The speculation over who could headline Leeds Festival 2026 began long before Bring Me The Horizon took to the stage at Bramham Park on Sunday evening, bringing another year to a close.
With Glastonbury taking a fallow year, it means that interest in next year’s festival is going to be bigger, with many set to choose either Reading or the Yorkshire variant as their preferred festival destination of choice during the 2026 season. Which could indicate why organiser Melvin Benn has already admitted to booking ‘two’ headliners for next year’s event.
So, who do we think is going to take two of those coveted slots on the Main Stage? We’ve taken a look at upcoming album releases towards the end of 2025 which, we think, should have enough momentum to carry through well into the new year, alongside some of those artists that have performed other festivals in the UK this year, but owing to the interest in them can easily make their return to headline Bramham Park.
Here are our 15 ideas/suggestions/thoughts (delete as appropriate) who could headline Leeds Festival in 2026.
13. Muse
A perennial favourite and an almost guaranteed spectacle. Muse's name is always in the mix for a major festival headline slot. Fans are speculating on another mind-bending, theatrical performance, complete with their signature bombastic rock anthems and incredible stage production. For many, Muse is a quintessential Leeds Festival headliner. | Getty Images
14. Evanescence
A potential return for a rock festival staple. Evanescence is a popular choice for those wanting a heavier, gothic-rock element on the main stage. The group are gearing up for the release of a new album, a follow-up to 2021's A Bitter Truth, so again, it could be part of an album cycle tour? | MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images
15. My Chemical Romance
There must be a reason why My Chemical Romance only have two dates in London in 2026, right? A headline performance at Leeds would be a monumental moment for a band that has maintained a legendary status. They would bring their theatrical and emotionally charged show to Bramham Park, giving a generation of fans the headline set they've been waiting for. | Scott Gries/Getty Images