Wilderness 2026: Everything you can expect

If you've ever wondered what would happen if Glastonbury traded muddy cider for natural wine, Michelin-level feasting and a morning yoga session by the lake, the answer is Wilderness.

Returning to Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire from 30 July to 2 August, Wilderness once again promises to blur the lines between music festival, gastronomic playground, wellness retreat and countryside house party. It's a place where you can watch Carl Cox before sunrise, spend the afternoon dining with some of Britain's finest chefs, and finish the evening dancing beneath the trees in black tie if you so choose.

The beauty of Wilderness has always been the sheer variety, here's everything worth looking forward to this year.

As ever, music remains the beating heart of Wilderness. This year's programme brings together an eclectic mix of established icons and exciting new talent. Scissor Sisters top the bill alongside electronic pioneer Carl Cox, while SISTERS: Curated by Annie Lennox takes over the CIRCLE stage with a unique celebration of female artists. One of Britain's most talked-about bands, The Last Dinner Party, arrives fresh from a remarkable rise, while Soulwax, Groove Armada, Saint Etienne, Baxter Dury and Hot 8 Brass Band all feature across a weekend designed to keep every corner of the park alive long after sunset.

Of course, Wilderness has never been about standing in front of one main stage all day. Wander through the woodland and you'll stumble upon intimate DJ sets, brass bands appearing seemingly from nowhere, hidden dancefloors and late-night parties that often become the stories people tell long after the festival ends.

While most festivals are still arguing over whose burger queue is shortest, Wilderness continues to treat food as one of its main attractions.

The 2026 edition welcomes celebrated chefs including Atul Kochhar, Margot Henderson OBE, Douglas McMaster, John Chantarasak and Andi Oliver, alongside an extensive programme of long-table feasts, wine tastings and immersive dining experiences. Fortnum & Mason also returns with its ever-popular picnics overlooking the cricket pitch, proving once again that few festivals understand the art of leisurely indulgence quite like Wilderness.

It's entirely possible to spend an afternoon discussing chilled red wine with sommeliers before heading straight into an evening headline set, a uniquely Wilderness combination.

Throughout the weekend you'll find debates on everything from AI and modern society to politics, creativity and contemporary culture, alongside live podcasts, comedy, theatre and literary conversations. The programme feels less like a traditional festival schedule and more like the cultural diary of an impossibly interesting country estate.

Elsewhere, visitors can join life-drawing classes, pottery workshops, woodland craft sessions, dance lessons, immersive theatre, giant quizzes, cricket matches and enough wonderfully eccentric activities to ensure there's rarely a dull moment between acts.

One of the festival's defining features has always been its approach to wellbeing.

Early mornings can begin with lakeside yoga, Pilates or breathwork before giving way to wild swimming, forest bathing or a visit to the Wandering Wild Spa. Massages, meditation, sound healing and saunas all feature prominently, offering a welcome antidote to late nights spent on the dancefloor.

It perfectly captures the festival's philosophy: there's no right way to experience Wilderness. Some guests barely leave the wellness areas, while others don't see a yoga mat all weekend.

Unlike many music festivals, Wilderness genuinely caters to everyone.

Families will find dedicated children's programming, circus workshops, creative arts, science demonstrations and outdoor adventures, while those travelling without little ones can retreat to adults-only feasting experiences, cocktail bars or late-night venues hidden deep within the woods.

It's this balance that has helped Wilderness cultivate one of the UK's most distinctive festival crowds, a stylish mix of young creatives, families, food lovers and seasoned festival-goers.

We can’t wait. Wilderness reminds us that the very best festivals aren't simply about the artists on stage, they're about creating moments that couldn't happen anywhere else.

If your perfect summer weekend involves exceptional food, world-class music, stimulating conversation and just enough countryside escapism to make returning to the office feel particularly cruel. We will see you there.

To book your ticket head to wildernessfestival.com

Wilderness 2026

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