allow live music on Thursdays, which would make the event four days long from 2027 if approved.
Festival Republic submitted the application to Reading Borough Council to permit amplified music on the main stage from 5pm to midnight on Thursdays. The current licence covers Friday to Sunday, with Wednesday and Thursday reserved for camping arrivals.
The sister festival in Leeds already holds permission for Thursday performances and will feature them this year for the first time, with Kasabian headlining the main stage. Both events share the same weekend dates of 27-30 August this year and the same headliners including Fontaines D.C., Florence + the Machine, Dave, Charli XCX, Raye and Chase & Status.
This year's festivals also include a major staging overhaul at both sites, adding up to six stages with new venues such as The Gallery and The Warehouse. The changes at Reading would mark the first expansion of the main programme to four days.
