One of Norfolk’s biggest live music events is set to return in spectacular fashion this summer as Forest Live 2026 brings a major five day concert series back to High Lodge in Thetford Forest from Wednesday 17th June to Sunday 21st June 2026.
Known for transforming the forest into one of the country’s most unique outdoor music venues, Forest Live has become a much loved part of the UK summer events calendar, combining huge headline artists with the atmosphere of live music surrounded by towering woodland and open skies.
This year’s Norfolk lineup is one of the strongest in recent years, bringing together pop, indie, electronic, disco, funk and reggae across five nights of performances inside the forest setting.
Opening the series on Wednesday 17th June is pop rock favourite McFly, joined by support acts Twin Atlantic and Remember Monday. Known for their energetic live shows and long list of chart favourites, McFly are expected to bring a huge opening night atmosphere to High Lodge as thousands gather among the trees to begin the week long event.
Thursday evening then shifts into disco and funk territory as legendary music icon Nile Rodgers and CHIC headline the forest stage alongside support from The Brand New Heavies and James Emmanuel. With a catalogue spanning decades of dancefloor classics, the evening is expected to become one of the weekend’s biggest celebrations.
Friday night sees electronic music take centre stage as pioneering DJ and producer Fatboy Slim arrives in Norfolk for what promises to be one of the most high energy nights of the festival. Supported by Eliza Rose and Lizzie Curious, the evening is likely to transform Thetford Forest into an enormous outdoor dancefloor beneath the summer sky.
The weekend continues on Saturday with indie rock icons Snow Patrol taking over the headline slot alongside support from The Amazons. Known for emotional anthems and huge live singalong moments, Snow Patrol’s appearance is expected to draw fans from across the region.
Closing the five day series on Sunday are reggae legends UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, joined by Bitty McLean and Reggae Roast. The relaxed summer atmosphere of reggae among the forest backdrop is expected to provide the perfect finale to the weekend.
Part of what makes Forest Live so distinctive is the setting itself. Unlike traditional stadium concerts or city centre festivals, High Lodge offers something far more immersive and atmospheric. As daylight fades through the trees and the music echoes across the forest, the experience feels closer to a summer escape than a conventional live event.
Visitors often arrive early to enjoy the wider forest surroundings before the performances begin, with many bringing picnic chairs and blankets to settle into the woodland environment ahead of the headline acts. The balance between major live music production and natural scenery has become one of the defining reasons Forest Live continues attracting audiences year after year.
The event also plays an important role in Norfolk’s wider summer tourism and events calendar, drawing visitors from across the UK into the region. Hotels, restaurants and hospitality venues across the county often benefit from the increased footfall surrounding the concert series, particularly with audiences travelling in for multiple nights.
Alongside the music itself, the atmosphere surrounding Forest Live has helped establish it as one of the country’s most loved outdoor concert experiences. The setting naturally creates a more relaxed and communal environment than many larger city festivals, with audiences able to enjoy world class artists within one of Norfolk’s most scenic locations.
As live events continue growing in popularity across the UK, experiences that combine entertainment with destination style settings are becoming increasingly sought after. Forest Live captures that perfectly, offering both major headline performances and the feeling of spending an evening immersed within the landscape of Thetford Forest itself.
For music fans across Norfolk and beyond, June is already shaping up to be one of the biggest months of the summer.
And with McFly, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Fatboy Slim, Snow Patrol and UB40 feat. Ali Campbell all arriving in Thetford Forest across five nights, Forest Live 2026 looks set to deliver another unforgettable week of live music beneath the trees.
Location: High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0AF.