At Reading Festival 2026, rapper Loyle Carner used his set on The Grid stage to criticise Harry Potter author JK Rowling, the far-right, and what he called "toxic masculinity bullshit". His comments came during a performance on 30 August that also saw sets from Role Model, Florence and the Machine, and Chase & Status, underlining how the festival remains a platform for artists to voice political and social views alongside their music.

Carner made the remarks while introducing his song 'Horcrux', saying he loves Harry Potter but "don't really like JK Rowling" – a pointed reference given Rowling's anti-transgender comments and the ongoing casting for the second series of HBO's Harry Potter adaptation. He also framed his track 'Speed of Plight' as being "in direct opposition of the far-right", echoing earlier criticism he has made of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, and urged the crowd to support the NHS. Elsewhere at the festival's Leeds site, the Warehouse Stage was shut down due to overcrowding, while other performers across the weekend included Charli XCX, Fontaines DC, Declan McKenna, Raye and Lola Young.