Highways Festival 2023

One of the UK's most anticipated country music events of the year, Highways Festival, will set up camp once again at the famous Royal Albert Hall in May 2026. The headliners have been confirmed as Carly Pearce, Jon Pardi and Emmylou Harris, with this being the first time the UK extravaganza becomes a three-day event. 

Also performing across the highly anticipated festival is Kaitlin Butts, Jack Van Cleaf, Tigirlily Gold, Corey Kent, Jon Lauderdale, Clover County, Randall King, First Time Flyers and more. The latter will host Country for Kids, while the Songwriters Round also returns, featuring Bec O'Malley, Jack Van Cleaf, Kaitlin Butts and Tigirlily Gold. 

Here, we'll have all the up-to-date news on line-up announcements, the latest ticket and festival pass details, and any further exciting info and details for the 2026 event. 

Rattlesnake Johnny will take the helm for the official after-parties, which will take place in the Elgar Room and will ensure attendees can dance along to some top-tier country tunes long after the main-stage performances have reached their conclusion. 

As expected, demand has been high since Highways Festival unveiled its impressive 2026 roster of performers, but at the time of writing, there are still some tickets remaining. 

Held at the prestigious venue and marking its fourth edition, the UK-based, rhinestone-bedazzled soirée will have a tough challenge ahead of it to outdo the thrilling 2025 edition, which was helmed by none other than country superstar, Eric Church.

Making his return to the UK to take on his headlining duties, The Chief brought his To Beat The Devil residency set - a show that kept him busy at 

 in 2024 - to the other side of The Pond for the first time. Fans were also able to see performances from Molly Tuttle, Caylee Hammack, Charles Wesley Godwin and Bella White.

Tickets for Highways Festival 2026 are available to purchase now below:

Check out other country festivals set for 2025 and 2026

All the latest lineup announcements, set times, date confirmations and ticket details for Highways Festival 

Festival - Highways Festival 2026 1 - Charles Wesley Godwin

Highways Festival

A native of Taylor Mill, Kentucky, a young Pearce once declared that one day she would play the Grand Ole Opry. Now, a couple of decades later, she's become a member of the Opry family, tallied 100 appearances in the hallowed Circle and become one of the leading ladies in the country format.

Since first gaining recognition in 2017 with her independently released, Gold-certified single, 'Every Little Thing,' which eventually became her first of four No. 1s at country radio, Pearce has been on a steady climb into the upper echelons of country music and making her fair share of history along the way.

With tried and true hits, including the No. 1 tune of 'I Hope You're Happy Now' with Lee Brice, 'Hide the Wine,' 'Closer to You' and 'Next Girl,' Pearce has brought a bluegrass-inspired brand of contemporary country into the forefront of her music and coupled it with her deeply personal and cleverly crafted songwriting, as evidenced on her 2021 studio album, 

Over the last two years, the Grammy-nominated artist has nabbed two more trips to the top of the charts, including with her blockbuster, Ashley McBryde-graced duet, 'Never Wanted To Be That Girl,' which also earned the pair an ACM Award and a Grammy.

She most recently earned her fourth No. 1 with the Platinum-certified single, 'What He Didn’t Do,' making her the first woman in 80 weeks to top the country radio charts with a solo track.

With multiple RIAA certifications, three CMA Awards, four ACMs and a CMT Music Award, the Kentucky Music Hall of Famer has created her own special concoction of starpower, fit with her signature Kentucky-bred twang and fierce lyrical vulnerability to boot.

As the world awaits the newest installment of her beloved artistry, one can only imagine how proud the little girl from Kentucky would be of the proud woman currently sitting atop her country music throne.

Home of all the latest news, information and coverage of Carly Pearce on Holler.

Carly 

When it comes to artists that were destined for stardom, Carly Pearce's name should be embossed in gold and perched promptly at the top of that list.

Carly Pearce: News, Songs & Reviews | Holler

He emerged onto the scene in the early 2010s, when classic country was still largely seen as old hat.

Pardi’s breakthrough 2014 single, ‘Up All Night’, was pop enough to fit into the existing paradigm, while introducing the world to Pardi’s penchant for a more retro, traditional-leaning style.

 saw Pardi hitting his stride, and the project produced a string of prolific singles, such as ‘Heartache on the Dance Floor’, ‘Night Shift’ and ‘Dirt on My Boots’.

Pardi’s increasing prominence was recognised at the 2017 CMA Awards, as he won the coveted New Artist of the Year prize.

Pardi returned emphatically in 2020 with 

- a classic country album-title for a classic country album. The project found Pardi leaning into the party-puns that so often get linked to his last name, with the Californian highlighting that he’s just as good at honouring the neon lights (‘Tied One On’) as he is at capturing the after-hours, tear-in-my-beer melancholy (‘Starlight’).

Arguably Pardi’s most assured record was 2022’s 

, which pivoted around a trademark piece of wordplay (“

They don't know how much I missed her Saturday night

”). Alongside his faux-bandmates of Midland, ‘Longneck Way to Go’ epitomised the exuberant, playful representation of heartbreak that Pardi has honed throughout his career. The swaggering single earned 2022 CMA Award nominations for Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year.

Home of all the latest news, information and coverage of Jon Pardi on Holler

The further into his career that Jon Pardi has progressed, the more it feels as though he’s settled into the latter half of his neo-traditionalist sound.

Jon Pardi: News, Songs & Reviews | Holler

Acclaimed country singer/songwriter Emmylou Harris has had a prolific career as both a solo artist and a collaborator. 

 in 1969. But it wasn't until she Gram Parsons, former leader of the country-rock band the Flying Burrito Brothers, that her career gained momentum.  

She became Parson's protege, singing on his debut solo album 1973's 

. But, before his second album was released, Parsons had died of a heart attack.  

Harris regrouped from the loss of her mentor and friend, releasing her major label debut 

in 1975. It featured covers of the Beatles, Merle Haggard and budding songwriter Rodney Crowell. She followed it up with 

Two more albums came quickly thereafter, 1977's 

, before Harris shifted gears and turned to a more traditional country sound with her 1979 release 

 It ended up winning the Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. 

The following year, she dueted with Roy Orbison on the single 'That Lovin' You Feelin' Again', which went on to win the Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. 

After releasing more traditional country albums, Harris experienced crossover success when her cover of 'Mr. Sandman', from her 1981 album 

Harris moved to Nashville in 1982 and began writing her own songs. While much of her early records feature covers, Harris co-wrote 1985's 

 and set the stage for the rest of her songwriting career. 

In addition to her solo work, Harris has regularly collaborated with other musicians, including Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. 

In the mid-80s, Harris released the collaborative album 

 with Dolly Parton and long-time friend and collaborator Linda Ronstadt. 

 followed in 1999. She also contributed her vocal talents to the

 soundtrack, which won the 2002 Grammy for Album of the Year.

 in 2011. That same year, the Academy of Country Music honored Harris with the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award. In 2018, the Grammys gave her its Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Home of all the latest news, information and coverage of Emmylou Harris on Holler

Emmylou

Harris is a twelve-time Grammy award winner with a stellar career as both as solo artist and a collaborator.

Emmylou Harris: News, Songs & Reviews | Holler

Highways Festival: Lineup, Set Times, Dates & Tickets | Holler

Lydia Farthing is a Nashville-based music journalist and Nashville native who has spent her life immersed in the music industry.

 Magazine, Provident Music Group and Aristo PR, she's always in search of the best concerts and new music, and is an avid supporter of females in the country format.

Lydia

Contributor - Lydia Farthing 2

Contributor - Lydia Farthing

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A handy, chronological list guide to the country music festivals taking place across the world in 2026.

A handy, chronological list guide to the country music 

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Highways Festival

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