The Best Family-Friendly Festivals In The UK 2026
Image Credit: Annie Spratt
Get your suncream out, there is a fantastic summer of music, food, comedy and so much more coming up in 2026 as the festival season starts in earnest.
Get your summer entertainment sorted with our guide to the UK's biggest and best family friendly festivals.
With fun for all the family including top music stars and kid-friendly fun, entertainment and activities these festivals will suit music lovers, craft fans and foodies alike.
Festivals, epecially festivals designed to appeal to the whole family, are fast becoming one of the most popular ways to spend your great British summer, so let's dive in and find the best kid friendly music festivals in the UK this summer!
2026 Family Friendly Festivals
Top Tip: Many of the biggest and most popular summer festivals in the UK sell out really fast - so it's best to get in early. Plus many of the festivals offer earlybird deals which can save you lots of money on your festival tickets.
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- Teddy Rocks
- Bearded Theory
- Elderflower Fields
- The Big Retreat Festival
- Wychwood Festival
- Splendour
- Fantasy Forest
- Kaleidoscope Festival
- Camp Bestival Dorset
- Latitude
- Kendall Calling
- Wilderness Festival
- Green Man
- The Big Feastival
- CarFest
Date: 1st - 3rd May 2026
Location: Charisworth Farm, Blandford, Dorset
The first family festival of the year, Teddy Rocks, is a family friendly event raising money for Teddy20, a children's cancer charity. You can camp on site in a tent and there are glamping options.
The music is an eclectic mix of rock, electro, acoustic, dubstep, drum and bass, and everything in between. The Hoosiers and The Wurzels(!) have already been announced as headliners, with a host of the UK's top tribute bands joining them.
Date: 20th-24th May 2026
Location: Catton Hall, Derbyshire
The Midlands' biggest family friendly festival, Bearded Theory is located in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside, and it is returning for 2026.
The amazing line-up includes Pixies and Skunk Anansie and many more fabulous acts.
There will also be DJ sets, cabaret and Earth Area, a crafts and healing space, where you can chill out, acquire new skills, excite your senses and treat your body, mind and spirit.
Date: 22nd - 25th May 2026
Location: Ashdown Forest, East Sussex
Elderflower Fields is the perfect first festival for families with kids. With family friendly music acts and woods full of kids activities including skateboarding, climbing, slacklining, parkour and many more adrenaline pumping experiences.
The kids can chill out after all that exhilaration with Arts Camp, crafty activities, the brilliant science dome, silly sports and all hte family can refuel with the wonderful food and drink vendors.
Tickets are already on sale and performers will be announced in the autumn.
Date: 22nd - 25th May 2026
Location: Lawrenny, Pembrokeshire
Get back to nature in the wilds of West Wales at The Big Retreat Festival. Reconnect with yourself, the people you love, and the things that simply make you smile. Have fun, nourish your soul, and restore your body.
Along with a DJ set from Craig Charles you can see Rebecca Ferguson, harpist Catrin Finch and the Rick Parfitt Band.
Date: 29th - 31st May 2026
Location: Cheltenham Racecourse
The Wychwood Festival is one of the UK's most popular kid-friendly festivals,with top name music acts plus majorettes, parades, silly sports, circus school and street theatre. It is know for it's friendly, homely atmosphere and top music line-up.
For all the family there is dance and arts workshops, a circus school and a programme of talks, debates and comedy for all ages.
Tickets are already on sale. The line up has not been announced at time of writing.
Date: 18th to 19th July 2026
Location: Wollaton Park, Nottingham
Nottingham's Splendour festival is Nottingham's biggest festival and itreturns in 2026, with a line-up which includes The Wombats and Snow Patrol and more.
With stalls, a funfair and kid's area there will be lots for the whole family.
The festival also gives lots of local talent a chance to shine too. Pack a picnic and if you are a Nottingham resident you can get discounted tickets too.
Image Credit: Fantasy Forest Festival
Date: 17th - 19th July 2026
Location: Sudeley Castle, Cheltenham
Fantasy Forest, the popular family-friendly festival, is a weekend packed full of lively entertainment, unique experiences, fantastic food and drink, and much more. Enjoy a magical weekend of fun, live music and entertainment at one of the Cotswold’s most well-known castle and grounds.
The full programme will be announced soon, but they promise a legendary weekend, filled with the sound of headliner Sunfire and Film Orchestra was joined by thousands of wonderful costumes.
Date: 11th July 2026
Location: Alexandra Park & Palace, London
The Kaleidoscope Festival is London’s highest festival, held at Alexandra Park next to the iconic Alexandra Palace.
This year's headliners will be announced shortly.
Returning for it's 5th year in 2026, as well as bands there are DJ sets and for families there will be magic, games, mini adventures plus delicious street food and drinks from local heroes.
Date: 30th July - 2nd August 2026
Location: Lulworth Castle, Dorset
Camp Bestival Dorset is the family friendly Bestival festival and this one has as much for the adults as the kids, with headliners from the best of rock and pop as well as top DJs.
For 2026 the line-up includes Basement Jaxx, Sugababes, Tom Jones, The Zutons, Andy and the Odd Socks, Dick & Dom and many more.
For the kids there is lots of entertainment for the including stage shows, vintage fairground rides plus lots more fun and games all over the site.
Date: 23rd - 26th July 2026
Location: Henham Park, Suffolk
Latitude is one of the big daddies of the festival world, as famous for it's varied food selection and glamping tents as for it's top name line of big name music acts.
Latitude 2026's acts have not been announced at time of writing .
For younger kids there is a dedicated area with country activites, while 12-16 year olds can enter another world of music, media, technology, fashion, wildlife survival skills and assault courses suspended in the trees.
Image Credit: Yvette de Wit
Date: 30th July - 2nd August 2026
Location: Lowther Deer Park, Lake District
Held in the picturesque Lake District this event features a stellar lineup of bands, comedy and cabaret across four stages, along with a beer festival, cinema and disco.
With a fucus on sustainability, there are a whole host of activities for children of all ages, including yoga, theatre shows, inflatables, circus workshops face painting and more!
At time of writing the line up has not been revealed.
Date: 30th July - 2nd August 2026
Location: Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
Wilderness is a four-day boutique festival spanning Music, The Arts, Food and Wellbeing, all set amidst the idyllic surroundings of Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire.
The 2026 line up of the Wilderness Festival will be announced shortly.
The mix of music, crafts and kids activities make it perfect for families.
Date: 20th - 23rd August 2026
Location: Brecon Beacons, Wales
At Green Man, while the adults rock out to their favourite bands, kids up to 12 can explore The Lost City Of Atlantis, set against the backdrop of lush green Welsh mountains, the kids can go wild in their own aquatic adventure. Packed with an assortment of delights including craft workshops, bubbles galore, a bit of magic or just frivolous fun.
Headliners are still to be announced at time of writing, but this festival is already sold out, so ticket re-sellers will be your only chance of attending.
With a focus on Welsh music and a chance to camp in the lush Welsh countryside, Green Man is the perfect place to use as a base for exploring the wider area of the magnificant Breacon Beacons.
Image Credit: Azzedine Rouichi
Date: 28th - 30th August 2026
Location: Alex James' Farm, near Kingham, Oxfordshire
This foodies delight, The Big Feastival is held annually at Blur bassist and cheesemaker Alex James' farm in the Cotswolds. It always features a stellar line-up of bands - after all Alex James has some pretty good contacts in the music industry!
For the kids there is fun from their favourite stars of kids TV and fim, plus animals, a funfair, crafts, tree climbing and much more.
The The Big Feastival line up for 2026 is still to be announced at time of writing.
Date: 28th - 30th August 2026
Location: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northamptonshire
Created by TV and radio star Chris Evans, CarFest was founded to help raise funds for UK Children’s Charities. CarFest is now the largest family fundraising festival in the UK.
For 2026 it moves to the legendary Silverstone Circuit for the first time.
As well as bands and DJs guests include comedy stars, writers, cooks and actors!
2026's lineup will be announced shortly.
Image Credit: Hanny Naibaho
5 Top Tips For First-Time Festivalgoers
If it's your first time at a festival, here are some quick tips on how to make the most of your festival experience.
- Check the weather before you go and pack accordingly. You all know what the great British summer is like, so remember to take suncream, waterproofs, wellies, thermals and shorts! But seriously, you'll enjoy yourself much more with a little planning.
- Arrive as early as possible to set up and relax before the madness begins. If you are camping for the first time, practice assembling your tent beforehand. And don't forget there will be lots of shopping, so get in first so that you don't miss any of the performers or activities.
- Bring supplies. Yes there will be stalls where you can buy anything that you might need, but it will be much more relaxing if you don't have to rush round trying to buy spare socks or a phone charger. Make a list ahead of time and add items as you think of them. Then keep the list for next year, adding anything that you forgot this year....!
- If you get separated from friends or family, it is a really good idea to arrange in advance a special place where you can meet. Some of the festivals listed here are HUGE and it's very easy to get lost. Have a designated meeting place and time agreed. And keep your phone charged.
- Get out there and have fun! Enjoy this year's festivals, knowing that you are supporting live music and entertainment and supporting the hundreds of small businesses that trade at these events.