Reading and Leeds Festival unveils major overhaul, but will it draw in a new crowd?

Checked today for council records, public notices, consultations, transport changes, openings or service disruption.

        August 29, 2026

Good Morning Reading — 2026-08-29

BBC Newsbeat has spoken with festival-goers to see whether they feel the changes will attract a wider demographic.
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Good Morning Reading
Reading and Wokingham before breakfast
 Saturday 29 August 2026 Reading and Wokingham before breakfast · Your Saturday local briefing
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Lead Story
Reading and Leeds Festival unveils major overhaul, but will it draw in a new crowd?
• BBC Newsbeat has spoken with festival-goers to see whether they feel the changes will attract a wider demographic.
Almanac · Daily readings
Today in Reading and Wokingham corridor
Conditions in your area this morning.
Reading
17°C
Light drizzle · High 20° · Low 16°
Wind
7mph
Moderate
Daylight
06:12
Sunrise · Sunset 19:57
Sources
31
checked for today
Local news · 10 stories
The local news that matters this morning
Here's the local news from the past 24 hours, made easy to digest.
BBC Berkshire local news RSS feed · yesterday
First performers take to the stage at festival
• About 100,000 people are expected to attend Reading Festival over the weekend.
Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce RSS feed · Business and sponsor intelligence · yesterday
Marsh Staff in Reading Raise Funds and Awareness at Charity Quiz Night for SAFE
• Marsh colleagues in Reading came together for an evening of fun, friendly competition and fundraising at a charity quiz night in support of SAFE – Saving Abandoned Fly Grazing Equines, a registered charity dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating horses and ponies in need.
Reading Chronicle · Local news · yesterday
Major police presence at Mr T's in Reading as YouTuber makes appearance
• A dozen police officers are on scene at a restaurant in Reading after YouTuber and live streamer was rumoured to make a surprise entrance at the venue.
Bracknell News — News · Local news · yesterday
Pupil denied place in school sixth form despite being taught there for five years
• A pupil who has attended a secondary school near Wokingham is unable to get into its new sixth form despite being taught there since Year 7.
Reading Today Online (rdg.today) · Local news · yesterday
Reading Festival is about to take over – but these local businesses are ready
• Businesses close to the Reading Festival site are gearing up for a busy weekend as thousands of revellers flock to the town.
Reading Chronicle · Local news · yesterday
Two minibuses 'full of festival-goers' stopped by police at drop off points
• Police have seized two minibuses that were carrying festival-goers after stopping them at drop off points.
Wokingham.Today — News · Local news · yesterday
Wokingham farm could become new dog-walking haven under plans
• The proposed use would enable dog owners and carers of dogs to spend anxiety free time with their dogs in a secure open space.
Wokingham Today RSS feed · News and media · yesterday
It’s only August, but Wokingham charity is already thinking about Christmas
• Wokingham United Charities is already planning how to lift spirits in December
Wokingham.Today — News · Local news · yesterday
£40m SEND revolution to bring 600 new places to Wokingham
• Between 2026 and 2029, Wokingham borough councill will invest more than £40 million to create more than 600 new SEND spaces.
Reading Today Online (rdg.today) · Local news · 2 days ago
Reading man jailed for over five years after thousands of pounds of heroin and cocaine found
• A Reading man has been jailed for five-and-a-half years for a string of drugs offences, including intending to supply heroin and cocaine.
Local utility · Practical note
Daily source desk
Primary sources checked for today's edition. Use these links to verify records, consultations, travel changes and local service updates.
Resident Desk · official
Public notices and resident checks
Council, planning, travel and official-source items that make this edition useful beyond the headlines.
Official notice: GWR live network updates. Checked today for council records, public notices, consultations, transport changes, openings or service disruption. Open source ->Official notice: Reading Borough Council news. Checked today for council records, public notices, consultations, transport changes, openings or service disruption. Open source ->Official notice: Reading Borough Council democracy records. Checked today for council records, public notices, consultations, transport changes, openings or service disruption. Open source ->Official notice: Reading one.network roadworks map. Checked today for council records, public notices, consultations, transport changes, openings or service disruption. Open source ->Official notice: Wokingham Borough Council news. Checked today for council records, public notices, consultations, transport changes, openings or service disruption. Open source ->
What's On · 39 items
What's on: next 14 days
A quick-view of 39 priority public listings from 39 tracked events over the next 14 days. Tap any item for the source and full details.
29 Aug · Celeste - Shisha & CocktailsLUX BLISS PR Presents SOAKED - The Pre-Carnival Fete29 Aug · Richfield AvenueReading Festival 2026 - Saturday29 Aug at 03:00; 5 Sep · Popworld ReadingWHAT THE POP SATURDAYS @ POPWORLD READING 5TH SEPTEMBER29 Aug · Purple TurtleAFTER DARK SATURDAY NIGHT29 Aug · Reading MuseumBayeux Tapestry Tours29 Aug–30 Aug · Reading Biscuit FactoryNo Time For Goodbye + Director Q&A29 Aug · Turks HeadPaddington29 Aug · Dinton Pastures Country ParkSaturday Sessions29 Aug–1 Nov · Basildon ParkSilhouettes of Society29 Aug–30 Aug · Basildon ParkSummer of Play at Basildon Park29 Aug · Scarlet VixensThe Scarlet Vixens Present: WILD WEST NIGHT29 Aug–30 Sep · Reading Biscuit FactoryThea Schultz Solo Exhibition29 Aug · Nature NurtureWhitley Wild Wellbeing Days30 Aug · Gun Street GardenAFRO CULTURE LOVE [Summer Meltdown] READING30 Aug · Richfield AvenueReading Festival 2026 - Sunday - Chase and Status, Florence + The Machine Tickets30 Aug · Fairview Community Centre, 90b Great Knollys Street, Reading. RG1 7HLFree surplus food30 Aug · Reading FestivalLoyle Carner in Reading30 Aug · Richfield AvenuePepsi Max Presents Reading 2026 in Reading30 Aug · Swallowfield Park, Reading, RG7 1TH, United KingdomThe Swallowfield Show31 Aug · Reading Students' UnionREADING UNI RECORD FAIR Mon 31st AUG. Rock, Punk, Soul, Indie, Reggae, Metal, Pop, Psych, Funk, Prog31 AugMNE - THE WELCOME HOME (PART OF RETURNERS FEST 26)31 Aug · Swallowfield Horticultural SocietySwallowfield Show 20264 Sep · Grosvenor CasinoLegacy Dinner Series ft 2Baba (2Face Idibia) – Live in Reading | Black tie4 SepGSG FRIDAYS: NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL PARTY FT. RUM AND REDBULL4 & 11 Sep · Pentahotel ReadingLive at the Pentahotel: Friday Night Club Comedy - Sep 114 Sep at 22:00; 11 SepWAIOLA 1.50 SHOTS ALL NIGHT5 Sep at 20:00 · Calico Bar EateryBollyraat Reading (Bollywood Night)5 Sep · Reading Lola LoLOST SATURDAYS5 Sep · Popworld - ReadingPrideXTRA After party5 Sep · Reading Lola LoReading Pride x Kream Cabaret AFTER PARTY!!!5 Sep · Reading Lola LoThe ABBA Day Party: Reading5 Sep · MilkFull Fat x Vaultage5 SepReading Pride 20266 SepEden Muoz in Reading9 SepCandace Cameron Bure - Reading, PA11 Sep · University of Reading MusicCandlelight: Ed Sheeran & Coldplay | Reading11 Sep · The Great Hall University of ReadingCandlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer11 Sep · Reading MinsterThe Music Of Motown - The Candlelight Concert - Reading Minster11 Sep · Face BarShadow Promotions DIY presents: The Restarts
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On This Day · local fact
Did you know? · Reading
Reading is the county town of Berkshire and its largest town, with a built-up area population of 203,795 recorded in the 2021 census.
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 No. 971 · 29 August 2026
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