Experience the UK’s Immersive Country Festival
The UK’s most authentic and immersive outdoor Country, Americana and Roots festival, The Long Road, returns for a seventh year on the August 2026 Bank Holiday weekend (Aug. 27 – 30). Visitors are guaranteed a weekend of music that spans multiple generations of artists, from legendary performers to the emerging artists and innovative new voices shaping country, Americana and roots.
The iconic, 14-time GRAMMY winner Emmylou Harris will bring timeless country and Americana as she wraps her lauded ‘European Farewell Tour’ at the festival, while fellow Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Steve Earle will take to the stage for a special solo, acoustic performance. Earle, recently inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, is also a producer, actor and author, with multiple film, television and stage roles under his belt.
Breakout Floridian folk band The 502s – often called “the happiest band on Earth” – will join Canadian country sensation Josh Ross on the line-up, who is known for his chart-topping, radio-ready hits such as the genre-bending collaboration with Akon on their countrified version of ‘Na Na Na’. They join the previously announced, multi-platinum, record-breaking 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.
Taking place on the scenic grounds of Stanford Hall in Leicestershire, The Long Road’s lineup continues with fan favourites and touring icons ready to deliver unforgettable performances. Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member and multiple GRAMMY winning legend Jim Lauderdale is set to perform highlights from a decades-spanning career, while Shakey Graves, The Felice Brothers, Uncle Lucius, and acclaimed songwriter duo Striking Matches also join the lineup, alongside Oliver Hazard.
Celebrated as a true tastemaker event, The Long Road has built a reputation for spotlighting artists at every stage in their career, from powerhouse veterans to rising stars like Zandi Holup, and Jason Scott & The High Heat, set to make their UK debut. With each of its six stages inspired by the places that shape country music throughout an artist’s journey – from front porches and dive bars, to miles across the Interstate, to the big-break Rhinestone stage – festival-goers can uncover talent across multiple stages.
Baylen Leonard, Festival Co-Founder, says of the announcement: “Every year, The Long Road feels a little more like home, and 2026 is already shaping up to be one of our biggest yet. This festival has always been about bringing our community together to celebrate the full spectrum of country and Americana, and this year’s line up showcases all the different sounds of the genres we love.
It’s a joy and honour to welcome Emmylou Harris on her European Farewell Tour – a once‑in‑a‑lifetime chance to celebrate one of the genre’s most important voices. Icons like Steve Earle and rising stars such as Josh Ross capture exactly what The Long Road is all about: legendary storytellers sharing the stage with the next generation.”
New for 2026: Red Dog Saloon – the Texas-style BBQ restaurant, known for its highly popular locations across London, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Southampton. They will be bringing Austin-style BBQ, smokers and all, to this unique festival experience, serving sharing platters piled high with signature smoked meats and all the fixings, alongside all-American brunches with a BBQ twist.
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