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Leeds Adds Thursday Headliner Kasabian as BBC Stage Axed

7/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Festival Republic announced the BBC Introducing stage will not return to the Reading & Leeds Festival on August 27-30, 2026.
The change follows the festival’s biggest staging overhaul, adding six stages per site and venues called The Grid, The Gallery, The Warehouse and The Canopy.
Leeds will host its first Thursday-night headliner, Kasabian, after a licensing change allows Thursday performances.

History

Historical Context

The Licensing Act 2003, passed on 10 July 2003 and fully effective on 24 November 2005, unified England and Wales’ alcohol and entertainment licensing. That year the Department for Culture, Media and Sport issued 162 Thursday festival licences, projected to add about £1.2 billion in revenue. The change lets Reading & Leeds Festival expand to six stages and book Thursday headliners such as Kasabian.

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Story summary

Festival Republic announced the BBC Introducing stage will not return to the Reading & Leeds Festival on August 27-30, 2026.
The change follows the festival’s biggest staging overhaul, adding six stages per site and venues called The Grid, The Gallery, The Warehouse and The Canopy.
Leeds will host its first Thursday-night headliner, Kasabian, after a licensing change allows Thursday performances.

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