Creamfields is the UK's largest electronic dance music festival, held annually on the August Bank Holiday weekend at Daresbury in Cheshire, England. Organized by Cream (the Liverpool-based club brand), the festival spans four days and features multiple stages covering EDM, house, techno, trance, and drum and bass. The 2026 edition runs August 28-31, celebrating 20 years at the Daresbury site with headliners including Disclosure (live), Fisher, John Summit, Armin van Buuren, and Becky Hill.
How Creamfields Works
Creamfields takes place over four days on the August Bank Holiday weekend (Thursday through Sunday) at a dedicated festival site in Daresbury, Cheshire. The site holds approximately 70,000 attendees per day and features more than 15 stages, each dedicated to a specific electronic music subgenre. The main stage (the Arc) hosts the biggest EDM and commercial dance headliners, while stages like the Steel Yard, Superstructure, and BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage cater to niche audiences.
Tickets go on sale in early spring through the Creamfields website. Pass types include day tickets, full weekend camping, weekend non-camping, and VIP packages. The festival sells out every year, often within hours of going on sale. Camping options include standard tent camping, boutique camping (pre-pitched tents), and luxury options like pod pads and geodomes.
The lineup is announced in phases. Headliners are revealed first, followed by stage-by-stage announcements through spring and summer. The 2026 lineup features over 300 artists across all stages, including Alesso, Amelie Lens, Andy C, Armand van Helden, Ben Nicky, Chloé Caillet, Chris Stussy, and many more. Pepsi MAX is the headline sponsor for the 2026 edition.
Notable Past Headliners
Creamfields has hosted some of the biggest names in electronic music since its founding in 1998. Here is a look at notable performers from recent editions:
| Year | Notable Performers |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Disclosure (live), Swedish House Mafia, Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix, Tiësto, Carl Cox, Becky Hill, Fisher, John Summit, Armin van Buuren, Faithless, Underworld, Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold |
| 2025 | Swedish House Mafia, David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Anyma, Chase and Status, Eric Prydz, Fisher, Hardwell, Fatboy Slim, Amelie Lens, Dom Dolla |
| 2024 | Calvin Harris, Tiësto, Hardwell, Fisher, Steve Angello, Alesso, Eric Prydz, Martin Garrix, Camelphat, Armin van Buuren, Chase and Status, Charlotte de Witte, Peggy Gou |
| 2023 | Swedish House Mafia (reunion), Calvin Harris, Tiësto, Camelphat |
| 2019 | Swedish House Mafia, deadmau5, Eric Prydz, Carl Cox, Camelphat |
Swedish House Mafia has a long history with Creamfields, dating back to their first festival appearance in 2007. They headlined the Arc stage in 2019 and returned as Saturday headliners in 2025. The trio also tops the bill for the 2026 edition, marking their third Creamfields headline appearance in eight years.
Eric Prydz brought his HOLO production to Creamfields North in 2022, delivering a 1 hour 44 minute set at the Steelyard stage. The full 4K set has over 1.5 million views on YouTube:
David Guetta and Bebe Rexha performed "I'm Good (Blue)" live at Creamfields North 2022, one of the festival's biggest singalong moments that year:
SOSA delivered a DJ set on the Beatport live stream from Creamfields 2025, recorded during the August Bank Holiday weekend:
Real-World Example: Creamfields 2026
The 2026 Creamfields festival runs August 28-31 at Daresbury, Cheshire, marking 20 years at the site. The festival moved to Daresbury in 2006 after outgrowing its original Liverpool location, and has since become the UK's flagship electronic music event.
Friday's Arc stage features Disclosure (live), Fisher, John Summit, and Chris Stussy. Saturday brings Armin van Buuren, Alesso, and Becky Hill to the main stage. Sunday closes with Andy C, Amelie Lens, and Armand van Helden. The HALO stage (presented by SHEIN) and the Apex stage host underground house and techno acts throughout the weekend, including Chloé Caillet, Niva, and Gareth Wyn.
Previous editions have hosted landmark performances. The 2024 edition featured Calvin Harris, Tiësto, and Camelphat. The 2023 edition saw Swedish House Mafia reunite for a headline set. Creamfields has a tradition of booking artists who go on to dominate global dance music charts within months of their appearance.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Creamfields is the UK's most commercially successful electronic music festival. A booking here puts you in front of 70,000 fans per day and places you on the same bill as the biggest names in dance music. The festival has a track record of breaking underground artists into the mainstream. Fisher's 2018 set helped propel "Losing It" to global chart success.
For independent electronic artists, the booking process runs through Creamfields' team and stage partners. Each stage is curated by different promoters and brands, so identifying the right stage for your sound matters. Underground techno artists should target stages programmed by niche promoters, while commercial house producers should aim for the Arc or Superstructure stages.
Build your case with streaming numbers, social media engagement, and a strong live show reel. Creamfields bookers pay attention to artists trending on Beatport, SoundCloud, and TikTok. If you secure a slot, prepare for a large-scale production. The smallest stages still hold several thousand people. Coordinate visuals, lighting, and sound engineering well in advance. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to project post-festival streaming revenue from new listeners.
Visit the official Creamfields website for the full 2026 lineup, ticket information, and camping options.
Related Terms
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Estimate streaming revenue after a Creamfields performance
- Tour Revenue Calculator - Plan your festival touring revenue across the UK summer season
- Music Festivals Directory - Find other electronic music festivals for booking opportunities
- Performance Rights Organizations - PROs that collect performance royalties for UK festival appearances
- 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Learn how festival slots contribute to a diversified income strategy
