Over the past 20 years, thousands of artists have graced the stages of Latitude Festival in Suffolk, bringing audiences a weekend of unforgettable music, theatre, learning, adventure, laughter and dance.

There are few other places where you can find the joyful rhythms of David Byrne on the main stage, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake performed across an actual lake, and the opportunity to take medieval sword fighting lessons.

The Independent’s own podcast In The Room gives attendees a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes of government decisions, while the Adam Clery Football Channel packs out The Listening Post stage with a quiz on England’s greatest tournament heartbreaks.

Spread across dusty, heatwave-scorched fields, the aptly titled magical Faraway Forest and a lake (sadly closed to wild swimmers this year due to blue-green algae), the festival overflows with literary talks, educational displays and hidden gems for the whole family.

On my way into the festival I’m surprised to be sharing the shuttle bus with some of the artists on the lineup: Izzy S.O, whose pop-punk sound greets campers from the Climate Bus parked at the entrance of the campsite, and The Scorpios, a London-based Sudanese psychedelic jazz band with a raw eastern funk feel, performing on the Trailer Park stage.

One of the festival’s main draws is its comedy lineup, and this year is no exception. Latitude veteran Marcus Brigstocke gives his take on what it's like to be a man in 2026, poking fun at the Manosphere and declaring AI the biggest threat to the average modern male. Other comedic highlights include Lenny Henry making his return to stand-up, Chloe Petts (reminding us of the pride we felt following the Lionesses last year, in contrast to this year’s World Cup heartbreak), and Brennan Reece.

The music stages kick off with performances from baroque pop band The Last Dinner Party, singer-songwriter Tom Grennan and US soul artist Jalen Ngonda, setting the tone for an eclectic weekend. Three years after his debut appearance at Latitude, Teddy Swims returns to headline the main stage on Saturday night. Giving a truly electrifying performance, the singer seems genuinely humbled to be back and makes a huge effort to shine the spotlight on his talented band. Audience members are visibly moved by the singer's emotionally vulnerable lyrics and powerhouse vocals, while an unexpected cover of Van Halen's "Jump" has everyone, well, jumping.

Fellow headliner Lewis Capaldi makes a triumphant return to the main stage after a hiatus to recover from his mental health struggles. He’s in great form, delivering a charming blend of ballads, sweary asides, and singalong anthems. Meanwhile, Self Esteem steals the show with her set of life-affirming lyrics from songs such as “I Do This All the Time” and “Focus is Power”, offering a communal celebration that makes for one awe-inspiring show-stopper.