Met Office weather: What are this weekend's festival forecasts?

With music festivals across the country kicking off this weekend, the weather looks set to bring sunshine, storms, and everything in between. 

As the UK gears up for a packed weekend of live music, the latest Met Office forecasts show festivalgoers should prepare for a wide range of weather conditions. From scorching sunshine to heavy thundery showers, those attending events from Glasgow to Southampton should pack both sunscreen and waterproofs.

Download Festival – Donington Park, Leicestershire

Rock and metal fans heading to Donington Park for Download Festival can expect a dramatic mix of weather. Thursday begins with sunny spells, but cloud will build through the day, bringing a band of heavy, potentially thundery showers from the southwest to those arriving early. Friday remains hot and humid with sunny intervals, but further intense showers are likely overnight into Saturday. The unsettled theme continues into Sunday, with scattered showers and cooler temperatures.

Lineup Highlights: Green Day, Korn, Sleep Token, Weezer, Bullet for My Valentine, Jimmy Eat World, Don Broco, Spiritbox, Within Temptation, The Darkness.

Depot Live – Cardiff Castle, Cardiff

In Cardiff, festivalgoers attending Depot Live should brace for stormy conditions on Friday. Thunderstorms, hail, and gusty winds are also expected, making for a dramatic backdrop to performances from Elbow, Alanis Morissette, and UB40 ft Ali Campbell. However, the weekend will bring some relief, with fresher air and drier, brighter spells expected.

Lineup Highlights: Elbow, The Script, Sting, UB40 ft Ali Campbell, Alanis Morissette, James, Jess Glynne, Fontaines D.C.

Mighty Dub Fest – Alnwick Castle, Northumberland

At Alnwick Castle, where the Mighty Dub Fest is being held, Friday will start off warm with sunny spells, but the weather will turn overnight with heavy, thundery showers likely into Saturday. Sunday will see scattered showers and cooler conditions. Festivalgoers enjoying the eclectic lineup should be prepared for changeable skies.

Lineup Highlights: C-Collective, Loonaloop, King Size Voodoo Traveller, Pork Pie, HeyZeus.

Margate Summer Series – Dreamland, Kent

Margate will bask in sunshine and heat on Friday, but the weather will take a turn overnight with heavy showers expected into Saturday. Sunday remains unsettled with the potential for further heavy showers. Despite the weather, visitors to the seaside amusement park venue can expect an eclectic lineup featuring Tom Jones, Madness, Basement Jaxx and the Sex Pistols. 

Lineup Highlights: Tom Jones, Scooter, Supergrass, The Libertines, Billy Ocean, Texas, Basement Jaxx, McFly, Madness, Olly Murs, Sex Pistols, Sugababes.

READ MORE: Glastonbury Festival Weather: A look back at historic extremes

Parklife – Heaton Park, Manchester

Manchester’s Parklife Festival will see a turbulent Friday with thunderstorms, hail, and gusty winds. The weekend will gradually improve, with fresher air and drier spells expected. Attendees should remain weather-aware, especially on Friday.

Lineup Highlights: 50 Cent, Charli XCX, Jorja Smith, Peggy Gou, Pawsa, Bicep, Overmono, Confidence Man, Lola Young.

Summer Sessions 2025 – Multiple Locations

The Summer Sessions series spans five cities, each with its own weather story:

  • Bedford & Derby: Hot and humid on Friday with sunny spells. Thundery showers are likely overnight into Saturday, with scattered showers continuing into Sunday.
  • Plymouth: Thunderstorms and gusty winds on Friday will give way to a fresher, drier weekend.
  • Glasgow: Cloudy with occasional showers on Friday. Saturday may bring torrential rain before clearing later. Sunday looks brighter with sunny spells.
  • Southampton: Hot and sunny on Friday, with heavy showers expected overnight and into the weekend.

Lineup Highlights: Blossoms, James, Rag'n'Bone Man, Pendulum, Sting, Simple Minds, Stereophonics, Snow Patrol, The Stranglers, UB40 ft Ali Campbell.

Stories in the Park – Palmer Park, Reading

Reading will enjoy a hot and humid Friday with sunny spells. However, heavy thundery showers are expected overnight into Saturday, with further showers likely on Sunday. Festivalgoers should be prepared for a wet weekend.

Lineup Highlights: Hybrid Minds, Wilkinson, Josh Baker, BOU, East End Dubs, Basslayerz, Fish56 Octagon, K Motionz.

Northern Aldborough Festival – Aldborough, Yorkshire

Classical music lovers in Aldborough will enjoy warm sunshine on Friday, but the weather will deteriorate overnight with thundery showers expected into Saturday. Sunday remains unsettled with scattered showers and cooler temperatures.

Lineup Highlights: Viktoria Mullova, Fantasia Orchestra, Alim Beisembayev, Armonico Consort, Adriana Babin, Julian Joseph Trio.

Festivalgoers are encouraged to check local forecasts regularly, pack for all weather conditions, and stay hydrated. A weather warning has already been issued for south-eastern parts of the UK this weekend, with updates very likely as we head towards the weekend. 

With a mix of heat, humidity, and storms, preparation will be key to enjoying the weekend’s events safely and comfortably.

Keep up to date with weather warnings, and you can find the latest forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store.