Here are 8 independent festivals that you might not have heard of but are going to be popping right off this year. I don't have photos for all, some haven't happened yet and some I haven't been to or wasn't able to nag friends for photos, please feel free to share your own photos with me via instagram @katyclouds. I'll add to this list as more festivals get recommended, so pop your favourite independent event in the comments below.
Gemfest, 11th June - 14th June 2026, Malmesbury
Lineup Highlights: High Contrast, The Shapeshifters
If you ever went to WOMAD in Malmesbury you'll already be familiar with the beautiful estate this gem of a festival is held at, Charlton Park is perfect for an event like this. Gemfest has been popping up more and more on my socials and it's looking like it's the perfect mix of Dubstep, Techno, Jungle and D&B to create a brand new rising star of the grassroots festival scene - definitely one to think of if you want to support the rebirth of independent festivals in the UK as the team behind it are super experienced and know exactly what they are doing! There's lots of immersive theatre at this one and if you like quests and challenges, follow the wizard ;-)
Moovin Festival, 12th June to 14th June 2026, Stockport
Lineup Highlights: Nightmares On Wax, Quantic, Mungo's Hifi
Moovin Festival has 11 years under it's belt so far and this festival has kept itself small, but looks packed with arts and culture and a line-up that rivals some of the biggest. I'm a HUGE Mungo's HiFi fan and try to see them at least a couple of times a year, especially excited about dancing to their absolute classic dancehall in a more intimate setting. As well as some wonderfully themed stages and lots of fun extras, they have actual real flushing toilets...
Ground Rules, 19th to 21st June, Deene Park, Northampton
Real ones will know what a weekend at Deene Park means, and for those who haven't experienced it, you should. This brand new independent festival will showcase art, theatre and music from Acid House to Banghra and from Techno to Bardcore, so there's going to be something for all of your crew to discover. Held on the grounds that have housed Illusive for the last decade, this is bound to be a reunion of sorts...but without the camping. I'm not exactly sure how that's going to pan out as the location is quite out of the way, I'm guessing there will be a whole bunch of packed laybys around the areas...one to watch...
Wickham Festival, 30th July to 2nd August, Hampshire
Lineup Highlights: The Proclaimers and Amy Winehouse Original Band
A few years ago I attended Wickham festival as a bar supervisor and it was one of the strangest weekends of my life which I do not say lightly. From drinking homemade honey mead at 5am to working some of the longest shifts ever on a bar made out of a fairground ride with an enormous racist moose hanging from the front, so much happened at this funny little local festival that it's kept a place in my heart ever since. There's everything from yoga to silent disco to theatre and storytelling, plus the line-up is usually surprisingly good for such a small event, the location is lovely and it's cheap and family friendly.
Maui Waui, 28th to 30th August 2026, Suffolk
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| Credit: The Turner Brothers |
Line-up Highlights: Dub Pistols, Dreadzone and Phil Hartnoll from Orbital
We first learnt about Maui Waui at Bearded Theory festival, and incredible little festival near Derby that I would have included on this list had they not recently sold part of their endeavour to the big LN. The Maui Waui stage was incredible, with huge tentacles and amazing music, as well as a cute area for VIP and crew to relax and get away from the hubbub. Finding out it was an entirely separate festival in it's own right made we want to go, and then I found out The Turner Brothers were playing the festival last year too! I couldn't attend due to prior commitments but it looks SO fun it's definitely on my list for this year. Not only do kids go free which is wonderful for families, but the whole weekend looks packed out with live bands, comedy cabaret and art.
Foundations, 28th to 30th August, Huntingdon
Foundations has been in the making for a while, and lots of people I've met over the years are getting excited about it actually coming to fruition this year. With the ethos of the free party movement and fully independent, it's been the one most might be talking about, but other than the list of sound systems on their website I'm struggling to find more info about the festival itself, including the full line-up. Held on the site of Secret Garden Party, so you know it's likely to be of a similar vibe, but the venue is incredible with swimmable lakes, hidden woods and lots of potential...
Sound City, 4th to 6th September 2026, Gloucester
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| Credit: Annie Smith |
We needed something to fill this weekend, and by all accounts it seems that Sound City has everything we could have wished for. Not to be confused with the Liverpool based festival of the same name, Sound City has it's roots in sound system culture, three mega sound systems come together to create a spectacularly loud, fun and intimate weekend. I'll update this with line-up highlights when the line-up for this drops!
Mucky Weekender, 10th September to 12th September, Winchester
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| Credit: Me |
Last year was my first at this wicked little festival and I am so glad I went, the line-up is always incredible, as you would expect considering it's run by the Ashcroft family and the Dub Pistols. Featuring lineup line up line up. It's a slightly older, experienced party crowd with some seriously fun stages, I love the UFO in the woods, blasting Ed Solo and Deekline out to the muddiest most joyful crowd I'd ever seen. It's a really great vibe here, bring your best mates and enjoy the last proper festival weekend of the summer with a bunch of like-minded people, There's also lots of sober options, from functional and adaptogenic drinks to food laced with Lions Mane. See you there this summer!
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