{"id":2053848,"date":"2026-07-21T12:33:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T09:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2053848"},"modified":"2026-07-21T12:33:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T09:33:31","slug":"bbc-introducing-stage-axed-from-reading-leeds-festival-after-18-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2053848","title":{"rendered":"BBC Introducing Stage axed from Reading &amp; Leeds festival after 18 years"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Ed-Sheeran-on-the-BBC-Introducing-Stage-of-Reading-Festival-2011.-CREDIT_-Andy-Sheppard_Redferns.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><span>Music News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">BBC Introducing Stage axed from Reading &amp; Leeds festival after 18 years<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Roughly 70% of artists on this year&#8217;s line-up played on the stage at some point, including headliners Florence + The Machine, Charli XCX, Dave and Raye<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Laura Molloy<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-07-21T13:33:31+01:00\">21st July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Ed-Sheeran-on-the-BBC-Introducing-Stage-of-Reading-Festival-2011.-CREDIT_-Andy-Sheppard_Redferns-696x442.jpg\" alt title=\"Reading Festival 2011 - Day 3\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Ed Sheeran on the BBC Introducing Stage of Reading Festival 2011. CREDIT: Andy Sheppard\/Redferns<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The BBC Introducing Stage at Reading &amp; Leeds Festival will be axed after 18 years.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: Reading &amp; Leeds boss talks biggest-ever arena overhaul and \u201cstrength of UK and Irish music\u201d on line-up: \u201cWe\u2019re buzzing with ideas for the future\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The stage, which launched in 2008, has famously hosted young, emerging artists before they break into the industry. Over the years it\u2019s seen the likes of Ed Sheeran and The 1975 perform, as well as this year\u2019s headliners Florence + The Machine,\u00a0Charli XCX,\u00a0Dave and Raye.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>It comes as a result of a massive staging and arena overhaul, described by the organisers as the biggest in the events\u2019 history. Both Little John\u2019s Farm in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds will have up to six stages on site, with improvements to the Main Stage now known as The Grid, along with new stages The Gallery and The Warehouse.<\/p>\n<p>As part of the plans, the festival is dropping the BBC Introducing stage, which the <em>BBC<\/em> reports has supported roughly 70% of all the UK artists on this year\u2019s line-up.<\/p>\n<p>Organisers Festival Republic have said they have a \u201cbig focus on championing emerging artists\u201d, and that the new Canopy stage will be the home for new and breaking acts.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, a BBC spokesperson has said festivals across the UK would continue to host BBC Introducing stages this summer with \u201cline-ups including some fantastic up-and-coming artists\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>It said the decision to remove the stage at Reading had been made purely by Festival Republic, and that it was exploring how BBC Introducing could work with the event in future.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>Festival Republic boss Melvin Benn recently told <em>NME<\/em> about his plans for the festival going forward.\u00a0\u201cThe whole stage change and the presentation of the way we\u2019re making those stage changes, it\u2019s made me as excited about Reading &amp; Leeds as I\u2019ve ever been,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m as excited about Reading &amp; Leeds from when I started Leeds, in fact, in 1999. This really is the next phase of Reading &amp; Leeds festivals.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Festival boss Melvin Benn on evolving Reading &amp; Leeds Festival and future headliners\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5fnaeFKUb5g?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>Benn also reflected on the roles of Reading &amp; Leeds in developing artists, telling us: \u201cThose headliners have very much developed their skills, craft and songwriting in front of audiences that weren\u2019t necessarily their own, and I think that\u2019s what Reading &amp; Leeds does for emerging acts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The organisers of Reading &amp; Leeds also recently applied for a licensing change that would allow acts to perform on a Thursday, making the festival a four-day event.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>This year\u2019s dual event \u2013 dubbed the start of \u2018Reading &amp; Leeds 2.0\u2019 \u2013 is set to take place at Little John\u2019s Farm in Reading, and Bramham Park in Leeds between August 27 and 30.<\/p>\n<p>Leeds, which takes place on the same weekend, already has permission to perform music on a Thursday, and will do so for the first time this year with Kasabian\u00a0headlining their main stage.\u00a0Fontaines D.C.,\u00a0Florence + The Machine,\u00a0DAVE,\u00a0Charli XCX,\u00a0RAYE, and\u00a0Chase &amp; Status\u00a0are\u00a0all confirmed to top the bill for both weekends.<\/p>\n<p>The rest of the initial bill featured\u00a0Skepta,\u00a0Sombr,\u00a0Role Model,\u00a0JADE,\u00a0Kneecap, Kettama, Chris Stussy,\u00a0Geese,\u00a0Skye Newman,\u00a0ADELA\u00a0and KEO.<\/p>\n<p>In March,\u00a0more names were added to the stacked line-up, including Loyle Carner (Reading only), Violet Grohl,\u00a0Holly Humberstone,\u00a0Gurriers,\u00a0Westside Cowboy,\u00a0Declan McKenna,\u00a0Maisie Peters,\u00a0Paris Paloma,\u00a0Cruz Beckham,\u00a0The Lathums\u00a0(Leeds only),\u00a0Viagra Boys\u00a0(Reading only),\u00a0Florence Road,\u00a0Men I Trust\u00a0(Reading only),\u00a0The K\u2019s\u00a0(Leeds only),\u00a0Gunna\u00a0(Reading only),\u00a0Overpass, and\u00a0Duke Dumont.<\/p>\n<p>Last month 13 more acts were added to the bill\u00a0including Gene Gallagher-led band and\u00a0NME 100 stars Villanelle, as well as boyband December 10 and London-based pop rock star Beth McCartney.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Live Music News<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap 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show<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The BBC Introducing Stage at Reading &amp; Leeds Festival will be axed after 18 years.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: Reading &amp; Leeds boss talks biggest-ever arena overhaul and \u201cstrength of UK and Irish music\u201d on line-up: \u201cWe\u2019re buzzing with ideas for the future\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The stage, which launched in 2008, has famously hosted young, emerging artists before they break into the industry. Over the years it\u2019s seen the likes of Ed Sheeran and The 1975 perform, as well as this year\u2019s headliners Florence + The Machine,\u00a0Charli XCX,\u00a0Dave and Raye.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>It comes as a result of a massive staging and arena overhaul, described by the organisers as the biggest in the events\u2019 history. Both Little John\u2019s Farm in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds will have up to six stages on site, with improvements to the Main Stage now known as The Grid, along with new stages The Gallery and The Warehouse.<\/p>\n<p>As part of the plans, the festival is dropping the BBC Introducing stage, which the <em>BBC<\/em> reports has supported roughly 70% of all the UK artists on this year\u2019s line-up.<\/p>\n<p>Organisers Festival Republic have said they have a \u201cbig focus on championing emerging artists\u201d, and that the new Canopy stage will be the home for new and breaking acts.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, a BBC spokesperson has said festivals across the UK would continue to host BBC Introducing stages this summer with \u201cline-ups including some fantastic up-and-coming artists\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>It said the decision to remove the stage at Reading had been made purely by Festival Republic, and that it was exploring how BBC Introducing could work with the event in future.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>Festival Republic boss Melvin Benn recently told <em>NME<\/em> about his plans for the festival going forward.\u00a0\u201cThe whole stage change and the presentation of the way we\u2019re making those stage changes, it\u2019s made me as excited about Reading &amp; Leeds as I\u2019ve ever been,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m as excited about Reading &amp; Leeds from when I started Leeds, in fact, in 1999. This really is the next phase of Reading &amp; Leeds festivals.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Festival boss Melvin Benn on evolving Reading &amp; Leeds Festival and future headliners\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5fnaeFKUb5g?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>Benn also reflected on the roles of Reading &amp; Leeds in developing artists, telling us: \u201cThose headliners have very much developed their skills, craft and songwriting in front of audiences that weren\u2019t necessarily their own, and I think that\u2019s what Reading &amp; Leeds does for emerging acts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The organisers of Reading &amp; Leeds also recently applied for a licensing change that would allow acts to perform on a Thursday, making the festival a four-day event.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>This year\u2019s dual event \u2013 dubbed the start of \u2018Reading &amp; Leeds 2.0\u2019 \u2013 is set to take place at Little John\u2019s Farm in Reading, and Bramham Park in Leeds between August 27 and 30.<\/p>\n<p>Leeds, which takes place on the same weekend, already has permission to perform music on a Thursday, and will do so for the first time this year with Kasabian\u00a0headlining their main stage.\u00a0Fontaines D.C.,\u00a0Florence + The Machine,\u00a0DAVE,\u00a0Charli XCX,\u00a0RAYE, and\u00a0Chase &amp; Status\u00a0are\u00a0all confirmed to top the bill for both weekends.<\/p>\n<p>The rest of the initial bill featured\u00a0Skepta,\u00a0Sombr,\u00a0Role Model,\u00a0JADE,\u00a0Kneecap, Kettama, Chris Stussy,\u00a0Geese,\u00a0Skye Newman,\u00a0ADELA\u00a0and KEO.<\/p>\n<p>In March,\u00a0more names were added to the stacked line-up, including Loyle Carner (Reading only), Violet Grohl,\u00a0Holly Humberstone,\u00a0Gurriers,\u00a0Westside Cowboy,\u00a0Declan McKenna,\u00a0Maisie Peters,\u00a0Paris Paloma,\u00a0Cruz Beckham,\u00a0The Lathums\u00a0(Leeds only),\u00a0Viagra Boys\u00a0(Reading only),\u00a0Florence Road,\u00a0Men I Trust\u00a0(Reading only),\u00a0The K\u2019s\u00a0(Leeds only),\u00a0Gunna\u00a0(Reading only),\u00a0Overpass, and\u00a0Duke Dumont.<\/p>\n<p>Last month 13 more acts were added to the bill\u00a0including Gene Gallagher-led band and\u00a0NME 100 stars Villanelle, as well as boyband December 10 and London-based pop rock star Beth McCartney.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/bbc-introducing-stage-axed-from-reading-leeds-festival-after-18-years-3958200&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Ed-Sheeran-on-the-BBC-Introducing-Stage-of-Reading-Festival-2011.-CREDIT_-Andy-Sheppard_Redferns.jpg&#8221;] NewsMusic News BBC Introducing Stage axed from Reading &amp; Leeds festival after 18 years Roughly 70% of artists on this year&#8217;s line-up played on the stage at some point, including headliners Florence + The Machine, Charli XCX, Dave and Raye By Laura Molloy 21st July 2026 Ed Sheeran on the BBC Introducing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2053848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2053848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2053848"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2053848\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2053848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2053848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2053848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}