Festivalgoers at Reading, Leeds and Creamfields have been hit by heavy rain and thunderstorms, with new yellow warnings issued by the Met Office for much of England and Wales.
The warning is in force from midday until 9pm on Friday, covering much of England and Wales. The Met Office said there could be flooding of a few homes and businesses, while trains could be delayed and car journeys could take longer.
Thunderstorm warnings cover most of the country
Thunderstorm warnings cover most of the country, including the North West for Creamfields, Yorkshire for Leeds and the South East for Reading. Twelve areas in the UK are covered by Environment Agency flood alerts, meaning floods are possible.
Music lovers who have already been at the festivals have taken to social media to share their soggy experiences. One TikTok user shared a video of Creamfields entry, rolling a trolley down a muddy path with the caption: 'Carrying all that to camp wasn't okay.' Other videos showed people getting stuck in muddy dips in the path as they tried to drag their tents and weekend items into the festival.
Leeds and Reading forecasts
Leeds appeared to be faring slightly better, with grass still visible on the campsite, although the rain has already begun to pour. As one TikTok user put it, 'Leeds Festival 2026, it's starting out wetter than an otter's pocket'.
The forecast remains reasonably warm over the weekend, consistently in the early 20s across the country even if the heavens have opened. The Met Office said Reading Festival is expected to 'experience a notably unsettled few days'. They added: 'The forecast points to heavy showers and thunderstorms possibly developing with warm and humid air helping to fuel some intense downpours. Temperatures are expected to stay slightly above average, and while there may be some sunshine between weather systems, conditions are likely to remain changeable from day to day.'
Up in Leeds, the forecaster said: 'Low pressure moving in from the south-west is forecast to bring an increased risk of heavy showers and thunderstorms. Although temperatures should remain a little above average, any warm spells are likely to be interrupted by frequent showers and the potential for locally torrential downpours. Humidity levels are also expected as the weekend approaches.'
Line-ups for the weekend
At Reading and Leeds, the four-day twin events have announced Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence and the Machine, Fontaines D.C. and Raye as headliners. Elsewhere on the lineup are Jade, Geese, Loyle Carner, and Skepta.
For Creamfields, the line-up includes Calvin Harris, Tiësto, Swedish House Mafia and Sonny Fodera.
