LOCAL talent from Leicester’s music scene will take centre stage at this year’s Riverside Festival.
The free festival takes place on 6 and 7 June and will bring together a dynamic, diverse lineup of artists from across Leicester and Leicestershire.
Riverside is Leicester’s largest arts festival, and this year will see the main stage moved to the centre of Bede Park. Set in a larger central location, this new stage area will allow extended festival opening hours at Bede Park, with live music and entertainment continuing until 8pm on Saturday and 7pm on Sunday, where a range of artists playing across the two days will showcase the depth and vibrancy of the local music scene.
Performers will include Jake Thompson - a Leicester-based musician whose debut single featured as ‘track of the week’ on BBC Introducing – and Chantelle Marquez, a rising independent UK artist whose music is gaining rapid traction online. They will both be performing at Riverside this year, having previously performed at other events in and around Leicester.
This year’s festival music programme – which will be unveiled in full soon – has been devised in partnership by Leicester City Council and Leicester Music Board. It will bring together independent artists and local organisations including EAVA FM, HQ Familia, 2Funky Arts, Soft Touch Arts and UMC Management.
The exciting 2026 programme will also feature emerging artists identified through the new ‘Leics Connect’ talent development programme, led by TiME (Technology in Music Education) in partnership with Leicestershire Music and funded by Youth Music.
And the musical festival experience will extend beyond Bede Park, with:
- Artist performances produced by BrightSparks in Castle Gardens;
- The Cultural eXchanges Stage, presented by DMU students, on the De Montfort University campus;
- Busking performances bringing live entertainment across the festival;
- The 2Funky Complex on New Park Street, confirmed as the official Riverside Festival after-party venue, hosting curated late-night performances across the weekend.
Cllr Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for culture, said: “I hope that lots of people will join us for the Riverside Festival on the weekend of 6-7 June to sample the best of Leicester’s music scene, as well as enjoying the huge range of arts and activities the festival will offer.
“Riverside Festival is our largest free festival, drawing in thousands of visitors every year, so it’s the perfect platform for emerging local talent, and we look forward to revealing this year’s exciting line-up in full soon.”
Graham Callister, head of festivals and events at Leicester City Council, said: “We know that there are loads of talented performers coming out of Leicester and Leicestershire and we want to support them, which is why we’ve recently launched our Busk Leicester initiative, providing an opportunity for newcomers to hone their skills and build their fanbase in the city centre.
“Building on the success of the recent Leicester Music Conference, this collaboration for the Riverside Festival reflects a shared commitment to developing local talent and strengthening creative pathways across the region.
“Thanks to further support from De Montfort University and event sponsor PPL PRS, we’re able to provide an opportunity for new artists to bring their music to an audience of thousands of people at our flagship free festival. We look forward to unveiling the full lineup for the weekend soon.”
Greg Aiello, managing director at PPL PRS, said: “We’re proud to support this collaboration, shining a light on the incredible depth of talent across Leicester and Leicestershire. Supporting creators and local scenes like this is vital to the future of music.”
Tania Lee, founder of UMC Artists, added: “We’re excited to help shape the main stage programme and champion both emerging and established artists. It’s a fantastic platform to showcase Leicester’s music to wider audiences.”
Vijay Mistry, 2Funky Complex owner and Leicester Music Board member, said: “This partnership is a major moment for Leicester’s music scene. It creates real opportunities for local artists to perform on a big stage while celebrating the diversity that defines our city.”
The Riverside Festival attracts more than 60,000 people each year to enjoy free live music, arts, food and family activities along the River Soar. More details on this year’s festival will be available soon – follow @leicesterfestivals on Facebook and Instagram for updates – and see the website at visitleicester.info/riverside-festival
ENDS