This year’s Reading and Leeds Festival will take place from Friday, August 26 until Sunday, August 28. With plenty of huge artists in attendance (including Halsey, the 1975, Arctic Monkeys, and Megan Thee Stallion), it promises to be a weekend to remember. If you’d like to watch but don’t fancy putting your fate in the hands of the British weather, there’s an alternative: stay home and live stream Reading and Leeds instead.
First things first: when it comes to music festivals, official sources are the way to go. Unofficial live streams usually won’t have the audio quality needed (as anyone who’s tried to make a phone call from a concert can attest) and the person filming can only be in one place, while official broadcasters have people covering every stage. Besides, you can watch Reading and Leeds online for free, so why bother with a lower-quality option?
The Reading and Leeds Festival will only be shown on UK TV. If you’re traveling abroad, you’ll need a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to regain access.
How to stream Reading & Leeds online from abroad
VPNs encrypt your data and route it through a server in a location of your choosing, keeping your online activities safe from snoopers. This makes them very useful for any international traveler hoping to access their usual streaming services abroad. Here’s how to stream Reading and Leeds 2022 from anywhere:
- Start by signing up for a reputable provider. We recommend NordVPN but ExpressVPN and Surfshark are speedy, secure alternatives
- Download and install the VPN onto any device you use for streaming. Most providers allow up to five simultaneous connections, so it’s fine if you watch on multiple screens
- Log in and choose a British VPN server. This will get you a British IP address, which makes the websites you visit think you’re still in the UK
- Now just visit BBC iPlayer like you normally would and start streaming. If you’re having problems, clear your cookies and try again. Failing that, try another server or get in touch with your VPN’s customer support team
If you’re hoping to watch the 2022 Reading and Leeds Festival live, we strongly suggest making sure your VPN works as expected beforehand. This way, you won’t have to miss part of a set due to last-second technical trouble. All of the VPNs above offer free, around the clock live chat so you can resolve problems in a matter of minutes.
How to watch the Reading & Leeds Festival for free on UK TV
There are no hidden terms—just let customer support know within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.
Historically, Reading and Leeds has always been covered by the BBC, and this year is no different. Radio 1 will have live coverage every morning from 11:00 BST, with video coverage of the headliners airing at around midnight on BBC One.
Both of these channels are available free of charge on BBC iPlayer, which is also where footage from other artists’ sets will be added as the weekend progresses. Remember, you’ll need a UK TV license to use BBC iPlayer, even if you’re only watching on-demand. Additionally, this service requires users to create an account before they can stream anything.
BBC iPlayer is only usually available in the UK. However, Brits traveling abroad can access it with the help of a UK VPN server. Don’t have a VPN yet? NordVPN comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee, and if you’d like, you can just cancel for a full refund once the festival is over.
Can I stream the Reading and Leeds Festival outside of the UK?
Unfortunately, there are no international Reading and Leeds broadcasters. The only way to watch while visiting the US, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, or anywhere else is to connect to a British VPN server.
Which artists have pulled out of Reading and Leeds this year?
So far, three major bands have changed their minds about performing at this year’s Reading and Leeds Festival. These are Jack Harlow, Maneskin, and Rage Against the Machine. The first two decided to perform at the Video Music Awards instead, while RATM’s cancellation was due to the frontman’s leg injury. All the same, fans aren’t best pleased, especially considering RATM’s replacement was The 1975, a band with a completely different musical style and tone.
