Y Not Festival

Y Not Festival – an annual open-air music festival held in the village of Pikehall in Derbyshire (Great Britain). Over the years, it has grown from a small local event for a few hundred people into a major summer festival featuring well-known British and international artists. Today, Y Not combines music, camping and that quintessentially British festival atmosphere of a break in the countryside. In this article, we’ll tell you where the event takes place, how long it lasts, how much tickets cost, what the site is like and what visitors need to know before they go.

What is Y Not Festival?

The Y Not Festival is a summer music festival that brings together fans of live music every year in the Derbyshire countryside. Its main feature is the combination of a major concert event with a relaxed festival atmosphere: visitors come not only for the performances but also for camping, socialising and relaxing in the countryside.

In its early years, Y Not was a small event aimed at fans of the independent scene. In 2007, the festival moved to Pikehall, where it was able to expand its site and accommodate more visitors. Gradually, better-known acts began to feature on the line-up, and the festival itself gained a reputation as one of the standout summer events on the British music scene.

Artists such as Stereophonics, The Libertines, Paul Weller and other well-known figures from the rock, indie and alternative music scenes have performed on the stages at the Y Not Festival. The line-up changes every year, but the organisers traditionally focus on British bands and artists who are popular with a wide audience.

The festival runs over several days: guests can arrive early, pitch their tents at the campsite and spend the whole weekend on the festival grounds. As well as concerts, there are food and entertainment areas, plus additional facilities – such as VIP areas. The organisers offer upgraded accommodation options and special services for visitors.

Where does the Y Not Festival take place?

The Y Not Festival takes place in Pikehall, Derbyshire, in the centre of Great Britain. The venue is set amongst the hills and countryside of the Peak District. The location has become one of the festival’s defining features: rather than an urban venue, visitors have the chance to spend a few days in the countryside.

The festival site is situated near the small village of Pikehall, so the organisers recommend planning your route and transport in advance. The nearest major cities to the festival site are:

• Manchester – 50–60 km away;
• Sheffield – 45–50 km away;
• Derby – 35–40 km away.

Y Not Festival map

The festival site map shows the layout of the main areas: stages, camping sites, car parks, entrances, food and drink outlets, and additional facilities. The organisers publish the map before the event so that visitors can plan their route around the site in advance.

The Y Not Festival site includes:

• Main Arena – the main area with large stages;
• camping areas for guests with tents;
• car parks near the festival;
• Food & Drink areas with cafés and food trucks;
• VIP areas, including TONY’S VIP and the upgraded Paradise Peaks camping options;
• entertainment areas and additional activities.

When planning your trip, bear in mind the size of the site: there may be considerable distances between the campsite, car park and stages, so comfortable footwear and a pre-planned route will help you avoid unnecessary walking.

Y Not Festival 2026 Line-up

In 2026, the organisers once again focused on British guitar music. The main headliners for Y Not 2026 were The Libertines, The Reytons, Two Door Cinema Club and The Streets. Each of them will headline one of the festival’s four days. Alongside them, dozens of well-known acts will take to the stages at the Y Not Festival – ranging from veterans of British indie rock to young bands that have built up a large following in recent years.

The line-up is organised by day as follows.

Over the course of the Y Not Festival’s nearly twenty-year history, numerous well-known British bands have performed on its stages. For example, Kasabian headlined the festival in 2023, bringing the Friday programme to a close. Sea Girls also featured in the line-up that year, playing on the Sunday of the festival weekend.

A year later, in 2024, Kaiser Chiefs took to the Y Not Festival stage, opening the festival on Thursday. That same year, the audience was treated to performances by The Snuts and Pale Waves, who were part of the Saturday programme.

In 2025, one of the main highlights was a performance by The Prodigy – the legendary band headlined Friday evening and became one of the Y Not Festival’s headliners for the first time.

Information for visitors

Before travelling to the Y Not Festival 2026, it’s worth thinking through all the details in advance: which ticket to choose, where to stay, how to get to the venue, and whether you’ll need a parking pass. The festival takes place in the countryside near Pikehall, Derbyshire, so the organisers recommend planning your route in advance and purchasing additional services alongside your main ticket.

Tickets

Several ticket options are available for the Y Not Festival 2026: standard festival entry, youth tickets, additional options to enhance your experience, and special accommodation packages. All prices are quoted excluding the service charge. Prices may vary depending on the sales phase.

A standard festival ticket includes access to the Y Not Festival site from Friday to Sunday. For those who wish to arrive earlier and start their holiday on Thursday, there is a separate ‘Thursday Entry Upgrade’ option available.

Dates

Y Not Festival 2026 will take place from 30 July to 2 August 2026 in Pikehall, Derbyshire.

Camping

Camping is one of the key elements of the Y Not Festival experience. Most guests come for a few days, pitch their tents and stay near the festival site.

The organisers offer several accommodation options:

A separate Live-In Vehicle Pass is required for motorhomes and campervans. Options include standard pitches and pitches with electricity hook-ups.

Toilets, showers and basic facilities are available on the campsite. For guests with reduced mobility, there is a separate campsite with adapted facilities: accessible showers, toilets, charging points and other necessary amenities.

General Camping and Family Camping are included in the price of the Weekend Ticket and Family Ticket.

How to get there?

The festival takes place in the countryside of Derbyshire, so the easiest way to get there is by car or by using the organised transport service.

• By car. Most visitors choose to travel by car. When using sat-nav, be sure to set your destination specifically as the Y Not Festival, rather than just Pikehall, as special traffic routes and signage are in place in the area during the festival. The organisers advise following the official road signs as you approach the festival site.
• By bus. The festival’s official partner, Big Green Coach, operates coach services from various towns across Great Britain. This is one of the most convenient options for those who don’t want to worry about parking or planning their own route.
• By taxi or shuttle bus. There is a designated Pick Up & Drop Off area for passengers. The organisers ask that you do not stop along the narrow country roads near the venue, as this causes traffic jams and hinders the flow of traffic.

Parking

For those arriving by car, a parking ticket must be purchased separately. One parking pass is valid for one vehicle. It’s better value to buy a space in advance: prices may be higher if purchased at the festival site, and spaces are limited.

Standard parking is located near the campsite, but you may need to walk from your car to the festival area. Premium Parking holders have access to more convenient spaces closer to the entrances.

Important to remember: parking areas are for cars only. You are not permitted to spend the night in your car in the car park – to do so, you must book a suitable camping option or purchase a Live-In Vehicle Pass.

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