RAYE headlined Reading Festival for the first time in her career tonight – see the full setlist and footage below.
The South London singer took to the festival’s main stage – now known as The Grid – at Little John’s Farm tonight (August 29), following Dave’s co-headline performance.
RAYE played at Reading for the first time ever two years ago, earning a five-star review from NME at the time, and she opened her first headline set with her breakout 2022 single ‘Escapism’, to huge singalongs from the crowd.
Backed by her familiar horn and string sections and full band, she blended pop, soul, jazz and dance across a set drawn from her acclaimed albums ‘My 21st Century Blues‘ and ‘This Music May Contain Hope‘.
An emotional performance of ‘I Know You’re Hurting’ saw her lead the crowd in a chant of “It’s gonna be alright“, before tapping into the house energy of her early career with ‘Secrets’ and ‘You Don’t Know Me’.
She brought out her sisters Amma and Absolutely for a rousing version of ‘Joy’ before bringing the curtain down with a huge rendition of ‘Where Is My Husband?’
RAYE’s Reading 2026 setlist was:
‘Escapism’
‘Beware…The South London Lover Boy’
‘Skin & Bones’
‘Worth It’
‘The WhatsApp Shakespeare’
‘Oscar Winning Tears’
‘Winter Woman’
‘I Know You’re Hurting’
‘Click Clack Symphony’
‘Secrets / You Don’t Know Me’
‘Life Boat / Prada’
‘Joy’ (with Amma and Absolutely)
‘Where Is My Husband?’
RAYE released her second album, the Mercury-nominated ‘This Music May Contain Hope’ in March, and it includes contributions from Hans Zimmer, Al Green and her sisters Amma and Absolutely.
In a five-star review of the album, NME wrote: “‘This Music May Contain Hope’ is RAYE firing on all cylinders – and then some. It’s showstopping musical maximalism at its grandest, while still being grounded in relatable experiences and unbridled emotions.
“Again, it’s admittedly a lot to take in – but that’s also why it’s so glorious, every theatrical flourish and stylistic detour a declaration from RAYE that she is finally making music for herself.”
Tonight’s headline performance came two years after RAYE made her Reading debut with a heartwarming main-stage set. That appearance followed her record-breaking success at the 2024 BRIT Awards, where she became the first artist to win six prizes in a single year.
Earlier this summer, she brought out Alicia Keys and Mark Ronson during a special performance marking the 60th anniversary of Montreux Jazz Festival. Ronson joined her for ‘Uptown Funk’ and their collaboration ‘Suzanne’, while Keys performed ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ and ‘Oscar Winning Tears’ with her.
Outside music, RAYE is also set to make her acting debut in Yann Demange’s forthcoming crime thriller Lineage, which also stars Jason Bateman and Jude Law.
Check back at NME here for the latest news, reviews, photos, interviews and much more from Reading & Leeds 2026.
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