Reading Festival could extend live music by one day for revellers who’ve gone all out.
Festival-goers are allowed access to the site on Wednesdays and Thursdays if they have weekend tickets.
Typically, these two days of the festival act as a warm‑up for the main event, as early‑entry campers arrive on Wednesday and revellers can enjoy a silent disco and rides in the arena on Thursday, ahead of the first full day of live music on Friday.
But a licensing application has been submitted by the organisers, Festival Republic, that could see amplified music happening 5pm until midnight.
The organisers have also asked to sell alcohol from 11am to 3am on Wednesday, 10am to 5pm on Thursday, midnight to 3am on Friday, and 2am to 3am on Saturday and Sunday night.
The application also mentions the sale of alcohol from 2am to 3am on the Monday. It is understood this would apply to the Bank Holiday Monday.
It is unclear whether this application is to enable these activities for this year’s festival, or for next year’s festival from 2027 onwards.
Festival Republic has been emailed to clarify these points.
The licensing application has been submitted to Reading Borough Council.
A statutory consultation into the application is currently live. You can respond to it by emailing licensing@reading.gov.uk.
The deadline for responses is Friday, July 24.
The festival, inclusive of early bird camping and final departures, runs from Wednesday, August 26 to Monday, August 31.
