The organisers of the Reggae Land Festival have confirmed two extra stages will be added as part of an expansion for its 2026 edition in Milton Keynes.
Taking place at the National Bowl music venue on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August 2026, Reggae Land is preparing to host its sixth edition.
Celebrated as the UK’s largest Reggae and Caribbean culture festival, Reggae Land is set to welcome around 100,000 fans across the weekend. Attendees can expect a curation of world-class talent, island flavours and community spirit for two days of unforgettable music and culture. Tickets are on sale now at www.reggaeland.co.uk
Reggae Land is the biggest reggae festival in the UK and one of the largest in Europe, and 2026 will mark its most ambitious year yet. The full artist line-up will be announced in January and promises to be the largest yet, expanding from 90 artists in 2025 to 120+ artists in 2026, all spread across seven stages with increased production, sound, facilities and immersive decor.
In the meantime, the first announcement for 2026 focuses on major expansions across the site including brand-new stages and the festival’s largest programme to date. This year, Reggae Land introduces the Dancehall Stage, a brand-new open-air, dedicated dancehall arena with a 7,000 capacity, delivering a huge new space for high-energy performances and culture. Then comes Bob’s Bar Stage, a new indoor stage paying tribute to the roots of reggae, giving roots reggae and lovers rock their own dedicated home at Reggae Land.
The full 2026 programme will once again showcase the entire spectrum of Caribbean sound and culture from roots and rocksteady to dancehall, dub, jungle and beyond with world-renowned names appearing alongside rising stars and genre innovators.
Since its move to The National Bowl in 2023, Reggae Land has transformed the historic open-air venue into a Caribbean wonderland. The Bowl’s natural amphitheatre provides unmatched acoustics and panoramic views, while its central location offers easy access for festival goers from across the UK and beyond. Beyond the music, the site comes alive with a Caribbean food village, rum bars and cocktail shacks, a reggae flea market, a reggae museum and a VIP zone creating a full sensory journey through Caribbean culture, rhythm and flavour.
Organisers JBM Music said, “Every year we push ourselves to make Reggae Land bigger, better, and more vibrant for everyone who joins us. As the festival grows, we’re determined to give even more back to the amazing community that powers this event. By expanding the line-up and adding new stages, we’re bringing more music, more culture, and more energy than ever before.””
With its unique blend of live performances, cultural showcases and community spirit, Reggae Land 2026 is set to be the most complete and immersive deep dive into rhythm, roots and the unity that shapes the music.
Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic collision in Milton Keynes in which one of the drivers involved had failed to stop in an earlier traffic stop.
The incident happened at around midnight on Saturday (13/12) when two cars were involved in a collision on the H7 Chaffron Way, at the junction with Claridge Drive.
In the incident, a blue BMW 1 series was involved in a collision with a Blue Volkswagen Polo. The blue BMW was being pursued by a police vehicle prior to the collision and as per guidelines, a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The driver of the BMW and the driver and passenger of the Volkswagen, all sustained serious injuries and remain in hospital in stable conditions.
Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Oliver Cahill-Smith, from our Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said, “I am appealing to anybody who witnessed this BMW prior to this collision, or who may have dash-cam or CCTV footage, to please upload it via our portal.
“You can do so by making a report online or by calling 101, quoting reference 43250633933.
“We are investigating this incident, and the circumstances surrounding it, as a priority and have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to the police pursuit beforehand.
“To speak up 100% anonymously, visit Crimestoppers-uk.org or speaking to one of their specially trained, non-police call agents at their UK Contact Centre which is open 24/7, 365 days a year on 0800 555 111.”
Luton Town had to take a point against bottom side Port Vale after a 2-2 draw.
Cohen Bramall had swept Luton in front with a fine free-kick, but a Vale side who had failed to score in their previous six league matches would turn things around to take the lead through goals by Ben Waine and Devante Cole.
Mads Andersen’s goal with 20 minutes remaining would bring Luton back on level terms, but they were unable to find a way to win the game, and therefore had to settle for a draw.
The point means Luton remain 7th in the League One table, with Jack Wilshere’s side 3 points off the play-offs after a third draw in a row.
After a tight opening, Luton would score a fine opener after 26 minutes. The Hatters won a free-kick and Bramall duly dispatched a curling 25 yard strike that beat Ben Amos and opened the scoring for the hosts.
Taking the lead had seemingly opened the door for the Hatters against their out-of-form guests, and they nearly made it 2-0 when Kal Naismith headed straight at Amos from a corner.
But in the final minutes of the first half, Port Vale ended their goal drought to equalise. Ruari Paton’s free-kick picked out Waine, who got the touch to beat Josh Keeley and bring the Valiants level.
They then completed the turnaround after the break, as Cole tapped in the rebound after Paton’s initial strike had been saved by Luton keeper Josh Keeley.
It could’ve been even worse for Luton later, as Paton missed a chance to make it 3-1 when picked out at the back post.
Luton would equalise in the 70th minute, as defender Andersen headed home from Liam Walsh’s corner.
But the Hatters couldn’t complete the comeback, with a few efforts from Bramall, Teden Mengi and Lasse Nordas that went wide the best they could muster as they had to ultimately settle for a point.
Luton will seek a first win in 4 league games next time out, when they travel to Reading for a game taking place on Thursday evening.
Police are appealing for witnesses following an incident of dangerous driving on the A5 in Milton Keynes.
At around 7.10am on Monday (8/12), the driver of a silver Honda MPV was travelling the wrong way, north on the southbound dual carriageway on the A5.
The incident was reported on the A5 near the Redmoor entry slip at the Caldecotte junction when it was involved in a single-car collision. No one was injured.
Thames Valley Police confirmed that at this stage, no arrests have been made.
Investigating officer, PC George Woellwarth of the Milton Keynes roads policing team, said, “I am appealing to anybody who witnessed any part of this incident to please get in touch.
“If you saw the car or have any dash-cam footage that may have captured something, please get in touch.
“You can report information through our online form or by calling 101, quoting reference 43250622997.
“Alternatively, for anonymity, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Northampton Town suffered a 2-1 defeat in the Nene Valley Derby against rivals Peterborough in a game the Cobblers played most of with ten men after an early red card.
The Cobblers saw midfielder Jack Perkins shown a straight red card inside the opening ten minutes, in a decision his boss Kevin Nolan would later describe as very harsh.
Two goals either side of half-time from Peterborough’s Harry Leonard won the game for the Posh, despite Tom Eaves’ goal back for the visitors.
Defeat was Northampton’s first in three league outings. They sit in 14th position in League One after 19 games, though they are just 2 points above the relegation zone in a congested third tier table.
A pivotal moment in the game came when the Cobblers were reduced to ten men with a red card after ten minutes. Perkins was penalised for a high boot on one-time Cobbler Peter Kioso, with the referee showing the Northampton midfielder a straight red.
Luke Williams’ side duly began to put Northampton under pressure, with Ross Fitzsimons denying Archie Collins, Leonard firing wide and the Cobblers keeper Fitzsimons making another stop to thwart Kyrell Lisbie.
A breakthrough would fall for Peterborough in first half stoppage time. Collins teed up Leonard, who duly placed a strike into the net to give the hosts the lead.
Leonard then scored again 3 minutes after the break, as he turned in the rebound after Fitzsimons had denied Lisbie’s initial strike.
With just over 20 minutes to go, however, Northampton would grab a goal back, as a poor back pass by a Peterborough defender released Eaves, who duly scored.
The best chance for an equaliser saw Conor McCarthy have a strike blocked on the line by Collins, with another later goalmouth scramble also just thwarted by Peterborough defenders.
But there was no way back for Northampton as they slid to defeat in Cambridgeshire. Nolan’s side will be seeking a return to winning ways when they welcome AFC Wimbledon to Sixfields on Friday.
