Skiddle's big fat festival guide: UK edition - April
A new indie festival in Liverpool, Manchester Punk Fest, experimental in Glasgow, indie by the sea, hard dance in Edinburgh, jazz in London, and more.
Last updated: 26th Mar 2026
Originally published: 18th Mar 2026
The Big Fat Fest Guide returns - this time every month. Across all our Big Fat Fest Guides this year, you'll find over 80 of the best festivals across the UK, and the same goes for our European edition. No genre focus, no size, not just festivals on Skiddle, but all the best festivals coming up in the month ahead, every month from April to September.
As we exit March, we're starting with the best UK festivals in April. We've got a new indie fest in Liverpool, one for experimental sounds in Glasgow, the beloved Manchester Punk Festival, a jazz fest in London, a hard dance showcase in Edinburgh, and more. For the very start of festival season - some may even say before the start of the season - we've got some belting festivals in April coming up.
Let's have a look at those then, shall we?
When: Friday 3rd April 2026
Where: Baltic Triangle in Liverpool, England
Big names: Fat Dog, Brigitte Calls Me Baby, Honeyglaze, The Orielles, Dave Lofts, TTSSFU, Silverwingkiller
A new multi-venue all-dayer comes to Liverpool, gearing up to be one of the best April festivals this year. Focusing primarily on the most exciting upcoming bands, many from the UK. Taking over beloved Liverpool venues including Hangar 34, District, and 24 Kitchen Street, all venues are within walking distance from each other in the Baltic Triangle. Expect rock, indie, alternative, and some electronic.
Find tickets for SO LONG, GOOD FRIDAY
When: Friday 3rd - Saturday 4th April 2026
Where: Portsmouth Guildhall in Portsmouth, England
Big names: President, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, Wargasm, The Wildhearts, As It Is, Graphic Nature, South of Salem, Mouth Culture
Photo: Jim Taylor
When: Friday 3rd - Sunday 5th April 2026
Where: multiple venues in Manchester, England
Big names: Dead To Me, Laura Jane Grace, Strike Anywhere, Fucked Up, Ignite, Inner Terrestrials, Spunge, Lightyear
Counterflows
When: Thursday 9th - Sunday 12th April 2026
Where: multiple venues in Glasgow, Scotland
Big names: < 3 (Less Than Three), DJ E, Escocia Mania (DJ), Hexakaidecagon, Los Thuthanaka, Lin Chi-Wei, Rufus Isabel Elliot, Turbo Sonidero
Scotland's longest-running festival of experimental and marginal music returns, boasting a lineup of local and international artists. Over the fest's four days, there'll be music, club nights, film screenings, a small publishers' fair, and discussions. No set clashes, no headliners, no nonsense.
Outer Town Festival
When: Saturday 11th April 2026
Where: multiple venues in Bristol, England
Big names: Honeyglaze, TTSSFU, Do Nothing, Chartreuse, Meryl Streek, The Orchestra (For Now), Brown Horse
This Feeling By The Sea Festival
When: Saturday 18th April 2026
Where: Bridlington Spa in Bridlington, England
Big names: The Lilacs, The Clause, The Rosadocs, Girlband!, Dirty Blonde, The Bracknall
Find tickets for This Feeling By The Sea Festival
When: Saturday 18th - Sunday 19th April 2026
Where: Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland
Big names: Ben Hemsley, Benwal X Helena Lauwaert, Alex Farell, Klangkuenstler, 999999999, Sara Landry (ETERNALISM UK debut), I Hate Models, ØTTA X DJ Gigola, Mall Grab
Certainly one of the best UK festivals in April, Terminal V’s final edition in Edinburgh sees its award-winning production and music across six stages to close the chapter with a bang. You'll find hard techno, hardgroove, Schranz, techno, hard house, trance, house, garage, and tech house here. And if you need some sun, they also have an edition in Croatia.
Brick Lane Jazz Festival
Photo: Ash Lauryn
When: Thursday 23rd - Sunday 26th April 2026
Where: multiple venues on Brick Lane in London, England
Big names: IAMNOBODI, Céline Dessberg, anaiis & Grupo Cosmo, Nídia & Valentina, Kwame Yeboah, Tia Gordon, CARI, Sam Wise
Photo: Snap Rock and Pop and Rob Barrett
When: Saturday 25th - Sunday 26th April 2026
Where: The Crossing in Birmingham, England
Big names: PROSTITUTE, ØXN, DJ Haram, Bong II, Traidora, Microplastics, Milkweed, Greet, Ameretat
This independent festival is all about experimental sounds. Taking over Digbeth, the DIY music and arts fest, hailed as "Britain's very best underground festival" by The Quietus, does things differently. Visual art, audience participation, and incredible artists are part of why Supersonic is so highly praised.
​Find tickets for Supersonic
Keep an eye out for more Big Fat Fest Guides, which'll come out ahead of each month to highlight all the incredible festivals. And check out our European edition for April 2026. Or go ahead and find more festivals on Skiddle.
Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.
