Over 19,000 music fans attend Trentham Live 2026
Four nights of live music saw The Fratellis, Madness, Five and The Human League headline Trentham Gardens, with three nights completely sold out.
More than 19,000 music fans visited Trentham this weekend for four unforgettable nights of live music as Trentham Live 2026 brought some of the biggest names in British music to Staffordshire with 3 sold out shows.
Taking place from Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 August, the four-day event transformed the historic lakeside setting of Trentham Gardens into a spectacular outdoor music venue, with Friday, Saturday and Sunday all completely sold out.
The weekend got underway on Thursday evening with Scottish indie-rock favourites The Fratellis, who brought the opening night to a close with a set packed with fan favourites. They were joined by The Subways, Stoke-on-Trent band Camens and local band Foarn, who had the honour of officially opening Trentham Live 2026.
Friday saw British music legends Madness take over Trentham for a sold-out night, bringing their unmistakable sound and much-loved catalogue of hits to thousands of fans. They were joined by The Coral and Average Joe, setting the scene for a huge Friday night in the gardens.
The party continued on Saturday as Five headlined a night of pop nostalgia. Following their hugely successful reunion, the band brought their catalogue of chart hits to Trentham, with The Wanted 2.0 joining the bill as special guests alongside support from Absnt Mind.
Trentham Live 2026 then came to a spectacular close on Sunday with another sold-out show, headlined by synth-pop icons The Human League. With a career spanning more than four decades and over 25 million records sold worldwide, the band rounded off the four-day event with a set celebrating some of the most recognisable songs in British pop. They were joined by fellow 80s favourites Altered Images and Blancmange.
Across the four days, more than 19,000 people attended Trentham Live, cementing the event as one of the highlights of Trentham’s summer calendar.
Kerrie Pope, Head of Events and Marketing at Trentham, said: “Trentham Live 2026 has been an incredible four days and seeing more than 19,000 people enjoying live music here at Trentham has been really special.”
“To have Friday, Saturday and Sunday all completely sold out was fantastic and shows just how much excitement there was around this year’s line-up. From the moment Foarn opened the stage on Thursday to The Human League bringing the weekend to a close on Sunday, the atmosphere has been amazing.”
“Each night brought something completely different, and seeing thousands of people singing, dancing and enjoying these brilliant artists in such a unique setting is exactly what Trentham Live is all about.”
“A huge amount of work goes into delivering an event of this scale, so I’d like to say a massive thank you to our teams, partners, artists and everyone working behind the scenes who helped make the weekend happen.”
“Most importantly, thank you to every single person who joined us across the four days. The crowds really made the event what it was, and we hope everyone went home with some brilliant memories.”
Trentham Live has become a major fixture in Trentham’s annual events programme, bringing established artists and thousands of music fans to the award-winning Staffordshire estate each summer.
The 2026 event marked another huge weekend for the series, combining internationally recognised artists with emerging and local talent against the unique backdrop of Trentham Gardens.
And the entertainment doesn’t stop with Trentham Live. There’s plenty to see, do and enjoy at Trentham all year round, with an exciting programme of live entertainment, family activities, seasonal trails and more giving visitors plenty of reasons to return throughout the year – trentham.co.uk/events-at-trentham
Photos: Ian Knight – Z70 Photography