Our guide to May bank holiday festivals in London
May bank holiday usually marks the start of festival season in London. Here is our guide to the music festivals happening in London during the final bank holiday in May.
Wide Awake Festival
Image: @wideawakeldn
#FLODown: Returning to London's Brockwell Park on 25 May, the Wide Awake Festival has unveiled its 2024 lineup, with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard set to headline alongside Mercury Prize winners Young Fathers. Wide Awake prides itself as an independent festival, blending emerging talent with established favourites. Organised by Bad Vibrations, LNZRT, and SC&P—original Field Day founders and the minds behind MOTH Club and The Shacklewell Arms.
Confirmed line-up 2024: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Young Fathers, Slowdive, Berlin's Modeselektor, Seattle's La Luz, NTS's OK Williams, Australia's HTRK, New York's Model/Actriz and more.
Date: 27 May 2023. Price: from £54.50. Location: Brockwell Park, Brixton. Book now.
City Splash
City Splash Festival
#FLODown: City Splash Festival is back at Brockwell Park in May 2024, spotlighting Caribbean and African culture in the UK. The lineup boasts names like Capleton, Beenie Man, Shenseea, Busy Signal, and more surprises to come. Enjoy delicious food, authentic rum, a vibrant creatives market, and insightful talks—a celebration of cultural diversity. Stay tuned for updates and check out our review of City Splash 2023.
Confirmed line-up 2024: Beenie Man, Capleton, Shenseea, Busy Signal, Channel One, General Levy, Seani B, Izzy Bossy and many more.
Date: 27 May 2024. Price: from £49.50. Location: Brockwell Park, Herne Hill, London. SE24 9BJ. Book now.
Rinse FM x Project 6 Festival
Rinse FM x Project 6 Festival. Photo by Amy Fern Photography.
#FLODown: Rinse FM's Project 6 Festival returns to Brockwell Park on 24 May 2024, celebrating 30 years of influential music with leading artists like CASISDEAD, Katy B, Freddie Gibbs + Madlib, Mala, Benga, and more. Rinse FM was born from a pirate station in 1994 and has evolved into a trailblazing force across various music genres. Last year's debut was a hit, and this year promises an unmissable celebration of groundbreaking artists and labels.
Confirmed line-up 2024: CASISDEAD, Shy FX, Katy B, Freddie Gibbs + Madlib (Piñata 10 Year Anniversary), Mala, Benga, Taylah Elaine, Vigro Deep, Juls, Steam Down, DRS (Live), Arthi, sim0ne, Brighter Days, Ella Knight, 4AM Kru, Neffa-T, Tim Reaper, Mantra, Sully, + more TBA.
Date: 24 May 2024. Location: Beckenham Place Park, Beckenham, BR3 1SY. Price: from £30. Book now.
Cross the Tracks
Cross The Tracks. Photo by @garryjonesphotography.
#FLODown: Get ready for the highly anticipated return of Cross The Tracks 2024 to Brockwell Park on 26 May. Celebrating its fifth edition, this festival is a vibrant melting pot of culture, music, and community. Featuring an outstanding lineup including Erykah Badu, Madlib (DJ), and more, it promises to be an unforgettable day of beats and vibes. In addition to the music, there will be talks, workshops, a creative market, and a feast from over 50 food vendors.
Confirmed line-up 2024: Erykah Badu, Madlib (DJ), Venna, Iniko, Neal Francis, Brainstory, Yazmin Lacey (DJ), Mackwood, Natanya, Discoballin', Aim - 20yrs of Cold Water Music, Joey Manzi b2b Nath EPS (Elevation), Faye Meana, Orion Sun, 47SOUL, El Michels Affair, SIPHO and Ella More.
Date: 26 May 2024. Location: Brockwell Park, Herne Hill, London. SE24 9BJ. Price: from £59.50 + booking fee. Book now.
GALA 2024
GALA Festival.
#FLODown: GALA festival is back for its ninth edition in Peckham Rye Park across the Bank Holiday weekend from 24 - 26 May 2024. Expect three days of warmth and release as summer unfolds. With the same size, location, and love as before, each edition of GALA gets better. Featuring top artists in house and electronica, as well as spotlighting new talents, GALA is a fan favorite within the dance community.
Confirmed 2024 line-up: This year's lineup includes DJ EZ, Chaos in the CBD, Interplanetary Criminal, Joy Orbison, Nightmares on Wax b2b Bradley Zero, Novelist, and SHERELLE b2b Kode9.
Date: 24 May 2024. Location: Peckham Rye Park 34 Straker's Rd, SE15 3UA. Price: from £54. Book now.
Radio One’s Big Weekend
Radio One’s Big Weekend returns to Luton for May Bank holiday 2024.
#FLODown: Radio One’s annual Big Weekend returns this weekend to Stockwood Park, Luton (okay, not quite London, but only 35 minutes via train), with some of the biggest acts in the UK music scene, including Coldplay, Rudimental, Chase and Status, AJ Tracey, RAYE, Tems, Charli XCX, and London Grammar.
Date: 24 - 26 May 2024. Location: Stockwood Park, London Rd, Luton LU1 4LX Price: £29.50 (+£4.50 booking fee per ticket). Book now.
Can't get tickets? Don't worry, it will be streamed live on the BBC at bbc.co.uk.
