Full Breakdown
Reading Festival’s Bid to Add Thursday Night Music Raises Noise Concerns
8/19/2026, 2:09:35 AM
Thursday Night Licence Request
Festival Republic has applied to Reading Borough Council to extend its music licence so that amplified performances can occur on the main stage on Thursdays between 17:00 and 23:00 BST, beginning in 2027. The change would turn the event into a four-day festival, with an additional £1 added to each ticket to support local people and businesses. The application cites an internal assessment that found Thursday performances would not “adversely impact” nearby residents.
Background and Resident Concerns
Reading Festival traditionally uses Wednesdays and Thursdays as warm-up days, allowing ticket-holders with camping passes to arrive before the main Friday-Sunday programme. Hundreds of residents, represented by the Warren & District Residents Association (WADRA) and the Caversham and District Residents Association (CADRA), object to the proposed Thursday music on the grounds that amplified sound late into the evening could disrupt sleep for those who remain at home. Malcolm Pemble of CADRA described the change as “unfair” to local residents.
Official Statements & Responses
Mevin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic, explained the motivation: “We wanted to add the Thursday in order to give people better value for money for the ticket, for people with weekend tickets, but also to invite people to come on the Thursday evening for whatever the Thursday performance will be.” — Mevin Benn, managing director — “We wanted to add the Thursday in order to give people better value for money for the ticket, for people with weekend tickets, but also to invite people to come on the Thursday evening for whatever the Thursday performance will be.” Benn added that Thursday entertainment would give younger attendees a supervised option rather than congregating in campsites. The licence application also notes that the Thursday slot would feature headline acts such as Charli XCX, Dave and Chase & Status, mirroring a similar Thursday arrangement already approved for the sister Leeds festival.
Implications and Next Steps
If approved, the Thursday night programme would commence with the 2027 festival, while this year’s event runs from 27-30 August. The council’s licensing committee will consider the residents’ objections alongside the festival’s economic and safety arguments before reaching a decision. The outcome will determine whether Reading’s iconic weekend will expand to a four-day format and how the balance between cultural benefit and local quality of life is managed.
