The BBC Introducing Stage is being dropped from Reading & Leeds Festival after 18 years, as part of a major overhaul of the event's staging and arena layout. Organisers Festival Republic describe the changes as the biggest in the festivals' history, and say the new Canopy stage will take over as the platform for emerging and breaking artists. The move is notable given the BBC Introducing Stage's track record of showcasing future stars early in their careers, including this year's headliners.

Launched in 2008, the stage has previously hosted acts such as Ed Sheeran and The 1975 before they found mainstream success, and the BBC says roughly 70% of UK artists on this year's line-up have performed on it at some point. Both festival sites, Little John's Farm in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds, will now feature up to six stages, including the revamped Main Stage (renamed The Grid) and new additions The Gallery and The Warehouse. The BBC says it is exploring how BBC Introducing might work with the festival in future, while continuing to run stages at other UK festivals this summer. Reading & Leeds 2026 runs from 27-30 August, with headliners including Fontaines D.C., Florence + The Machine, Dave, Charli XCX, Raye and Chase & Status.