‘Reading Festival’s lineup was mind-blowing – 2026 organisers should take notes’
EXCLUSIVE: Daily Star ventured down to Reading Festival to check out this year’s stacked lineup with some of the biggest names in rock and metal right now19:53, 31 Aug 2025Updated 19:56, 31 Aug 2025Reading Festival’s Saturday lineup was one of the best this festival season.I went along on Saturday 23 August and to catch Enter Shikari, Limp Bizkit and Bring Me The Horizon, a day which quickly became one of my favourite live music experiences to date.I’ve been a personal fan of all three bands since my early teens so yeah, you could say I have some bias, but there’s no denying it was a truly mind-blowing event for rock and metal fans alike. Enter Shikari kicked off the night, a band I’ve been meaning to catch live ever since I started going to gigs, and they were far better than I could have ever expected.Limp Bizkit followed and played all their classics, from Nookie to Break Stuff to their iconic performance of Full Nelson with one lucky fan they pulled up on stage (shoutout Brooke). The atmosphere was electric as everyone in the crowd shouted from the tops of their voices and waited for BMTH’s grand finale to close out the night.Limp Bizkit were incredible live…more like this next year please!(Image: Getty Images)Oli always puts on a good show but their NeX GEn era has allowed the band to worldbuild like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Screens lit up with a giant talking monster and a robot…thing…that scanned the crowd and warped faces into unrecognisable living dead figures.BMTH’s immersive on-stage storyline featured AI zombies, bald angels, performers in hazmat suits, a church backdrop covered in snow and an homage to Britpop icons Oasis with a heavy metal version of Wonderwall to top it all off.Their whole set felt like a video game – as one song finished another level unlocked, with lore to discover and computer viruses to defeat (just watch their set on BBC iPlayer if you don’t know what I’m talking about).BMTH’s post-apocalyptic theme featured giant talking cyborgs, wild pyrotechnics and crazy green lazers(Image: Getty Images)Reading Festival organisers, I’m speaking to you directly: Keep. It. Up! This year’s Saturday lineup was legendary and it will certainly be a hard one to beat in 2026, but I have faith you can go bigger and better than ever before if you stay on this path.In other festival news, disposable vapes are the latest sustainability challenge in the ongoing single-use plastic problem at festivals and events. The new disposable vape ban came into effect on 1st June 2025, but festival-goers will still be able to take in alternative options and get their nicotine moment with nicotine pouches from brands such as Nordic Spirit.Article continues belowJoin the Daily Star’s WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots moreThe Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!Through the app, we’ll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.To join our community, all you have to do to join isclick on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in!No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.CLICK HERE TO JOINHave you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz hereWant all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter More