The Bracknell Ale and Cider Festival is set to celebrate its 15th anniversary later this month, with organisers promising a major showcase of local food, drink, and live music.
Taking place on Sunday, 24 May – during the bank holiday weekend – the event returns to its familiar home at Bracknell Rugby Club.
The full entertainment programme has now been confirmed, featuring two separate performance areas. The Calibra Tree Surgeons Main Stage and the Gas Man Group Acoustic Stage will host a range of acts curated by Abi Powell.
Headliners on the main stage are party band !daft!. They perform a mixture of pop, rock, indie and party tunes, and have done since 1998.
Also appearing on the main stage are Key Lime Pi, Hell Troupe, Jen Behaving Badly, The Small Strings, and Atomic Rapture. DJ Norman plays hits as the night winds down.
The Acoustic Stage features Cajun Boogaloo, Abi Powell, We Are Not Twins, Gayna and Joe, and Errant Hearts. The acts perform between 12.45pm and 7.45pm.
Street food delights
In addition to the music, the festival will feature a selection of collaboration beers and the return of popular favourites from previous years. The food court is sponsored by Thames Valley Buses.
Treats include You Silly Sausage, Simon’s Pies and Matilda’s Kitchen, Squires of Benson, Little Reds Pizza, Oh Greeklicious, and the Bracknell Rugby Club barbeue and hog roast.
Dedicated shuttle buses
To encourage sustainable travel and ensure safety, Thames Valley Buses will operate a dedicated shuttle bus service to and from the rugby club, allowing attendees to leave their cars at home.
They run from bay 3 at Bracknell Bus Station every half-hour at 10 to the hour and 20 past the hour: eg 11.50am and 12.20pm (the first two buses) through to the last bus at 8.50pm.
The return leg starts at noon and runs every half-hour until 9pm (eg, noon, 12.30pm, 1pm, etc).
Fares cost £3 for a single journey, or £4.80 return, and child fares are £1.60 single and £2.60. Concessionary passes are not valid on this route.
A group ticket, for four people, costs £15.50.
When is Bracknell Ale & Cider Festival coming to Reading, and how can I get tickets?
The Bracknell Ale and Cider Festival takes place on Sunday 24 May 2026. The event is held at Bracknell Rugby Club, Lily Hill Park, Bracknell, RG12 2UG.
In a long-standing tradition, organisers are offering free entry to anyone who has participated in the recent Bracknell Half Marathon or the Binfield 10k. Runners must follow specific claim instructions via the festival website to secure their place.
Tickets are available to purchase online now through the festival’s official booking site, right up until 10am on Sunday, 24 May.
Advance tickets are £15, while tickets on the gate will cost £20. A group of four tickets cost £40, and CAMRA members can get in for £10. To book, log on to: https://www.intix.com/event/bracknell-ale-and-cider-festival-2026
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own camping chairs for the day.
For full details on the music line-up and shuttle bus timetables, visit www.bracknellalefestival.co.uk
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