Watch Charli XCX cringe at her Reading & Leeds past
The excitement is building for Charli XCX as she gears up for her headline debut at Reading & Leeds in 2026. The singer has recently taken a moment to look back at her history with the festival, offering a dose of hilarious, self-aware humor about her past performances while teasing what the future holds.
In a recent video interview with BBC Radio 1, the 360 artist watched clips from her earlier appearances at Reading & Leeds, offering a candid review of her past sets. The retrospective provided a lighthearted glimpse into her journey and the evolving nature of her stage presence.
When reviewing her 2017 performance of the single Boys, she admitted it was “cringing me out,” noting that she had forgotten she used to perform with a live band, yet still fondly recalled it as a “cool show.” Looking back at her 2019 set, her comments were equally amusing. She reflected on the fashion of that era, joking about her hairstyles, admitting that she had “a collection of some of the worst hairstyles and hair dyes ever throughout Reading & Leeds, it seems.”
She even poked fun at her 2022 performance of Beg For You, playfully acknowledging her past fashion choices, noting that it was a different time and a different era entirely. It was a nostalgic dive into the fun and sometimes chaotic history of festival appearances.
When asked about the massive response she always receives from the crowd, Charli shared a deeply felt sentiment. She explained that performing at Reading is almost a spiritual experience, calling it the festival where she grew up. “I really think of it as the festival that I grew up at,” she said, describing the energy as surreal. She acknowledged the wild nature of the audience, noting that they “party really hard, so that’s cool and a bit scary.”
Looking ahead to her first-ever headline performance at R&L 2026, Charli is clearly ready for a monumental shift. She teased that fans should expect “a very different show than anything I’ve done before.” This next stage is set to feature new songs and a completely reimagined stage setup.
While the details are still unfolding, the anticipation is palpable. Charli is preparing to deliver a show that promises to be fresh and exciting, marking a significant evolution in her live performance career as she steps into a new, grander arena.
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