Longest-running annual popular music festival

The longest-running annual popular music festival is Reading Festival (UK), which began as The National Jazz & Blues Festival in Surrey, UK, on 26–27 August 1961. As of 2024, it had been running in the UK for 63 years, although it was cancelled in 1984–85 owing to site developments and again in 2020–21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the festival began, it was focused on the UK’s popular “trad jazz” revival, with headliners Chris Barber and Johnny Dankworth. Over the course of the 1960s, the jazz bands were replaced by acts such as The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and The Who.

During the 1960s, the festival was held at different locations including Royal Windsor Racecourse (1967) and Plumpton Racecourse (1969), before moving to its permanent home in Reading, Berkshire, UK, in 1971.

The latest edition of Reading Festival took place on 23–25 August 2024. The headliners were Blink-182, Fred Again.., Lana Del Rey, Liam Gallagher, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Gerry Cinnamon.

Travis Scott, Chappell Roan, Bring Me The Horizon and Hozier are set to headline in August 2025.

Although Reading Festival began in 1961, it has foregone the continuous title for longest-running annual popular music festival because it was cancelled in 1984–85 owing to site developments by the local council. Therefore, that title belongs to Pinkpop, which has been held in the Netherlands every year since 1970 (excluding the enforced two-year break during the COVID-19 pandemic).

Reading Festival also holds the record for being the first popular music festival.