The heatwave approaches, and with it the need to slap on the suncream, gather in a field and rock out to some live tunes. Oxfordshire's festival season is always a fruitful one; with that in mind, here's Daily Info's rundown of the biggest events this summer, from the underground favourites to the A-listers.
Wychwood Festival (Cheltenham Racecourse) - 29th - 31st May
Headliners: Craig David, Kaiser Chiefs, Levellers
Other acts: Sophie Ellis Bextor, Everything Everything, Boney M
Tickets: £76.45 to 129.40 (day ticket), £154.50 to £234.50 (Weekend no camping ticket), £159.50 to £239.50 (Weekend with camping)
This year Wychwood Festival welcomes everything from noughties crowdpleasers like the Kaiser Chiefs and Sophie Ellis-Bextor to disco cult legends Boney M, while on the Village Green you can explore your circus skills, drum out a samba or craft a keepsake. A truly family-friendly affair, the festival is free for under-10s and has plenty to keep festival-goers of all ages occupied
Henley Festival - 8th to 12th July
Headliners: Boy George and Culture Club, Ezra Collective, Sugababes, Lulu
Other acts: Bjorn Again, Jo Whiley's Festival Anthems, Shaparak Khorsandi
Tickets: £80-200 (per day)
It's no surprise given its swanky riverside setting that Henley's ticket price are a lttle on the steep side. But for your buck, you get the chance to see some 80s legends back in action, as well as laughs aplenty from seasoned stand-ups like Shaparak Khorsandi, Julian Clary and Suzi Ruffell. In the interim, you can graze at one of the venue's many restaurants and bars, inclusing a three course feasting experience in their Riverside marquee.
Heritage Live (at Englefield Estate) - 23rd - 25th July
Headliners: Faithless, Richard Ashcroft, Ministry of Sound
Other acts: Left Field, Tricky, Shed Seven, Tom Meighan, Example, The Kairos
Tickets: £75.40 (per day), VIP guest ares £84.40 (does not include concert ticket)
Heritage Live takes up residence at the Englefield Estate for three nights jam-packed with, well, jams. We start things dance-heavy on the 23rd with Faithless, followed by seminal Britpopper Richard Ashcroft, and closing things out with bass-thumping beats courtesy of Ministry of Sound. Each night's support has been curated to complement their headliner's sound, so settle in for a night (or three) of non-stop bangers. With less in the way of extracurricular activities on site, this is one for the music purists.
Truck Festival (Hill Farm) - 23rd to 26th July
Headliners: The Maccabees, Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats
Other Acts: Primal Scream, Kaiser Chiefs, The Libertines, CMAT
Tickets: Final tier £210 - £330 (weekend), £260 - £380 (weekend plus Thursday)
"The UK's most warped village fete" returns to Hill Farm; a surefire sellout, they're down to their final tier of tickets. Truck's sound is indier, punkier and grungier than other entries you might find on this list, so it's a great get if you like your listening experience with a harder edge. That's not to say it doesn't have a fun side though - look out for the Paint Party, Truck Gameshow and fancy dress on offer.
Wilderness Festival (Cornbury Festival) - 30th July - 2nd August
Headliners: Scissor Sisters, Carl Cox, The Last Dinner Party, Sisters curated by Annie Lennox
Other Acts: Soulwax, Baxter Dury, Groove Armada
Tickets: £288 weekend ticket
Wilderness is favouring high camp and maximalism with this year's lineup, from The Scissor Sisters to Sisters by Annie Lennox. Not only is the main stage packed, but the woods are bustling with informal cabaret, comedy and performance art, luxury dining experiences and more wellness treatments than you can shake a sage stick at. Where else can you see The Last Dinner Party and get in the sauna on the same day?
Fairport Cropredy Convention - 13th to 15th August
Headliners: Le Vent du Nord, Richard Thompson, Fairport Convention and Friends
Other Acts: Soft Machine, Matt Bragg, Spooky Mens' Chorale, Hayseed Dixie
Tickets: £240 weekend ticket
A magnet for folk and folk-rock lovers, Fairport Convention's Cropredy Festival has been going since 1980 with no signs of slowing. The festival is a testament to the diverse sound of the folk scene, from traditional Celtic song to more experimental arrangements, culminating in a closer of classics from Fairport Convention themselves.
Rewind Festival (Henley) - 21st - 23rd August
Headliners: The Human League, The Proclaimers
Other acts: Soul II Soul, Kim Wilde, The Undertones, Blancmange, Toploader, Peter Andre, Toyah
Tickets: £79.50 (per day) £145 (weekend, no camping), £167.50 (weekend, camping)
We would walk 500 miles to Rewind this year (but thankfully it's not that far!). Rewind is an ode to 80s nostalgia with performances from some of the decade's top hitmakers, headlined this year by new-wave pioneers The Human League and endlessly hummable Celtic rockers The Proclaimers. Wander away from the main stage and you'll find river taxis, fairground rides, silent discos and the warm glow of Club Flamingo...
Stowaway Festival (Stowe) - 31st Jul to 2nd August
Headliners: Nightmares on Wax, Kokoroko, Say She She
Other acts: Skream, Ewan McVickar, Emma-Jean Thackeray, Dr Banana
Tickets: £249 weekend tickets
The atmosphere's electric in more ways than one at Stowaway Festival, with the weekend's acts dedicated to dance music, EDM and anything that requires an abundance of strobes. And not to worry if you need to lower your BPM - just take a rest and a stretch in their wild spa and wellbeing area.
Reading Festival - 27th to 30th August
Headliners: Charli XCX, Chase and Status, Dave, Florence and the Machine, Fontaines D.C., Raye
Other acts: Kneecap, Paris Paloma, Skepta, Geese, Maisie Peters, Holly Humberstone
Tickets: £125-190 day ticket (Friday sold out), £295 weekend ticket (non camping)
Perhaps the biggest kahuna outside of Glasto, Reading brings together the biggest names on the music scene today. Brat summer may be over, but Charli XCX is still a force to be reckoned with; she'll be joined by operatic pop from Florence and the Machine, the lyrical hip-hop stylings of Dave, pulsing drum 'n' bass from Chase and Status, rock edge from Fontaines D.C and smooth as butter neo-soul from 2026's breakout star, Raye.
Victorious Festival (Portsmouth) - 28th to 30th August
Headliners: Richard Ashcroft, The Black Keys, Kasabian
Other acts: Scissor Sisters, The Vaccines, Bastille, Nile Rodgers, Basement Jaxx, The Streets
Tickets: Day ticket from £94, Weekend tickets from £239
No better way to counteract the muggy festival heat that with some sea air! If you miss Richard Ashcroft at Heritage, he'll be back at Portsmouth's Victorious Festival, alongside alt-rock royalty like Kasabian and The Black Keys. If mainstream pop is more your speed, Jessie J, Kate Nash and Pixie Lott will also be putting in appearances, and any boys in search of a yard should head directly to Kelis.
Big Feastival (Kingham) - 28th to 30th August
Headliners: Basement Jaxx, The Streets, Bastille, Rudimental
Other acts: Perrie, Doves, Meek, Nubiyan Twist
Tickets: day ticket £93/50 - £106, weekend ticket from £218
Music is the food of love, but well, often, so is food!. Big Feastival blends a powerhouse main stage with demos and stalls from top chefs in The Big Kitchen. Turn up the heat on the fire pit stage, entertain the kids at the Big Top, or immerse yourself in (musical) cheese at Alex James' Cheese Hub.
Found Festival (Claydon Estate) - 28th to 30th August
Headliners: Stornoway, Robin Ince, The Felice Brothers
Other acts: This is The Kit, Dele Sosimi Afrobeats Experience, True Foxes, Professor Elemental
Tickets: £185 - £275 weekend ticket
Found Festival leans gentler in its overall vibe, a not-for-profit endeavour to make the festival experience more accessible to everyone. To that end, it covers a multitude of genres from breezy indie-pop and afrobeats all the way to high energy DJ sets - if you have a pick and mix approach to your playlists, this is the sort of festival for dropping in and discovering something new.