V Festival 2016

Festival guide

Over the years, V has gradually edged away from its indie-rock roots to become the go-to UK festival for fans of commercial dance music and chart-friendly pop. On the latter score, this year’s line-up is arguably their strongest yet, boasting UK festival exclusives in both Rihanna and Justin Bieber, plus huge names like Sia, Bastille and Little Mix. Here’s who we recommend watching at the split-site event, which takes place in Chelmsford and Staffordshire from 20th to 21st August.

Top picks

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    Justin Bieber

    If you’d confessed your love for Justin Bieber two years ago, your pals would probably have nodded politely and made their excuses to go speak to someone else. Not now. Thanks to Skrillex/Diplo-collaboration ‘Where Are Ü Now’, and last November’s excellent LP, Purpose, everybody wants a piece of Biebz. He headlines on Saturday in Chelmsford and on Sunday in Staffordshire – tell all your friends, because they won’t want to miss him.

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    Rihanna

    Returning to V Festival for the first time since 2011, Rihanna will be bringing the Anti World Tour to Staffordshire on Saturday and Chelmsford on Sunday. If her recent Wembley Stadium setlist is indicative of her plans for V, fans are in for a huge treat. Expect compelling renditions of songs from Anti, interspersed with an array of crowd-pleasing smashes, including ‘Rude Boy’, ‘Umbrella’, ‘We Found Love’ and ‘Diamonds’.

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    Zara Larsson

    Discovered in 2008 on the Swedish equivalent of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, 18-year-old Zara Larsson is already a huge star throughout Scandinavia. Following her huge collaboration with MNEK, her irresistibly summery single ‘Lush Life’, and her recent VMA nomination for Best New Artist, she looks well on the way to repeating the trick over here. Go see her on the MTV Stage at V, and you’ll have bragging rights when she inevitable becomes huge.

Big names

Don't miss

More from the line-up

  • Corinne Bailey Rae

    Interview

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    It was a big period of transformation for me: of coming out of a difficult time into a time of joy and rediscovery.

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  • All Saints

    Interview

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    In a world like this – and in the industry that we’re in – it’s very important to be a strong woman.

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  • Years & Years

    Interview

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    When we take a step back and reflect on what has happened this year, it’s been crazy.

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  • John Newman

    Interview

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    There’s nothing more satisfying than my mum being able to turn on the radio and hear something I’ve made.

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  • Foxes

    Interview

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    Taylor Swift's given me some relationship advice before.

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  • James Morrison

    Interview

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    I went to see a spiritual healer and she said that I had an evil spirit attached to me.

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