Will 2026 see any major changes in Reading, or will it largely be business as usual ? We have a peek in our crystal ball for what the coming year holds in store for our town.

New Developments: Office Conversions Dominate

With the Labour government restating their objective to build a million and a half new homes in the lifetime of its government, there is little doubt that we will continue to see large scale development in the town.

By 2026, the Station Hill development—the massive £850 million project transforming the town centre is reaching its final stages, and on the other side of the station the Riverside redevelopment of the SSE site on the river is also taking shape. However, plans to redevelop the furniture shops at Forbury Retail Park have lapsed.

It seems that the main development theme of 2026 in the centre of town will be the redevelopment of swathes of empty offices into residential accommodation. Already a second building in the old M&G campus - formerly the site of the Huntley & Palmers HQ, are being redeveloped into housing and now permission is being sought to convert the old Regus office building in Thames Valley Park into housing as there is less and less demand for office space in and around the town.

Meanwhile Loddon Valley Garden Village seems likely to break ground. This up to 4,5000 home extension proposed by the University of Reading will likely see a final planning determination, setting the stage for one of the largest residential expansions in the town’s history.

Despite its use for most of 2025 as a film set, plans are yet to emerge for Reading Gaol under the ownership of the Ziran Education Foundation, but 2026 is tipped to be the year we see formal architectural plans for "The ReCentre," a culture-led hub featuring art galleries and a boutique hotel within the historic prison walls.

See the map below for an updated overview of all the developments in central Reading.


Tough Times For Retail

As the endless Evri, Royal Mail and DPD delivery vans seen all over town testify, things are getting tougher and tougher for retail shops in the face of online competitions from US and Chinese giants such as Amazon and Temu.

The introduction of the new ‘small packages tax’ which will see duty levied on all overseas deliveries may swing things slightly in favour of U.K. retailers, but both the Oracle and Broad Street Mall will see 2026 as a pivotal year where major residential developments take over from any retail expansion.


Local Government: More Money From Government

Reading Borough Council enters 2026 with a projected £211 million revenue budget - a significant increase over previous year as the government reallocated funds from richer councils such as Wokingham, but the focus will be on closing a funding gap. According to the Council:
 
"Despite having identified additional in year savings of £5.6 million this year, the latest in-year budget projections for 2025/26 still show an overall deficit of £4 million. This includes a net deficit of £5.4 million on Children’s Services, mainly due to increased placement costs related to looking after vulnerable children and young people, many of whom are presenting with more complex needs.


"The Council will finalise its budget for 2026/27 and the savings needed to deliver a balanced budget in February next year, following the publication of the Local Government Finance Settlement, which sets out how much funding councils will receive from central government.

"At this time however, the increase in demand for Council services, combined with the increasing cost of meeting that demand, is driving a projected funding gap of £4.4 million for next year (2026/27), moving to a projected £3.5 million by 2028/29. This results in a cumulative gap of £14.8 million over the next three years. The Council currently has £17.5 million of un-ringfenced usable reserves that have not been earmarked for spend in other areas (forecast for March 2026).

"The above numbers assume an annual increase in Council Tax of 2.99% and the Adult Social Care precept of 2.00%. If the Council were to keep Council Tax and the Adult Social Care precept at the current level, this would make the budget gap next year bigger by £6.4 million, resulting in a gap of £10.8 million for 2026/27."

There is good news for motorists and cyclists as the council will continue its £11.7 million highways programme, meaning 2026 will be a year of continued road resurfacing and the rollout of more electric refuse vehicles, which are expected to make up over 95% of the fleet. Reading buses will also continue to convert to electricity and hydrogen.

You can give your thoughts on the budget via a consultation that is open until 17th January at https://reading.govocal.com/en-GB/projects/budget-engagement-2026-27


Political Winds

Reading follows the ‘rule of thirds’ with a third of council seats up for re-election every year. This year’s elections will be on Thursday 7th May and will, perhaps, be the most significant for some time with the nationwide rise of the fascist Reform U.K. party.

Current predictions see the Greens improving their performance in central Reading with Reform U.K.  making considerable gains in the outskirts of town.

A hung council in Reading, following the same outcome last year in Wokingham may be a possibility.

April 2026 is the deadline to register to vote for the local elections, with polling on May 7, 2026 between 7 am – 10 pm (a photo id is required) with results announced on May 8, 2026 at Rivermead Leisure Centre count.

 

Bills, Bills, Bills

One thing is for certain - household bills will largely go up again in 2026, although the period of very high price rises seems set to steady. somewhat.

For the first quarter of 2026, Ofgem has set the energy price cap at £1,758 per year for a typical dual-fuel household paying by direct debit. This represents a minor 0.2% increase (about £3) compared to the end of 2025. Electricity rates are averaging 27.69p per kWh with a daily standing charge of 54.75p. Gas rates are averaging 5.93p per kWh with a daily standing charge of 35.09p. While wholesale prices have stabilized, major suppliers like British Gas and EDF have signaled that the cap could jump toward £1,840 in April 2026 before potentially dipping again in the summer. The move to EVs and the rush to build data centres means that energy demand is higher than ever, despite nearly half of U.K. energy now coming from renewables.

Despite increases in funding from central government Reading Borough Council is facing a projected funding gap of over £4 million for the 2026/27 financial year. To bridge this, the council’s current budgeting assumes a total increase of 2.99% adding around £80 to the average household.

For Reading's least loved company, Thames Water, 2026 marks the beginning of a new five-year "Price Review" period (PR24). While Thames Water initially requested much higher hikes, the latest determinations suggest a more moderated but still significant rise with most dual-service (water and waste) households in Reading likely to see bill hikes of around 5% for the 2026/27 period, although Thames Water is arguing for much higher rises despite the massive 31% jump seen in 2025.

The cost of the weekly shop in Reading’s supermarkets is finally expected to outpace general inflation in the right direction in 2026. Food and drink inflation is projected to slow to roughly 3.1% by December 2026, down from peaks of over 5% in late 2025.


Going Out In 2026

With the redevelopment of much of Oracle Riverside, it is likely that the town’s eating out scene will gravitate towards the new openings of Kings Road and the Village and Station Hill, where Wokingham Italian Angelo’s is about to open a branch, along with a new offering from the owners of the Osaka Japanese restaurant, joining new coffee bar Notes which has already opened.

 The Hexagon's Face-lift: 2026 marks a major phase in the £16.6 million redevelopment of the Hexagon Theatre. A brand-new performance space and revamped foyer are set to make it a more competitive venue for touring West End shows and big-name comedians.
 

Reading Festival 2026

The 2026 Reading Festival is shaping up to be a historic milestone for the UK music scene. In a bold move, organizers have unveiled a headline roster that consists exclusively of British and Irish talent—the first time the festival has committed to such a lineup in a quarter of a century. This homecoming theme marks a significant pivot for the August Bank Holiday weekend, emphasizing the current global dominance of local artists across pop, rap, and alternative genres.

Leading the charge is Charli XCX, who arrives at Richfield Avenue following the seismic cultural impact of her "Brat" era. Her appearance is billed as her only UK festival performance of 2026, making it one of the most anticipated sets in the festival’s recent history. Joining her is the Mercury Prize-winning Dave, whose status as the definitive voice of British rap was further cemented by his third consecutive number-one album, The Boy Who Played the Harp.

The lineup continues its high-caliber run with Florence + The Machine, returning to the Reading stage for the first time since 2012. Florence Welch’s set is expected to draw heavily from her critically acclaimed project Everybody Scream, promising a characteristically ethereal and high-energy performance. Meanwhile, RAYE—fresh from a record-breaking year of industry awards—makes her triumphant return to the festival she first attended as a teenager, now occupying the top of the bill as a global pop powerhouse.

Rounding out the main stage headliners are Dublin’s Fontaines D.C. and the legendary electronic duo Chase & Status. For Fontaines D.C., the 2026 slot represents a definitive ascent to rock royalty, while Chase & Status are set to deliver a high-octane finale in what is currently their only scheduled live performance for the entire year.

While the headliners have captured the headlines, the supporting bill offers a deep dive into the diverse sounds currently defining the UK charts and underground scenes. Grime pioneer Skepta is set to return, alongside the provocative Irish trio Kneecap, who are expected to bring their unique brand of political hip-hop to a massive audience.

The festival also continues its tradition of platforming rising stars and genre-bending acts. Attendees can expect sets from JADE (following her successful transition into a solo career), indie-rockers Geese, and the soulful Sombr. Electronic music fans have much to look forward to as well, with Kettama and Josh Baker confirmed, while DJ Chris Stussy will perform an exclusive set specifically for the Reading site.

The 2026 Reading Festival will take place from Friday, August 28 to Sunday, August 30. While the sister site in Leeds is introducing a new tradition with a Thursday main stage kickoff headlined by Kasabian, Reading will stick to its classic three-day arena format. Tickets for the weekend are already on general sale, and with several artists performing "exclusive" sets, demand is expected to reach record highs.


A Royal Recovery for Reading FC ?

After years of financial instability and points deductions, 2026 is set to be the year Reading FC finally trades "survival mode" for a long-term rebuilding under its new ownership with a push to get back into the Championship and beyond.

One of the most concrete predictions for 2026 is a massive overhaul of the playing facilities at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. Following exploratory groundworks in late 2025, the club has scheduled a full-scale pitch reconstruction for the summer of 2026. This will involve installing a high-performance hybrid surface (interwoven natural grass and synthetic fibers) similar to those used by Premier League giants.

Under the new leadership of Chairman Rob Couhig, 2026 will see the results of a consultation with stadium infrastructure specialists. Expect upgraded digital connectivity (Wi-Fi 6) and a push to make the stadium a "best in class" conference and event destination on non-matchdays with development going on around the site with new flats and other facilities - plans for a new 4,000-capacity conference center and ice rink next to the stadium will likely see a "go/no-go" decision in mid-2026, as the new owners decide how much of the surrounding land to develop for ancillary revenue.

The 2025/26 season is the first full campaign under manager Leam Richardson (appointed in late 2024) and it has had mixed results. Reading currently sit eleventh in the third tier of English football, just behind local rivals Wycombe and seven points off the play-off places.

 Perhaps most significantly, the new year will be the first year the club operates entirely free of the EFL's "business plan" restrictions. Expect a significant—but calculated—investment in the January 2026 window to bolster a promotion charge, with a focus on Championship-proven talent rather than high-risk gambles.
 
The Reading Academy system continues to excel despite the challenges of recent years and academy graduate Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and midfielder Michael Craig are expected to either lead the club back to the Championship - unless they command multi-million pound transfer fees that will fund the club's next three years of operation. It will be a fascinating and crucial transfer window for the club’s future.
 
After a heartbreaking drop to the fifth tier in 2024, 2026 is predicted to be the year the Reading FC Women begin their serious climb back up the pyramid, with increased integration into the main club’s training facilities at Bearwood Park.

 

Reading Sports Excelling

While Reading FC often dominates the headlines, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for the town’s broader sporting elite. East of town, and on opposite sides of Old Bath Road, our hockey and rugby sides are amongst the best in the country.

For Reading Hockey Club, 2026 represents a year of reaching to be the best in England. Following a transformative 2025 season where the women’s team reclaimed their status as national champions and the men secured a long-awaited return to the Premier Division, the club is now operating at the pinnacle of the English game.

The early months of 2026 will see the men's first team battling to solidify their position in the top flight. After surviving the initial split of the league in late 2025, the focus for the spring will be on securing a top-six finish to ensure they are safe from the relegation playoffs. Meanwhile, the women’s team enters 2026 with a target on their backs as defending champions. Their primary objective for the year is a return to European competition, with the Premier Division Finals in early May serving as the ultimate stage to prove their 2025 title was the start of a new dynasty rather than a one-off success.

In the world of rugby, the spotlight falls squarely on Rams RFC. The club has spent several seasons knocking on the door of the Championship, the second tier of professional English rugby. The first half of 2026 will be the most critical period in the club's history. By April 11, when they face a high-stakes away trip to Rotherham Titans, the shape of the promotion race will be clear.

The final home games of the season at Old Bath Road in late April, against Rosslyn Park and Sedgley Park, are expected to be sell-out events. If the Rams can secure the National League 1 title or succeed in the newly introduced promotion playoff in May, 2026 will be the year professional rugby officially returns to the Reading area. This ascent would not only raise the club's profile but also likely trigger infrastructure upgrades at their home ground to meet Championship standards.

Beyond the elite promotion chases, the town’s other leading rugby clubs, Reading RFC and Reading Abbey, are focusing on long-term sustainability. In 2026, both clubs are rolling out expanded youth and women’s programs, partially funded by the legacy of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. For Reading Abbey, specifically, the year is about maintaining their reputation as a community hub, with 2026 seeing the completion of several facility refreshments aimed at increasing mid-week community use at their Emmer Green home.

On the court, the Reading Rockets are entering 2026 with a revamped identity and a roster bolstered by high-profile American signings like Malik Bryant and Jax Bouknight. Competing in the British Basketball Championship, the Rockets are spending the spring of 2026 chasing "The Double"—looking to follow up a regular-season title charge with a deep run in the postseason playoffs. Their consistent success at the Loddon Valley Leisure Centre has also fueled ongoing 2026 discussions regarding a potential move to a more central, high-capacity venue as the "Rocket Family" fan base continues to outgrow its current home.

The year ahead bodes well for these and many other sports in our town. Check out our directory below if you would like to support or take part in sports at whatever level in 2026.