Watch Kasabian play Leeds Festival’s first-ever Thursday headline slot: “This is history!”

Kasabian played a hit-packed set as they became the first-ever Thursday headliners at Leeds Festival last night (August 27).

See what went down below, along with footage, photos and the full setlist.

READ MORE: Serge Pizzorno on being fuelled by “imposter syndrome” and why new album ‘Act III’ is “all that’s great about Kasabian” The Leicester band kicked off the northern edition of Reading & Leeds 2026 ahead of releasing their delayed ninth studio album, ‘Act III’ , which is due to arrive next Friday (September 4).

Having previously topped the bill in 2012 and 2017 , Serge Pizzorno and co. christened the revamped main stage – now called ‘The Grid’ – following R&L’s major arena overhaul for this year .

“Thursday night, Leeds Festival for the very first time – this is history,” the frontman declared at one point, feeling the sense of occasion in the field.

“We’re making history!” Kasabian headline Leeds Festival 2026.

CREDIT: Matthew Baker/Getty The troubled weather remaining completely dry for the duration of their set was another reason to celebrate, amid a looming thunderstorm threat after heavy rain hit Bramham Park earlier in the day.

Manchester band Arkayla brought their scrappy indie tunes across the Pennines to start.

While festival-goers would usually be seeing in Thursday with tinnies around the tent, frontman Cal Blakebrough paused to take stock of the huge moment.

“The last time I was here I was 16-years-old, watching Post Malone from over there,” he recalled, looking out at the “beautiful sight” of young fans. ‘Fortune Teller’ gave us the first singalong of the weekend as the arena filled out.

The Lathums ‘ dose of Americana by way of Wigan came next.

“This song is called ‘Sad Face Baby’,” said vocalist and guitarist Alex Moore to introduce the final song.

The rousing and hopeful ‘How Beautiful Life Can Be’ was another highlight in a set that felt almost headline-worthy.

View this post on Instagram Kasabian eventually arrived onstage as black-and-white TV static fuzzed across the big screens, launching into colossal classic ‘Club Foot’.