Singer-songwriter Maisie Peters spoke to NME backstage at Reading Festival 2026, marking her first appearance at the event in five years, as she promotes her third studio album, 'Florescence'. She performed a "megamix" of songs from across her career on the festival's main stage, reflecting on how far she has come since her surprise debut-day set on the now-defunct BBC Introducing stage in 2021, and touched on the album's themes and her forthcoming headline show at The O2.

'Florescence', released in May and given a four-star NME review, is Peters' most personal record yet, written while she felt settled at home after years of touring, and explores her experience of falling in love. It is also her first album to feature guest artists, with collaborations from Julia Michaels and Marcus Mumford, whom she credited as major influences she was finally able to work with once she had more creative time. Peters also discussed performing at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry in June, calling it a long-held dream, and looked ahead to her 2027 headline show at The O2.