Down At The Abbey Festival 2026
11 & 12 Sept '26
Down at the Abbey returns for its fourth edition to the spectacular 900-year-old Reading Abbey Ruins on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th September 2026, with two single-day events of contemporary breaking artists featuring Joshua Idehen, Ibibio Sound Machine & Nubiyan Twist, local food traders, local craft beer from Siren Craft Brew and all hosted in a family-friendly environment at one of the UK’s most atmospheric historic venues. The 2026 event is supported by Arts Council England and their Supporting Grassroots Music grant award.
The Line-Up so far...
Friday 11 September
- Nubiyan Twist
- Kathryn Joseph
- Nathan Fake
- Rose Rey
Saturday 12 September
- Joshua Idehen
- Ibibio Sound Machine
- C Duncan
- Paige Kennedy
- Sundaughter
- The New Eves
- The Wave Pictures
- Ziyad Al-Samman (full band)
More acts to be announced!
About Down At The Abbey
The creators of the award-winning Are You Listening? Festival return with the fourth edition of Down At The Abbey in the stunning setting of Reading’s Abbey Ruins. After the enormous success of the festival’s inaugural in 2019, and the subsequent sequel in 2021 and in 2023.
The Grade 1 listed Reading Abbey Ruins is a venue like no other. King Henry I started the construction of Reading Abbey in 1121 and once built, the great royal abbey was one of the largest monasteries in Europe for some 400 years, housing monks and religious relics including the hand of St James. In 1539, on the orders of King Henry VIII, Reading Abbey was destroyed, the monks were banished, and the Abbot was executed. The oldest piece of English music ‘Sumer Is Icumen’ dating back 1240 was discovered here.
The Abbey Ruins was re-opened after a 10yr restoration closure in 2018. Down at the Abbey was successfully launched in 2019 and featured artists including BC Camplight, Kathryn Joseph and The Wave Pictures. In 2021 the festival also ran a festival ‘Warm Up Party’ in the ruins on the Friday before the Saturday. Some of the artists who played in 2021 includes Snapped Ankles, Lonelady, Sinead O’Brien and The Utopia Strong. In 2023, artists included The Comet Is Coming, Los Bitchos and more.
The festival site backs onto the Kennet & Avon Canal and is a short distance from the Banksy mural located at the neighbouring Reading Goal.
For more information head to the Down At The Abbey Festival website