Latitude Festival 2026 Review: The Best Family Highlights From Its 20th Anniversary
Latitude Festival 2026 Review – By Rachel Ducker
Pink sheep, glitter, woodland adventures, brilliant music and three children who were determined to explore absolutely everything – Latitude Festival 2026 weekend was yet another fantastically colourful romp around the glorious Henham Park.
The weather throughout was perfect, ideal for all the exploring and the atmosphere always electric and welcoming. This year felt especially amazing as Latitude celebrated its 20th anniversary and we attended as a family.
Festivals with young children are by necessity a different experience to visiting with friends, but even with young kids, Latitude never disappoints in ensuring there is fun for everyone.
In fact, some of our absolute favourite moments from the weekend were when we experienced them together. From dancing to our hearts out in front of the Obelisk Arena, through discovering shows, crafts, and woods activities scattered throughout the vast site, our highlights from the festival.
Latitude Festival celebrates 20 editions at Henham Park
This years line-up saw an incredible range of artists including headliners David Byrne (Friday), Teddy Swims (Saturday) and Lewis Capaldi (Sunday) joined by names including Self Esteem, Tom Odell, Billy Ocean, David Gray, Wet Leg and Alex James’ Britpop Classical.
The reviews praised David Byrne’s experimental and ingenious live production and Lewis Capaldi’s warmth and self-deprecating persona as both a huge highlight at the end of the festival weekend and, in Lewis’s case, a stand-out show.
But the Latitude Festival has never been only about the music. As it’s name suggests, the festival is about much more, as with the sheer vastness of shows and performances across different fields, anything can happen. You can step out of a major headline performance and find yourself within minutes in the middle of a comedian, a theatrical show for kids, a science lecture or a bizarre piece of woodland performance.
It’s this incredible variety that Latitude thrives upon and why it is so well suited to families.
Our Latitude 2026 family experience
We’ve been going to Latitude for many years now and experiencing the festival with kids offers a different kind of magic entirely. This weekend involved a lot of glitter, kids outfits, biscuit negotiations, and trying to make three separate people walk in the same general direction!
But it also involved the amazing moments when they suddenly stop dead, completely engrossed by something on stage or a surprise activity and that really, for me, is Latitude.
It’s the unexpected performances that make it so wonderful. The atmosphere here is relaxed and so welcoming. Children are weaving through families eating, and dancing as a family right out in front of the Obelisk. The giant pink sheep are a vital photo opportunity for everyone.
Nobody leaves Latitude without a photo with an inflated pink sheep and enough glitter to make them visible from outer space.
The best things for families to do at Latitude Festival
1. Explore the Kids Area
There is so much going on at the Kids Area it feels like a whole other festival.
Open from 10 am till 6pm every day, it has children’s theatre, puppets, comedy, live performance stories, breakdancing and science workshops all topped off with additional outdoor performing.
Most of this is free, except for the fair. It is also home to many great performers including children’s comedian and author, Rosie Jones, comedian Cillian O’Connor who reached Britain’s got talent, the brilliant Professor Slug, Rhubarb Theatre and top West End professionals from Shine Performing Arts. It’s great that the programme is open so you can drop in and out, particularly great with little ones who have changing energy levels.
2. Find your spot in The Hive
The Hive combined books, nature and creative activity in a large geodome which was located in its own garden space.
With many activities, including Animation,illustrator of many best selling children’s books, and Dr David Jones from the Natural History museum teaching us all about minibeasts and worms this truly had something to offer everyone, no matter how old.
There was a wonderful Waterstones pop-up bookshop along with activities and an author book signing on each day. For a nice calm break from the main arena this area was a hit and great to recharge energy.
3. Escape to The Enchanted Garden
This lovely tranquil space nestled in the Family Campsite played host to a different schedule that started slightly later from 9am till 4pm.
It included art, yoga, basket weaving, crochet, modelling and rocket launching for older kids, and some brilliant historical-themed games including archery and sword fighting from ‘Get Medieval’.
It was perfectly placed for children who need a little bit of time to unwind away from it all and was great at giving older kids space outside of their younger siblings’ schedules and vice versa.
4. Head into the woods at Camp Greenpeace
Camp Greenpeace is one of the most unique spaces at Latitude. Tucked away with the trees by the lake there were many wonderful family activities, including guided tours, bush craft, tree climbing and a zipline.
There was also the opportunity to get involved in building the Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior. It’s fun watching your kids burn off some serious energy away from the main stages!
5. Make use of the baby and toddler facilities
Baby basecamp organised by Charity Concierge and Child.org, was available throughout the weekend with all the necessary facilities for even the smallest members of the family, including soft play, feed and change areas, and even some quiet rooms to get away from it all.
Little hands were also given a free safety wristband which they can wear with the parents phone number etched into the band in case they get separated.
This space truly made the festival feel accessible to families with very young children.
6. Let the children experience the main stages
Let your kids dance like no one is watching!
Latitude’s line-up is so diverse, offering everything from popular contemporary artists and their sets, to some quite spectacular classical sets from some of the best orchestras, theatre from both comedians and musicians.
We found that it was better to get a spot towards the back in order to avoid bumping any heads and make sure they have room to move without tripping, and if little legs grow weary there’s always a chariot for them to use. Don’t forget the ear defenders for your little ones though.
7. Allow for Spontaneity
Download the Latitude app in advance if you have anything you absolutely do not want to miss, but give yourselves plenty of freedom to roam and enjoy the festival atmosphere.
Some of our most fun memories were when we just decided to see where we were going to end up next. It’s much more relaxing not to rush the kids too much as a rigid schedule rarely lasts past lunchtime, so just go with flow.
Is Latitude Festival suitable for children?
It really is incredibly family friendly. Latitude has three dedicated family areas: the Kids Area, Camp Greenpeace and The Enchanted Garden.
Under 4’s get in to the festival for free as weekend visitors and all children aged 4 to 12 need a child ticket. Children aged 13 to 15 will require an adult ( accompanied ) ticket.
When is Latitude Festival 2027?
Latitude Festival 2027 will take place at Henham Park from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 July 2027.
Loyalty registration is currently open for people who have attended a previous edition of Latitude. Eligible visitors have until 11.59pm on Sunday 2 August 2026 to register.
Latitude 2027 loyalty tickets go on sale at 10am on Wednesday 5 August 2026, while general Early Bird tickets go on sale at 10am on Thursday 13 August 2026.
