Lido Festival 2025: What to expect from London's new music festival at Victoria Park
Join us as we dive into the debut weekend of LIDO Festival 2025 — a brand-new, 10-day music celebration set in the historic Lido Field, nestled within Victoria Park, East London.
Backed by Tower Hamlets Council and curated in collaboration with artists, LIDO marks a fresh direction for London’s festival scene — one where sustainability, community, and political consciousness are front and centre.
LIDO’s artist-led programming means each headliner curates their own line-up, spotlighting personal favourites and emerging talent.
Liverpool-born singer-songwriter HUNNY was the first act to grace LIDO’s main stage, delivering heartfelt ballads like “I Was Born To Cry” and a striking cover of Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor.”
HUNNY said: “It’s so cool to be the first-ever act to play LIDO. I've never played on a big stage like that — it’s euphoric.”
Another standout performance came from Massive Attack, whose politically charged set blended haunting vocals, surreal visuals, and a soundtrack that unfolded, score-like, cinematic, and emotionally layered.
The second day brought a mix of sunshine, heavy downpours, and even flood warnings — but the weather didn’t dampen spirits.
Artists like Jamie xx, Sampha, and Romy took to the stage, delivering stunning sets that triumphed over the rain-soaked challenges.
One of the most anticipated B2Bs of the day saw headliner Jamie xx take to the decks with Nia Archives, who said: “I’m super excited because it's in my local area, and it’s really exciting to go back-to-back with Jamie xx — I don’t really get to do many back-to-backs.
“I really love the way he’s curated the festival. It’s just really tasteful — super cool artists.”
We also caught up with UK garage pioneer Todd Edwards — dubbed the godfather of the genre — who shared insights into his B2B set with artist Bullet Tooth.
Todd said: “I always like to slip in some of my own music, but really, I just try to read the crowd and see what they’re into. I’m a people-pleaser, so I do my best to keep the crowd inspired.”
His upcoming project and new music label, House of Todd, is set to launch this summer.
In a first for a UK event of this scale, LIDO is powered entirely by batteries, reaffirming its commitment to environmental responsibility.
Every food vendor on day one offered vegetarian or plant-based menus, with a promise that at least 20% will remain fully plant-based throughout the celebrations.
Behind LIDO’s ambitious launch is a clear vision as Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja stated: “Clean productions beginning this journey to normalisation is good news for everyone, especially for music fans who come to festivals and the local communities that live around them.”
Combined with a week of community-led events, LIDO is more than a festival — it’s a collaborative cultural platform. Whether you're in it for the music, the message, or the movement, LIDO is shaping up to be one of the most exciting new entries on the UK festival calendar.
The celebrations continue this weekend with OUTBREAK Fest, Charli XCX’s Party Girl festival, and London Grammar performances. Follow LIDO on Instagram and X, and join their newsletter here for updates.