Reading Festival applies for licence to become four-day event with music on the Thursday night too

For Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C., DAVE, and other top acts set to headline this year's Reading Festival, the prospect of playing a fourth day is more than just a tantalising possibility - it's a chance to breathe new life into the event. The festival's organisers, Festival Republic, have applied for a licensing change that would allow amplified music on the Thursday night, from 5pm until midnight. If approved by Reading Borough Council, this could be the catalyst for a new era in festival-going, one that would see attendees flocking to the site from Wednesday evening onwards.

The idea of a four-day festival is not new, but it's a concept that has gained traction in recent years. Reading's sister festival in Leeds has already been granted permission to perform music on a Thursday, and will do so for the first time this year with Kasabian headlining their main stage. This move has the potential to attract a new wave of attendees who would otherwise avoid the festival due to the limited number of days. With the addition of Thursday night music, Reading Festival could become a destination event, one that would attract fans from across the country and beyond.

This year's Reading Festival is already shaping up to be one of the most impressive in recent memory, with a massive staging and arena overhaul described by the organisers as the biggest in the events' history. The site will feature up to six stages, including new additions The Gallery and The Warehouse, which will host emerging artists and dance music respectively. The improvements to the Main Stage, now known as The Grid, will also be a major draw, with The Ballroom and The Canopy offering a unique experience for attendees.

While the prospect of a four-day festival is clearly exciting, there are concerns about the impact on local residents. The festival has a reputation for being one of the loudest and most chaotic events in the country, and the addition of Thursday night music could exacerbate these issues. Reading Borough Council will need to carefully consider the potential consequences of approving the licensing change, including the impact on noise levels and traffic congestion.

Given the success of Leeds Festival's Thursday night music, it's likely that Reading will follow suit. The festival has a history of innovating and pushing the boundaries of what's possible, and this move would be a natural progression. With the right planning and execution, a four-day festival could become a reality from 2027, cementing Reading's place as one of the premier music festivals in the UK.

The decision on whether to approve the licensing change will be made by Reading Borough Council, but one thing is certain - the festival will never be the same again. With the addition of Thursday night music, Reading Festival could become a destination event, one that would attract fans from across the country and beyond., will the organisers be able to pull it off, and will the local residents be willing to tolerate the increased noise and chaos?