The page, available now at https://thebritfest.co.uk/2026-event-info/, has become the ultimate companion for the thousands of music lovers preparing to descend on Cheshire from 2-5 July.

From stage times and shuttle bus pick-up points to local roadworks, arrival procedures, campsite information and even this year’s fancy dress themes, the constantly updated page has been designed to make the festival experience as easy and enjoyable as possible.

Festival organisers are encouraging everyone attending to bookmark the page and check back regularly as fresh announcements and information are added right up until the gates open.

“Whether you’re planning your arrival, checking the running order, finding your shuttle bus or deciding what outrageous fancy dress outfit to bring, this is your go-to guide for the weekend,” said Commercial Director Anthony Prophet.

“With record numbers joining us this summer, we wanted one place where everyone could find the latest information quickly and easily. It’s the perfect place to prepare for what many of us consider our favourite four days of the year.”

The page includes:

• Stage times and artist schedules
• Shuttle bus routes and pick-up points
• Local roadworks and travel information
• Arrival procedures and site maps
• Camping and live-in vehicle guidance
• Fancy dress themes and campsite activities
• Important announcements and updates throughout the week

And there’s more good news. Early weather forecasts are looking promising, and with fingers firmly crossed, hopes are high for another magical weekend under Cheshire skies.

With site build now underway and excitement building by the day, the countdown is officially on.

Still planning to join us? Final tickets are available now at thebritfest.co.uk/tickets. Last-minute upgrades, official merchandise and plenty more surprises will also be available once you’re through the gates.

Get involved, get planning and get ready. The fields are calling.

Visit the dedicated 2026 Event Information Page now.

See you in the fields.

There is a particular moment in every festival year when everything suddenly feels real.

Seashell is a charity based in Stockport but has a national reach – supporting children and young people with complex learning difficulties, disabilities and additional communication needs from across the country.

You can learn more about Seashell on their website. www.seashelltrust.org.uk

Festival-goers have the opportunity to support Seashell directly by adding a £2 donation when purchasing their tickets. Everyone who attends the weekend will also have the chance to meet the team and hear from students themselves. Seashell will be running a stand in our festival area so pop along anytime to find out more about their work and how you can support. And on Sunday we’ll be delighted to have some of their staff and students joining us on stage for something very special!

We will also present a film, showing what The Brit Fest presenter Mike Toolan got up to when he went along to Seashell. You can also watch the film now:

We’d love it if everyone who attended the event was able to support Seashell in some way. Please help them by….

• Making a donation: https://donate.seashelltrust.org.uk/donate/index.aspx
• Add the optional £2 to your ticket when purchasing on our website
• Text 10BRIT to 70580 (see Ts& Cs note below)
• Buya raffle ticket from their stand at the festival
• Or spread the word by sharing this message with your family and friends.

Thank you all for supporting Seashell. We can’t wait to see you at The Brit Fest 2026!

The Brit Fest Team

*Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message and you’ll be opting into hearing more from Seashell Trust. If you would like to donate but don’t wish to hear from the charity please text 10BRITNOINFO instead.

There is a particular moment in every festival year when everything suddenly feels real.

For months, The Brit Fest exists in meeting rooms, artist contracts, site plans, supplier calls and endless conversations about how to make the next event even better than the last. The summer feels distant. The fields are quiet. July sits comfortably on the horizon.

Then one morning you realise it is no longer months away.

It is just a few weeks.

Across Cheshire and the wider North West, thousands of people are already making plans. Friends are reviving group chats that have sat dormant through winter. Families are discussing which artists they most want to see. Camping equipment is being dusted off, playlists are being shared and calendars are being cleared for what has become one of the region’s most anticipated weekends of the year.

From Thursday 2 July to Sunday 5 July, Ashley Hall Showground will once again welcome more than 30,000 festivalgoers for four days of live music, entertainment, food, community and celebration. In just two short years, The Brit Fest has established itself as one of the UK’s fastest growing festivals, attracting audiences from across the country while retaining the warmth and spirit that made people fall in love with it in the first place.

This year’s line up reflects just how far the event has come.

Manchester legends Happy Mondays headline Friday night, bringing a catalogue of songs that helped define a generation. Saturday belongs to Holly Johnson, whose music with Frankie Goes To Hollywood became part of the soundtrack of British life. Sunday closes with ABC and Martin Fry, delivering some of the most iconic songs of the 1980s.

Alongside them are Wet Wet Wet, Eternal, Peter Hook & The Light, Cast, Sleeper, Chris Helme, Space, Aswad, Stereo MC’s, The Blow Monkeys, The Farm, Let Loose, James Walsh, Nathan Moore, Jason Donovan and dozens more artists spread across multiple stages and experiences throughout the weekend.

The festivities begin on Thursday evening with Symphonic Ibiza and special guest Angie Brown, combining live strings, dance classics and festival energy in a way that perfectly sets the tone for the days ahead.

Yet ask regular festivalgoers what they remember most about Brit Fest and the answer is rarely just the music.

What people talk about are the moments in between.

The family members who rarely find time to be together suddenly spending an entire weekend side by side. The friends who have known each other for decades singing the same songs they grew up with. The chance to step away from the pressures of everyday life and reconnect with the people who matter most.

It is perhaps no surprise that research consistently shows that attending live music events improves wellbeing, strengthens social connections and increases overall life satisfaction. There is something uniquely powerful about sharing an experience with thousands of other people. Music has always brought people together, and festivals provide a reminder of just how important those shared moments can be.

Festival Co Founder Anthony Prophet believes that connection is one of the reasons the event continues to grow.

“We receive hundreds of messages after every festival and what stands out is that people rarely talk only about the artists. They talk about how they felt. They talk about reconnecting with friends, spending quality time with family and creating memories together. That sense of connection is at the heart of everything we do.”

“There is a huge amount of excitement building across the team. Everyone involved understands that we’re not simply creating a music festival. We’re creating a weekend that people look forward to all year. That’s a responsibility we take very seriously.” Behind the scenes, preparations are now entering their final stages. Suppliers are mobilising, production schedules are being refined, traders are preparing menus and hundreds of people are working towards delivering what organisers hope will be the best Brit Fest yet.

Festival Director Edward Prophet said:

“The atmosphere in the room was unbelievable. You could feel the history and significance of what Skiddle were celebrating. This wasn’t just another awards event. It was about recognising the venues, festivals and promoters helping shape the live entertainment industry, and we’re hugely proud that The Brit Fest was part of that story.”

The event’s impact extends far beyond the festival site itself. Hotels, restaurants, retailers and hospitality businesses across Cheshire and Greater Manchester benefit from the influx of visitors, while the festival continues its commitment to supporting regional suppliers and its charity partner Seashell.

For those already holding tickets, the anticipation is now becoming part of the experience. For those still considering joining, the window is narrowing.

Several ticket categories are already heavily subscribed and remaining availability is becoming increasingly limited. Day tickets, weekend tickets, VIP experiences, camping, glamping and corporate hospitality packages remain available, but demand continues to build as summer approaches.

The fields are almost ready.

The artists are preparing.

And in just a few short weeks, more than 30,000 people will come together once again for one of the North West’s biggest celebrations of music, friendship and summer.

The countdown has officially begun.

The Brit Fest Cheshire is proudly powered by ABC+ Warranty.