Reading Festival

A festival recognised by music fans across the world has been nominated for Putting Reading on the Map sponsored by the Purple Turtle and Jacobs the Jewellers.

Few things have put Reading on the map more powerfully than Reading Festival.

For more than 50 years, the words “Reading Festival”have been recognised by music fans across the UK and around the world.

The festival arrived in Reading in 1971, building on the National Jazz Festival that began in 1961. Since then, Richfield Avenue has welcomed some of the biggest artists on the planet — from Nirvana, Metallica and Guns N’ Roses to Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa.

But its greatest achievement is not the names on the stages. It is the name at the top of the poster: Reading.

Every August Bank Holiday, tens of thousands of visitors travel to our town. They stay in local hotels, eat in our restaurants and pubs, shop in our stores and use local transport and services — bringing millions of pounds of economic activity into the area.

The festival also makes a lasting contribution to Reading’s community and culture, working alongside charities, volunteers and local organisations and becoming an important part of the town’s heritage.

Most importantly, Reading Festival has created generations of ambassadors for our town. For hundreds of thousands of people, their first festival, their favourite performance or an unforgettable weekend with friends will always be associated with Reading.

Reading Festival is more than an event held in Reading. It is an event that has helped define Reading.

For over half a century, it has attracted visitors, supported local businesses, celebrated music and culture, generated worldwide publicity and given our town a place on the international festival map.

There are many great things about Reading. But there is only one Reading Festival.

For its extraordinary longevity, global reputation, economic impact and enduring place in the identity of our town, Reading Festival is a truly deserving winner of the Pride of Reading “Putting Reading on the Map” Award.