Friends, festival-goers – lend me your ears! The run-up to Leeds and Reading Festival 2025 continues!
As the sun shines down on most of the United Kingdom this week (and hay fever once again kicks in), our minds turn to the weather over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the dates for both Leeds and Reading Festival, alongside Creamfields 2025 for the dance music enthusiasts among us.
With a fantastic line-up of acts already confirmed, speculation is rife about potential surprise appearances at various festivals this year. Whispers on Reddit and cryptic posts on social media are fuelling the rumour mill, as is typical in the month preceding Glastonbury, the lead in to the many UK summer festivals annually.
But who are the ‘wildcards’ that could make a sneaky appearance at Richfield Avenue or Bramham Park?
We've examined Ticketmaster and a number of concerts taking place around the dates of Leeds and Reading Festival 2025, alongside looking at album release dates which may lead to promotional activity close to the festival to bring you our 13 ‘wildcard’ picks for potential surprise guests at Leeds and Reading Festival 2025.
As always, take this as speculative - and with a healthy dose of salt.
9. Aitch
Manchester's very own Aitch released his album 4 in June 2025 and currently has no major tour dates announced around the Leeds and Reading Festival. With his strong local connection to the North and his significant presence in the UK hip-hop scene, a surprise appearance at Leeds Festival would be a massive draw. Imagine the energy as he bursts onto a stage, delivering his signature flow and showcasing tracks from his latest album to a hyped-up crowd. It's a very plausible way for a major British artist to connect with fans on home turf. | Getty Images for Bauer Media
10. Pulp
Pulp's current run of UK shows culminates in Manchester on June 21st, two months before Leeds and Reading. While their schedule appears open after that, the gap makes a surprise appearance less certain. However, as a beloved and recently reunited band, the allure of a secret set on a major festival stage could be strong. Keep those fingers crossed for a sudden dose of "Common People"! | AFP via Getty Images
11. Sam Fender
With a massive headline show in Edinburgh on Friday, August 22nd, the opening day of Leeds and Reading, and a Manchester gig the weekend before on August 16th, the chances of a Sam Fender secret set are a bit of a question mark. While his northern roots and proximity to Leeds might make fans hopeful, his confirmed headline show on the same day in Edinburgh could make it logistically challenging and potentially contractually tricky. Never say never, but don't get your hopes too high for a surprise from the "Seventeen Going Under" star. | Getty Images for Coachella
12. Ed Sheeran
With a new album Play generating buzz and a nostalgic Instagram presence, the idea of an Ed Sheeran surprise acoustic set is tempting. However, his August schedule sees him playing stadium shows in Stockholm, Sweden on Friday, August 22nd and Saturday, August 23rd, directly clashing with the Leeds and Reading weekend. While we can dream of a last-minute dash from Scandinavia, the logistics of a major international artist fitting in an unannounced festival appearance amidst their own stadium tour make this one a very long shot. | Getty Images