Credit Visit Isle of Wight
There is nothing like the unique atmosphere of a music festival, and a growing number of festival goers are heading to the South East to experience their favourite bands and artists at some of the top music festivals in the UK.
Whether you're camping for the weekend or just going for the day, you will be spoilt for choice with a huge range of rock, dance and pop music on offer throughout the year.
Take a look at the event highlights below as we will guide you through the best music festivals 2025 in South East England.
Isle of Wight Festival, (19 - 22 June 2025) returns in June 2025. The award winning Isle of Wight Festival is steeped in history and famed for mixing iconic legendary artists with the hottest up and coming acts - this year welcoming Sting, Stereophonics and Justin Timberlake.
If you're looking for something spiritual then Oxfordshire's Wilderness Festival is taking place at the end of July (31 July - 3 August 2025) at Cornbury Park . Spread across four days the festival is ideal for nature lovers and not only does it have fantastic live music but offers contemporary arts, an array of theatre and craftsmanship.
Portsmouth’s Victorious Festival (22 - 24 August 2025) offers off site camping with a free shuttle bus to and from the site. The Farlington campsite has different zooms including a family friendly area, with ties it the festivals large Kids arena - shortlist in the UK Festival Awards for Best Family Festival in 2015, 2016 & 2018. Head along this year to see artists such as Queens of the Stone Age and Kings of Leon.
Arguably one of the most popular festivals in the UK is Berkshire's Reading Festival (21 - 24 August 2025). Taking place on August Bank holiday weekend, the three-day music event traditionally attracts some of the best rock bands in the world despite having more dance acts in recent years. This year artists include Limp Bizkit, Hozier, Bring Me The Horizon, Travis Scott and many more!
If sleeping conditions are not for you then don’t worry as there are several festivals offering ‘Glamping’ which is a more comfortable way of experiencing a festival or if you're looking to stay nearby, check out our accommodation listings.
Many of the mainstream festivals are well known and a must do, for any regular festival goer. However, there are a whole host of other smaller UK music festivals, concerts and events celebrating different styles and genre that are ideal for the general music lovers. Here are some of our top pics from across the destination showcasing a mix of UK music including alternative rock, jazz, folk and classical. You can find others on the events pages which you can explore by county.
Number of results: 26
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Festival
Smugglers Festival is a gathering on the last weekend of summer each year, on a beautiful woodland in East-Kent. It’s a small, intimate festival, rooted in community from the outset.
Festival
Basingstoke
The UK's biggest food festival dedicated to Caribbean food returns bigger and better for another amazing family day of food, drink, cooking demonstrations, shopping and music.
FREE ENTRY FOR UNDER 14s
This will be an unforgettable outdoor…
Festival
Ovington, Alresford
A world of unity, creativity & freedom, Boomtown Fair is a four day festival set in the Matterley bowl in Hampshire, UK on the second weekend of August. Boomtown fuses a diverse line-up of underground and global music with boundary pushing immersive…
Festival
Windsor
Each year the world’s finest musicians, writers, artists, and local performers entertain and delight festival audiences, celebrate Windsor's special place as a Royal town, and to inspire the next generation of artistic talent and creativity.
Free Event
Lee-on-the-Solent
Summer in Lee returns for its 9th year to Lee-on-the-Solent, Gosport this summer. The event will involve Smile Emporium, The Smile Stage, Summer Fun Fair and Summer Pirates all on the Lee-on-Solent promenade over 3 days with different genres of…
Festival
Portsmouth
Victorious Festival returns for 2025 - bringing some of the biggest bands and artists to Southsea Common.
Music
Gosport
3 stages of music and cabaret, with well over 60 top acts.. Award winning world street food, Wellbeing and healing area, burlesque, Rock School and kids activities and entertainment, and more…
Festival
Faversham
Dates: Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th August 2025
Open: 10am – 5pm
Brogdale Cider Festival: Exciting new layout for 2025! Enjoy local ciders, music and family fun. Free shuttle bus to and from Faversham station.
Savour the summer while you sample…
Festival
Fareham
Wickham Festival is a 4-day music & arts festival held every August in a stunningly beautiful rural location near the historic village of Wickham in Hampshire.
Music
Margate
Margate Soul Weekender the ultimate celebration of world-class music, vibrant performances, and soulful connection.
Set against Margate's stunning seaside backdrop, this will include the biggest and best lineup yet!
Music
Eastbourne
With more than 100 concerts across the season, Eastbourne Bandstand has a packed line-up in 2025, including the return of the 1812 Proms & Firework Nights on Wednesday evenings from 11th June to 3rd September (except 18th June), and Traditional…
Festival
Reading
One of the biggest musical festivals in the world, every year over 90,000 people flock to the Richfield Avenue site to experience the iconic event.
Festival
Southampton
It's our biggest festival of the year, with three sell out years in a row! Live Music in the garden on the Castle Stage from - RED RUM The Captains Beard Brian Stone & the Masters of None Cutlass Alphalfa.
Music
Winchester,
Part of Winchester Jazz Festival
Direct from London's world-famous jazz club and combining world class live jazz, narration and rare archive photos and video footage, The Ronnie Scott's All Stars return to Winchester with a brand-new programme of…
Music
Petworth
The Petworth Summer Festival returns in 2025, held across 10 venues in and around the historic town of Petworth, West Sussex this event runs from the 17th July - 2nd August. Started 40 years ago it celebrates music including jazz, contemporary, and…
Festival
Henley On Thames
With its wonderful range of entertainment in a breathtaking setting on the banks of the River Thames and with some of the best wining and dining seen at any Festival, Henley Festival makes for a highly glamorous party not to be missed, with stars on
Music
Henley-on-Thames
Rewind South comes to Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire this August, with headliners including Soft Cell, ABC, Holly Johnson and many more!
Festival
Newport
The award winning Isle of Wight Festival is steeped in history and famed for mixing iconic legendary artists with the hottest up and coming acts.
Music
Brighton
Boasting four huge stages of music, the biggest '00s and '90s bands, artists and DJs from around the world, funfair rides, a '90s arcade, Retro Bars, an RnB Roller Disco, Gormet Street Food, Exclusive VIP area and so much more, this is the ultimate…
Arts
Ramsgate
Celebrating Ramsgate through sound, art, performance and community
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