July 2026 UK Festivals & Live Music: Latitude, Eddfest & more!

July is peak festival season. Perhaps you've already braved the British heatwave to attend a festival this year, but now is the time to start bulk-buying suncream in preparation for the cool upcoming events happening this month!

Of course, the biggest omission from this year's festival calendar is Glastonbury, which is taking a year off...but the show must go on! 

The UK's live music calendar has spread out across hundreds of festivals, outdoor concerts, and one-off events. It's the perfect month to experience everything from stadium rock and indie favourites to intimate outdoor gigs, while keeping an eye on the latest trends in guitar tone and live production.

Whether you're heading to a festival or simply looking for inspiration for your own playing, July is packed with opportunities.

Latitude Festival - Suffolk, UK

23rd–26th July 2026

Latitude is one of the UK's most diverse festivals, combining performances from a range of artists spanning indie, alternative, folk, electronic, and more. They even have a separate comedy stage for those who love to laugh.

This year's line-up sees appearances from Lewis Capaldi, Teddy Swims, Billy Ocean, Wet Leg, and many more.

For guitar players, Latitude Festival offers the opportunity to discover some cool new acoustic artists, and hear electronic artist using the guitar in unconventional ways.

Lytham Festival - Lytham, UK

1st-5th July 2026

Another very diverse festival takes place in Lytham. This five-day event in early July showcases a wide range of artists, including performances from some huge industry names such as Alanis Morissette, Pet Shop Boys, Skunk Anansie, and Michael Bublé. 

While this is not a guitar-heavy line-up, much like Latitude there are plenty of opportunities to discover something new and hear the guitar used in fresh and exciting ways.

Steelhouse Festival - Ebbw Vale, UK

24th-26th July 2026

Here's one for the rockers out there: South Wales' biggest rock festival, Steelhouse, returns for another year. 

Held on top of a mountain in South Wales, this festival brings you three days of the best new rock bands – and some legendary headliners.

This year you can see headline sets from Rival Sons, The Temperance Movement and Steel Panther, alongside sets from Ugly Kid Joe, Tyketto, Alien Ant Farm, Reef, and many more.

If you like your music hard, heavy, and loud, you should check out Steelhouse Festival.

Eddfest - Knebworth, UK

10th-11th July 2026

What better way to celebrate 50 years in the business than putting on your own festival? That's exactly what UK metal legends Iron Maiden are doing this year. Held in the historic grounds of Knebworth House, Iron Maiden are holding a two-day event to celebrate their long career.

The weekend will be jam-packed with all things Iron Maiden, including sets from former members on the Friday, an Iron Maiden-themed museum and fairground, and a full day of music on Saturday closed by the band themselves. This is a weekend not to be missed.

UK tours happening in July 2026

Alongside the festivals, July is also jam-packed with some major tours from a range of big artists. Here is a selection of bands and artists you can catch on the road this July:

• Metallica
• Def Leppard
• Extreme
• Harry Styles
• Sammy Hagar
• 10CC
• Katy Perry
• Bon Jovi