Our ultimate guide to the new LIDO festival in Victoria Park
On June 6 2025, Victoria Park will become home to the two-weekend-long LIDO Festival, the latest addition to the park’s summer offering, which already includes All Points East. Both are organised by AEG.
LIDO, named after Victoria Park’s historic Lido Field, where it will take place, is the result of Mayor Lutfur Rahman controversial decision to exploit the park for income.
In November 2023, Tower Hamlets Council decided to increase the frequency and capacity of major event days at Victoria Park despite concerns that it would be ‘detrimental’ to residents and those who regularly use the park. The number of major event days in the park was increased from 10 to 12 each year, and the capacity threshold for these events, including festivals, was increased from 5,000 people to 20,000 people.
According to Mayor Lutfur Rahman, Victoria Park should be used as a source of income to prevent Tower Hamlets following the trend of other local authorities announcing bankruptcy. At the time he was quoted as saying: ‘We have to squeeze as much as we can from our assets, from our contracts, from our parks and everything that we do in this borough because we have to protect our residents.’
Victoria Park Friends warned it would be ‘detrimental’ to park users and residents. ‘Our concern is that the Council is prioritising profits over the park and its people. Having an additional 40,000+ people visiting Victoria Park for ten days at a time means the grass and wildlife inevitably suffer. Local residents also have to endure noise, traffic, litter, crowds and restricted access to the park during the summer holidays.
With LIDO adding to All Points East’s double weekender, this means the park is 20 days of heavy usage during the summer months when the parks are most used, not counting one off events such as London Fashion Week.
What makes LIDO different to All Points East?
At the moment, not much. The initial line-up for LIDO’s first weekend features several artists who have previously performed at All Points East.
In fact, John Glacier and Shy One have appeared on past All Points East line-ups, with the latter two appearing just last year. Massive Attack made the APE 2020 lineup, but the festival was cancelled due to Covid.
This isn’t too promising for those looking for something different to the festival that has been in Victoria Park for the past seven years.
The announcement of Charli XCX as the second headliner has increased interest in LIDO, as this marks her first UK festival as a curator. Given her history of sell-out shows and her viral Brat album, her involvement has pushed the festival more mainstream.
Grammy-nominated, RAYE, is one of this year’s headliners at All Points East, similarly giving All Points East a boost into the mainstream.
However, both line-ups feature a blend of indie and emerging artists alongside well-known, established acts, giving both festivals a similar balance between fresh talent and recognisable names.
AEG organises both festivals, which is why ticketing information and VIP layouts might seem familiar.
These familiar features of the LIDO festival raise concerns that it might end up feeling like a replica of All Points East.
However, it does provide a chance for those unable to get tickets to one festival to try attending the other.
LIDO is set to have a ‘fun and free entry festival’ called In The Neighbourhood, which will feature live music, sport and fitness sessions, well-being activities aimed at children and families, and street food and bars. The festival is created in collaboration with Tower Hamlets Council and will run from Monday 9 June to Thursday 12 June.
All Points East also have an In The Neighbourhood free midweek programme with a range of activities from dance, to children’s entertainment and music performances. This programme is full of local vendors and businesses, but doesn’t always see a high attendance.
LIDO Festival has partnered with East London Arts and Music (ELAM) to provide students with hands-on experience in the creative industry. Based in Bomley-by-Brow, ELAM is a full Industry Academy for 16-19-year-olds wanting to pursue a career in Music, Film and Television production and game design.
The partnership will allow students to perform and gain experience in festival production and technology.
This collaboration will bring new artists into the limelight for the first time but is nothing new for AEG who have made ELAM a festival partner in the past for All Points East, giving students access to music professionals to learn the ins and outs of producing a successful show.
We will have to wait and see if LIDO’s midweek programme and involvement with ELAM will draw more people to Victoria Park.
Lido’s line-up for the first weekend – 7 June
The festival’s first weekend starts on June 6 with Bristol legends Massive Attack headlining and performances from Air, Yasiin Bey & The Alchemist as FORENSICS, Tirzah, and Mad Professor. Also performing are 47Soul, Everything Is Recorded, HUNNY and DJ Milo, with more still to be announced.
Massive Attack will perform their set with 100 per cent battery power as part of a mission to decarbonise their events. The live show will feature visuals created in collaboration with BAFTA-winning documentary filmmaker Adam Curtis.
Jamie xx will headline on Saturday 7th, appearing on the main stage at 2 pm. Jamie xx is a member of The xx, a band known for producing minimalist indie pop that blends elements of electronic music, soft vocals, and guitar tones.
Jamie xx’s line-up includes fellow band member Romy Madley Croft and many collaborators on his latest album, including Arca, Sampha, Panda Bear, and Hackney-based rapper John Glacier.
There will be a range of artists performing b2b (sharing the decks) with Jamie xx, like Skrillex, Nia Archives, Shy FX and Todd Edwards.
The line-up also features several DJs, including DJ Gigolo, Shy One, Wookie, Villager, Livwutang, and DJ Harvey, who will perform a 3-hour set.
Lido’s line-up for the second weekend – 14 July
Charli XCX is the biggest name of the second weekend, headlining on Saturday 14 June. Her music which blends mainstream pop with avant-garde elements has made her a cultural icon with her album Brat and party-girl DJ campaign causing roadblocks around the world.
Guest stars on the day will include Brat collaborators Bladee, The Japanese House, and The Dare, as well as 070 Shake, A.G. Cook, Gesaffelstein, Jodie Harsh, Kelly Lee Owens, Magdalena Bay and Yseult.
It wouldn’t come as a shock if Charli XCX brought out surprise guests on the day.
Indie pop trio, London Grammar, have recently been announced as headliners for Sunday June 15 with support acts including Róisín Murphy, Pip Millett and The Blessed Madonna. The day will also feature Hackney-born musician Maverick Sabre, Wasia Project, Neil Frances presents Club NF, Dan Whitlam, Holly Walker and Clementine Douglas.
Friday 13 June will be curated by OUTBREAK, a hardcore punk festival originating in Manchester as a celebration of UK counterculture.
Their lineup features a UK exclusive for American hardcore punk band Turnstile plus Alex G, Danny Brown, Drug Church, Feeble Little Horse, Fleshwater, Have a Nice Life, Julie, Knocked Loose, Kumo 99, Model/Actriz, Momma, SPEED, Sunny Day Real Estate, Superheaven and They Are Gutting a Body of Water, with more to be announced.
Gates will open at 2 pm each day except Friday, when they open at 3 pm (or an hour earlier if you choose Primary Entry). The last entry is at 8:30 pm.
What types of tickets are there, and how much will they cost you?
The general sale for LIDO Festival tickets went live on November 29, with both General Admission and VIP options—here’s a rundown of what each ticket type offers for your money. The cost of the ticket changes depending on the day you choose to attend. As we’re now very close to the event, ticket prices are at their highest level, and Saturday 14 June is now completely sold out.
General Admission tickets from £79.75
This is the cheapest and most basic ticket type at LIDO, giving you the essentials for the festival. Entry is via the main entrance, explore the festival before headliners arrive and access the venue’s bars and street food vendors. Access is granted to all stages.
Primary Entry Tickets cost from £91.25
This ticket gives you all the benefits of general admission but with early entry. This is a chance to get to the front of the crowds and explore the festival before anyone else. Early entry means you can enter the festival up to one hour before General Admission.
VIP Garden Tickets cost from £123.25
This ticket will give you access to the VIP Garden located to the right of the main stage. The exclusive garden has its own bar, food, comfortable seating and enhanced facilities. Being a VIP means you enter the festival through the VIP lanes and with early entry up to one hour before general admission.
VIP Garden and Pit Tickets cost from £154.75
This is the most expensive ticket at LIDO and gives you the most out of the festival. The ticket gives you access to the VIP Garden and the VIP Pit. The pit is located right at the front of the main stage on the right-hand side, giving you the chance to get away from the large crowds and be guaranteed to be at the front. You can leave and return to general admission to view performances on the different stages as you wish. The garden is located to the right of the main stage VIP Pit with an exclusive bar, food and seating.
There are also accessible tickets available for those with disabilities, providing a viewing platform.
The festival is 16 + and anyone aged 16-17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.Tickets are available to buy via Lidofestival.co.uk.
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It’s not just two weekends though is it. Much of the park will be closed to the public for months over the summer because of the lengthy setting up and tearing down….
Dreadful concept – middle class spoilt kids intoxicated with alcohol and drugs flooding a park in poverty stricken borough to allow organisers to earn millions which they share with the terribly managed local government.
The park is partially locked down for weeks, damage to wildlife is heartbreaking, noise unbearable, and traffic disruptions impacting the local community.