The best forest festivals
Think festivals think Skiddle. For those who enjoy soundsystems nestled within luscious woodland, these forest festivals should do the trick.
Last updated: 29th May 2026
Originally published: 19th May 2021
Festival season is a time of year we at Skiddle take quite seriously, and a slew of quality festival content lies within our archives and webpages. If you’ve found yourself here then that can only mean one thing: you’re scouting for the best forest festivals in 2026.
There are plenty of elements at play that make a good woodland festival. Whether it be the impeccable tunes blasting through the speakers, the incredible acts dotted across the lineups who can work the decks and the crowds with enviable ease, the quality scran, or of course the bucolic scenery that stops you in your tracks, the list is endless.
Forest festivals are the perfect way to let loose, and let go of all that outside stress, all while making irreplaceable memories. So no matter if you’re an outdoorsy person or not, come and take a gander with us and see what festivals in the woods make you wanna get groovy and down with the trees.
When: Saturday 27th June 2026
Where: Orrell Hill Woods in Liverpool
2026 lineup: Ultrabeat, Darren Styles, K Klass, Todd Terry, Rob Tissera, Seb Fontaine, and many more
Every year sees Restricted Forest return to its picturesque home of Orrel Hill in Liverpool bigger and better than the last. This year’s edition will be as immersive as ever, and despite the name, nothing about this festival is restricted.
An insane variety of artists are performing knockout performances, with this year’s lineup seeing the likes of Ultrabeat, Darren Styles, K Klass, Todd Terry, Rob Tissera, Seb Fontaine and more spinning the very best in trance, old skool, club classics, and 90s bangers.
Grab your ticket, stick on your wellies and get your gun fingers out, it’s gonna be a mad one.
Find out more information on Restricted Forest - here
When: Friday 29th - Saturday 30th May 2026
Where: Thoresby Park in Nottingham
2026 lineup: Ben Hemsley, Judge Jules, Eddie Halliwell, Billy Gillies, John O'Callaghan, Bryan Kearney, and many more
Another escapism in the woods is on the horizon courtesy of Goodgreef. Blasting the best trance music imaginable, Trance In The Woods has made its mark of being one of the best festivals in the woods, and are once again bringing the best elements of a good rave to Elvaston Castle Country Park in Derby.
The artists taking over the stages in 2026 include Ben Hemsley, Judge Jules, Eddie Halliwell, Billy Gillies, John O'Callaghan, Bryan Kearney. There is still ample time to snatch a ticket and prepare for another boogie in the woods, paired with unmissable trance sounds that'll keep you on your feet over the jam-packed two days.
Find out more information on Trance In The Woods - here
When: Thursday 23rd - Sunday 26th July 2026
Where: Henham Park, Suffolk
2026 Lineup: Lewis Capaldi, Tom Odell, David Gray, Billy Ocean, The Last Dinner Party, Jalen Ngonda, and many more
Imagine a space, surrounded by breathtaking greenery, arts and crafts and vibes so immaculate you won’t want to return to your tent. Latitude has that and then some.
Latitude is one of the longest-running forest festivals for a reason. Each year they return bigger and better, and this year have a helping of world-class headline acts featuring Tom Odell, The Last Dinner Party, Lewis Capaldi, Billy Ocean, and Jalen Ngonda to get loose and wild within the unreal scenery of Henham Park.
In addition to the music, Latitude offers comedy, poetry, theatre, literature, podcasts, and wellness; including their zero waste and water refills for all you eco-friendly people out there.
We'll see you in the woods for this one!
Find more information on Latitude Festival - here
When: Thursday 4th - Sunday 7th June 2026
Where: Belvoir Castle in Nottinghamshire
2026 lineup: Sub Focus, MK, Pendulum, Shy FX, Wilkinson, Patrick Topping, Hybrid Minds, Nathan Dawe, and many more
Forbidden Forest returns for 2026, and everyone’s invited. A magical place where ravers can revel in music, nature and dance, Forbidden Forest takes place at Belvoir Castle in secluded Nottinghamshire, a 10/10 place for non-stop partying.
In typical Forbidden Forest fashion, this year boasts the perfect lineup to blare from the speakers, featuring Sub Focus, MK, Pendulum, Shy FX, Wilkinson, Patrick Topping, Andy C, Jamie Jones, and many more! So take a gander, snatch up a ticket and take one step closer to euphoria.
Find more information on Forbidden Forest - here
When: Thursday 27th - Sunday 30th August 2026
Where: Lost Village in Lincoln
2026 lineup: Ezra Collective, Enzo Siragusa, Ben UFO, Peggy Gou, Ross From Friends, Folamour, Overmono, and many more
Lost Village highlights the whacky, weird and wonderful parts of the woods, and is listed as one of the iconic forest festivals for good reason. Taking place in an abandoned woodland village, Lost Village transforms their space in Lincoln into a goldmine for steppers to enjoy all the very best of house, techno, disco, and dance.
A thoroughly immersive and ethereal experience from start to finish, this unique festival invites around 18,000 passionate ravers to escape the aches and pains of everyday life by immersing themselves in the forest and the tunes.
With places such as the Abandoned Chapel, Tribal Banquet, and Forgers Lane for you to explore, there is always some familiarity at Lost Village with their acts always making the outdoors feel like home. This year’s lineup will feature stellar acts like Ezra Collective, DJ Seinfeld, Ben UFO, Peggy Gou, and Ross From Friends, and whatever they have in store for this will just be another success they blow out the park!
Find more information on Lost Village Festival - here
When: Thursday 30th July - Sunday 2nd August 2026
Where: Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire
2026 Lineup: Carl Cox, Eats Everything, Groove Armada, Scissor Sisters, Annie Lennox, Saint Etienne, and many more
Framed within the wonderful splendour of Oxfordshire’s Cornbury Park and from the minds of the team behind Lovebox and Secret Garden Party is Wilderness Festival. An ode to creative diversity, this forest festival features artists from indie, funk, soul and dance collide for a party within the meadows, and if you really feel like it, you can even dive into the lake.
The lineup has some incredible names attached, not least featuring Carl Cox, Eats Everything, Groove Armada, Scissor Sisters, and Annie Lennox. Music aside, there are plenty of other activities to get stuck into like disco yoga, banquet dining, massages, theatre, and talks. You just know it’s going to be top.
Find more information on Wilderness Festival - here
When: Saturday 4th July 2026
Where: Newstead Abbey in Nottingham
2026 lineup: Annie Mac, Sam Divine, Horse Meat Disco, Barbara Tucker, Jodie Harsh, Craig Charles, and many more
Formerly known as Woodland Disco Festival, the brilliant Wonderland is a forest festival to add to the bucket list. This year’s edition on 4th July has some iconic names on the lineup like Annie Mac, Horse Meat Disco, and Craig Charles taking to the stage in Nottingham’s Newstead Abbey.
Expect a day full of house and disco bangers that will get you up on your feet, and make the most of your time on their woodland grounds with their tasty street food, immersive attractions, and a venue steeped in history and heritage.
Find out more information on Wonderland Festival - here
When: Thursday 11th - Sunday 14th June 2026
2026 lineup: Willow, Crazy P, Mella Dee, Mr Scruff, Conducta, tINI, Ivy lab, Oppidan, and many more
Closing out this list in style is a true standout among forest festivals: Gottwood. This North Wales four dayer is a stunner that focuses on the important things; good ole raving.
Fiercely independent and critically lauded, Gottwood is both a mystical party and underground electronic wonderland rolled into one, giving emerging artists a chance to flex their talent on the decks to ravers, and makes sure to hit the mark where other festivals fail.
Find more information on Gottwood Festival - here
Forest festivals are on another level. If music takes you to another planet, experiencing live music in a secluded forest takes you to another universe. We all deserve to completely let go from time to time, and that’s exactly what hiking out to the middle of nowhere and raving to some sick tunes does.
However, if you want to check out something a bit different, why not check out the best EDM, trance, or house and techno festivals? With loads of options, think festivals think Skiddle this season.
Have these forest festival recommendations woken up the adventurer in you? Well, if you're looking for more amazing festivals that are going down this year, then check out our festival finder here.
Header image credit: Lost Village Festival / Facebook.com