The UK’s largest outdoor country, americana and roots festival, The Long Road, is returning for a seventh year on the August 2026 Bank Holiday weekend (27th to 30th August). The festival, which takes place in the scenic grounds of Stanford Hall in Leicestershire, has announced the latest group of acts for the weekend.
The iconic, 14-time GRAMMY winner Emmylou Harris will bring timeless americana as she wraps her lauded European Farewell Tour at the festival. She joins the previously announced Saturday night headliner Bailey Zimmerman, marking his first UK performance in more than two years, following his sold-out UK and European headline run in 2024.
Other newly announced artists include americana legend Steve Earle, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member and multiple GRAMMY-winning legend Jim Lauderdale is set to perform highlights from a decades-spanning career, while the bill gets a touch of indie grit from Shakey Graves and New York storytellers The Felice Brothers bring a mix of emotion and edge. The Long Road promises Southern soul meets roots rock with Uncle Lucius, tight harmonies from acclaimed acoustic-led songwriter duo Striking Matches, cinematic folk-pop flows from Oliver Hazard, and sing-along energy from the “happiest band on Earth,” beach folk band The 502s.
Other names announced include Zandi Holup and Sarah Jane Scouten, the high-energy country of Jason Scott & The High Heat and Horsebath, and UK roots revival with The Hanging Stars and the gentle harmonies of Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou.
Beyond the music, and an environment designed to allow the audience to immerse themselves in the country lifestyle for a few days, The Long Road is levelling up its culinary offering even further this year with the debut of a full-scale, on-site restaurant – the Red Dog Saloon Texas-style BBQ restaurant.
Tickets can be found at the festival website. Meanwhile, you can experience what the Long Road has to offer from last year’s highlight reel.
