The Countdown to Highways 2026
Since its debut in 2023, Highways Festival has rapidly become one of those "clear the diary" weekends for the UK country music scene. While our other major festivals usually involve trekking through muddy fields or braving the North Greenwich winds at the O2, Highways brings the "Mother Church" vibes of the Ryman to London’s most iconic circular stage: The Royal Albert Hall.
As country music descends on Kensington once again, it’s worth noting the Hall is no stranger to a steel guitar and a Southern twang. The venue has previously hosted everyone from Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton to The Chicks and Carrie Underwood. Just last year, it even became the home of the Grand Ole Opry for a night as part of their 100th-anniversary celebrations.
What began in 2023 with Kip Moore and Morgan Wade has evolved quickly. After a rowdy 2024 with The Cadillac Three and Brett Young, the festival truly set itself apart in 2025 by hosting Eric Church’s European-exclusive To Beat The Devil residency. For 2026, Highways is growing again, expanding to a full three-day format (Friday 15th – Sunday 17th May) to keep up with the genre’s seemingly unstoppable surge in popularity.
While the evening shows are the main event, Highways is an all-day affair. Saturday afternoon sees the return of the Songwriters Round in the Elgar Room, hosted by The Shires' Ben Earle. In proper Nashville fashion, Kaitlin Butts, Jack Van Cleaf, Bec O’Malley, and Tigirlily Gold will be swapping stories and hits in a "Bluebird" style circle. Sunday morning shifts gears for the Country for Kids session, where First Time Flyers will host a family-friendly set for the next generation of budding musicians.
For those who haven’t had their fill by the time the house lights come up, the Official After Party kicks off in the Elgar Room at 10:45pm on Friday and Saturday. Resident host Rattlesnake Johnny will be behind the decks to ensure the party stays alive in South Kensington well after the final encore.
As country music descends on Kensington once again, it’s worth noting the Hall is no stranger to a steel guitar and a Southern twang. The venue has previously hosted everyone from Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton to The Chicks and Carrie Underwood. Just last year, it even became the home of the Grand Ole Opry for a night as part of their 100th-anniversary celebrations.
What began in 2023 with Kip Moore and Morgan Wade has evolved quickly. After a rowdy 2024 with The Cadillac Three and Brett Young, the festival truly set itself apart in 2025 by hosting Eric Church’s European-exclusive To Beat The Devil residency. For 2026, Highways is growing again, expanding to a full three-day format (Friday 15th – Sunday 17th May) to keep up with the genre’s seemingly unstoppable surge in popularity.
While the evening shows are the main event, Highways is an all-day affair. Saturday afternoon sees the return of the Songwriters Round in the Elgar Room, hosted by The Shires' Ben Earle. In proper Nashville fashion, Kaitlin Butts, Jack Van Cleaf, Bec O’Malley, and Tigirlily Gold will be swapping stories and hits in a "Bluebird" style circle. Sunday morning shifts gears for the Country for Kids session, where First Time Flyers will host a family-friendly set for the next generation of budding musicians.
For those who haven’t had their fill by the time the house lights come up, the Official After Party kicks off in the Elgar Room at 10:45pm on Friday and Saturday. Resident host Rattlesnake Johnny will be behind the decks to ensure the party stays alive in South Kensington well after the final encore.
Friday night headliner Jon Pardi needs little introduction to the UK faithful. Kicking off the UK leg of his Honkytonk Hollywood Tour, Pardi is set to turn the Hall into a massive honky-tonk with hits like Dirt On My Boots and Night Shift. With over 9 billion global streams to his name, his neotraditional sound is a perfect fit for a venue renowned for its acoustic clarity.
Saturday belongs to Carly Pearce, an artist who has spent the last few years firmly planting her flag at the top of the genre. A member of both the Opry and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, Carly arrives following the success of her Hummingbird project bringing her Inside the Dream tour to Europe. Whether she’s delivering a bluegrass-tinged ballad or the defiant "Never Wanted to Be That Girl," it’s going to be a masterclass in vocal excellence.
The festival wraps up with a genuine "I was there" moment. 14-time Grammy winner and Hall of Fame inductee Emmylou Harris takes the stage as part of her European Farewell Tour. Celebrating a career spanning over 40 years—from her legendary work with Gram Parsons to the experimental Wrecking Ball—there is truly no other venue in London grand enough to host an icon of this stature.
Saturday belongs to Carly Pearce, an artist who has spent the last few years firmly planting her flag at the top of the genre. A member of both the Opry and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, Carly arrives following the success of her Hummingbird project bringing her Inside the Dream tour to Europe. Whether she’s delivering a bluegrass-tinged ballad or the defiant "Never Wanted to Be That Girl," it’s going to be a masterclass in vocal excellence.
The festival wraps up with a genuine "I was there" moment. 14-time Grammy winner and Hall of Fame inductee Emmylou Harris takes the stage as part of her European Farewell Tour. Celebrating a career spanning over 40 years—from her legendary work with Gram Parsons to the experimental Wrecking Ball—there is truly no other venue in London grand enough to host an icon of this stature.
While the headliners get the top billing on the posters, the strength of Highways has always been its depth. Supporting Jon Pardi on Friday is a trio representing the best of modern country. Randall King brings a heavy dose of West Texas and his trademark "old soul" baritone, joined by the powerhouse vocals and outlaw edge of Kaitlin Butts. They are accompanied by Jack Van Cleaf, whose viral hit “Rattlesnake” helped him transition from an indie-folk favourite to one of the most exciting new songwriters on the circuit.
On Saturday, the stage is set for Carly Pearce by three rising stars. Corey Kent provides the rock-infused spark that sent "Wild as Her" to platinum status, while North Dakota sisters Tigirlily Gold bring the infectious energy and sibling harmonies that are tailor-made for a festival crowd. Completing the Saturday bill is Clover County, the project of A.G. Schiano, whose sophisticated Americana arrangements offer a more vulnerable, artistic side to the day.
If Emmylou Harris wasn’t enough of a draw for Sunday, the "songwriter’s songwriter" Jim Lauderdale should finish the job. A two-time Grammy winner who has written hits for everyone from George Strait to The Chicks, Lauderdale is a living masterclass in roots music. Blending bluegrass, soul, and traditional country, he is the perfect companion for what promises to be a historic finale at the Hall.
On Saturday, the stage is set for Carly Pearce by three rising stars. Corey Kent provides the rock-infused spark that sent "Wild as Her" to platinum status, while North Dakota sisters Tigirlily Gold bring the infectious energy and sibling harmonies that are tailor-made for a festival crowd. Completing the Saturday bill is Clover County, the project of A.G. Schiano, whose sophisticated Americana arrangements offer a more vulnerable, artistic side to the day.
If Emmylou Harris wasn’t enough of a draw for Sunday, the "songwriter’s songwriter" Jim Lauderdale should finish the job. A two-time Grammy winner who has written hits for everyone from George Strait to The Chicks, Lauderdale is a living masterclass in roots music. Blending bluegrass, soul, and traditional country, he is the perfect companion for what promises to be a historic finale at the Hall.
Tickets for Highways 2026 can be purchased at www.highwaysfestival.co.uk/tickets. Due to capacity restrictions, tickets to additional events are sold separately and subject to availability. For all additional events, you can purchase tickets for the specific event outside of the main auditorium ticket. Dining, VIP, and hospitality packages are also available for purchase.
