Y Not Festival 2026, held at Pikehall in the Derbyshire Dales, expanded to 33,000 capacity and delivered a weekend of standout performances from The Libertines, The Reytons, Two Door Cinema Club, and The Streets.
Expanded site and new additions
Returning for its "biggest ever year," the festival grew from 28,000 to 33,000 revellers ahead of its 20th anniversary next summer. Early bird tickets started at £110, keeping it among the UK's best-value family-friendly festivals.
New for 2026 was an improved Strawberry Fields Forever zone, plus two new dance spaces: Dubtendo and Sub Culture. The Hog & Barrel pub venue also received upgrades.
Thursday and Friday highlights
Thursday opened with Hard-Fi and Ash, before The Libertines headlined with a gloriously chaotic set. Friday saw Reverend & The Makers, Freddie Halkon, and The Royston Club, whose field-wide singalong of 'Cariad' was a highlight.
Dizzee Rascal drew a wall-to-wall crowd, while The Reytons' headline set, opening with 'Red Smoke' and closing with 'Low Life', silenced doubters and turned Pikehall into a party.
Saturday and Sunday standouts
Saturday's sunshine brought strong sets from The Vaccines and Kaiser Chiefs. Two Door Cinema Club closed with 'What You Know', while The Enemy and Inspiral Carpets shone in The Quarry.
Sunday featured Lottery Winners, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Rizzle Kicks, and Scissor Sisters. The Streets closed with Skinner surfing the crowd with an inflatable alien, leading singalongs of 'Fit But You Know It' and 'Blinded by the Lights'.
Minor issues and overall verdict
Entry bottlenecks, peak-time toilet queues, and a packed campsite were noted as lessons for organisers. Yet these were small footnotes in an otherwise well-run weekend, leaving this reviewer planning a return for the 20th anniversary.
