Henley Festival 2025: What you need to know

Diana Ross is due to headline the first night on the Floating Stage

Motown legend Diana Ross is set to headline the opening night of this year's Henley Festival.

The black-tie music and arts festival takes place on the riverside in Henley-on-Thames over five evenings.

Diana Ross will perform at the event's Floating Stage on Wednesday, along with McFly and Rick Astley later in the week.

The festival, based on the Oxfordshire-Berkshire border, was first held in 1982. It attracts about 25,000 people each year.

Now aged 81, Ross started her career at Motown in the 1960s, achieving stardom with The Supremes, on hits like Baby Love, Stop! In The Name Of Love and You Keep Me Hanging On.

She split from the group in 1970 and went on to score more than 50 UK chart hits, including Upside Down, Endless Love and Chain Reaction.

Other performers on the Henley line-up include comedians Ed Byrne and Alistair McGowan, while Mel Giedroyc is set to perform her first DJ set.

The festival's charitable initiative aimed at nurturing upcoming talent - Rise - continues, with local acts White Lakes and Conor McLain performing.

Henley Festival made headlines in 2022 when former prime minister Theresa May was spotted enjoying Craig David's set on the day her successor Boris Johnson resigned.

Rick Astley plays the Floating Stage on Friday

Who are this year's Henley Festival headliners?

Wednesday 9 July – Diana Ross

Thursday 10 July – McFly

Friday 11 July - Rick Astley

Saturday 12 July - Hacienda Classical

Sunday 13 July - Matteo Bocelli, Jamie Cullam

Getting to Henley Festival

• The concert is staged at Henley Bridge. The post code is RG9 2LY, a 15-minute walk from the town centre.

• The nearest train station is Henley-on-Thames, which has links to London (1 hour) and Reading (20 minutes). The festival entrance is a 10-minute walk from the station.

• There is pre-bookable parking available on site.

• If you want to arrive by boat, limited moorings within the Henley Festival enclosure are available to purchase.

• The Visit Henley website can help plan your stay and journey by public transport.

Up to 25,000 people attend Henley Festival each summer

When do the gates open and what can I bring?

• Gates open at 17:00 BST with the shows ending at midnight on Wednesday and Thursday, 01:00 on Friday and Saturday and 23:30 on Sunday.

• There are three bookable restaurants as well as a variety of street-food-style concessions. Visitors are not permitted to bring their own food and drink into the festival enclosure.

• If sarnies and pork pies are more your thing - bring your deck chairs and rugs as picnics can be enjoyed in the car park throughout the festival.

What should I wear?

• The event is billed as the UK's only all-black tie festival.

• So it is strictly posh clobber only - dinner jackets and bow ties, long or short evening dresses, formal lounge suits and smart jumpsuits are all allowed.

• Turn up in denim, leather or casual clothing or trainers and you will be jogging home.

Accessibility issues

• Festival goers with disabilities can apply for a free ticket for a care assistant.

• Blue Badge parking is available and much of the site and audience areas have wheelchair ramps.

• Contact the event organisers for specific details.

What is the Henley weather looking like?

The festival starts just as the UK's third heatwave of the summer is forecast to arrive later this week.

Yellow heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency, for regions including London the South East and South West, from Wednesday until 15 July.

Follow the advice on coping with the sun - slap on the sun cream, drink plenty of water and wear a sunhat.

Use the BBC website to check the weather forecast for Henley for the latest on each day of the festival