More than 40,000 country music fans came together across four days at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire as The Long Road Festival 2026 celebrated country, roots and Americana music. The festival brought together international stars, country legends and homegrown talent alongside food, classic cars and a packed programme of immersive activities. From traditional country and Americana to rock, folk, funk and contemporary country, this year’s event once again showcased the breadth of music represented at The Long Road. Country fans embrace the British weather Despite unpredictable conditions, festivalgoers made the most of the weekend, singing in the rain, dancing in the sunshine and forming new friendships beneath the rainbows that appeared over the site. The changing weather reflected the spirit of Dolly Parton’s famous words: “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” For The Long Road crowd, the sentiment proved particularly fitting as fans embraced everything the weekend had to offer. Across the festival, artists and fans paid tribute to country music legend Dolly Parton, who had passed away just days before the event. A specially dedicated Dolly Forever Wall gave festivalgoers and performers the opportunity to leave personal messages reflecting on Parton’s extraordinary legacy and the influence she had on generations of country artists. The Long Road Festival’s Creative Director, Baylen Leonard, said: “This year’s Long Road was a fantastic celebration of the spirit and community at the heart of country music. Offering a welcoming and inclusive environment, it’s a place where everyone can feel accepted, connected and part of something special. “There’s a real sense of coming home at The Long Road, and we want everyone who joins us to feel that the festival is a place where they can truly be themselves. As we continue to grow, we look forward to welcoming new faces, whilst seeing familiar ones return year after year.” The Shires headline Friday at The Long Road Friday got the festival off to a flying start as The Shires headlined the glittering Rhinestone Stage. The duo’s continued growth reflected the extraordinary rise of country music in the UK and the strength of the homegrown scene that has been an important part of The Long Road throughout its history. Steve Earle delivered a set filled with classics and the storytelling that has made him such an influential figure in country and Americana, while The 502s emerged as one of the day’s standout acts with their energy and enthusiasm. Harleymoon Kemp brought her commanding presence to The Interstate, while “pocket sized cowgirl” Chanel Yates made an impression with her vivacious performance. Ronnie Wood and Imelda May lead Saturday Saturday saw Ronnie Wood headline the festival, opening his set with The Rolling Stones classic “It’s Only Rock’n’Roll (But I Like It)” before performing a cover of Willie Nelson’s “On The Road Again”. Wood then welcomed Imelda May to the stage for a series of performances, with the pair coming together for a particularly poignant rendition of “9 to 5” in tribute to Dolly Parton. Josh Ross impressed on the main stage with his effortless charm, while First Time Flyers reached another milestone by performing on the main stage after previously appearing on every other stage at The Long Road. Australia’s Hayley Jensen opened The Interstate Stage with powerful vocals and show stopping outfits, while Twinnie performed her new single “Wild One” alongside tracks from her forthcoming album. Jason and The High Heat brought funk and groove to the festival, while Dawson Anderson attracted a large crowd at the Front Porch. Maren Morris closes The Long Road Sunday brought the festival to an unforgettable conclusion, with Maren Morris delivering her exclusive UK performance. Her set featured some of her biggest and best loved songs, including “The Middle”, “Bones” and “My Church”. Another significant moment arrived when Emmylou Harris took to the stage for the final UK performance of her European farewell tour. A close friend and musical collaborator of Dolly Parton, Harris delivered a deeply personal tribute with “When We’re Gone, Long Gone”, originally released with Parton in 1999. The performance took place as Stanford Hall was illuminated in pink, creating one of the weekend’s most poignant moments. Elsewhere on Sunday, Ryan and Rory brought plenty of energy, The Brothers Comatose added their distinctive folk sound to the line up, and Lily Fitts captivated audiences with her silky vocals. Josh Beer wins Homegrown Country Music Contest The Long Road continued its commitment to developing the next generation of British country talent through the Homegrown Country Music Contest. Hosted by Janet Devlin, the competition provided emerging UK artists with a platform to showcase their music. Josh Beer was named this year’s winner after impressing both audiences and judges against strong competition. Last year’s winner, Liam Price, returned to the festival to perform on the Rhinestone Stage, further establishing himself among the next wave of rising UK country artists. Country lifestyle takes over Stanford Hall Music was only part of The Long Road experience, with festivalgoers able to enjoy a wide variety of immersive activities throughout the weekend. Highlights included the car and bike show, Smoke & Fire BBQ food experience, food eating competitions and sold out sittings at the on site Red Dog Saloon restaurant. From afterparties continuing until 1am to crafts and line dancing at the Front Porch from 11am, the festival placed connection, conversation, celebration and creativity at the centre of the experience. Families, pets, lifelong friends, country newcomers and dedicated fans all came together throughout the four day event. The Long Road Festival confirms 2027 dates With The Long Road 2026 now complete, attention is already turning towards next year’s festival. The Long Road Festival will return to Stanford Hall from 26 to 29 August 2027. Earlybird tickets for The Long Road Festival 2027 will go on sale on Thursday, 3 September, at 9.30am.
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