Charli XCX opened her Reading Festival set with Rock Music, the fuzzed-out lead single from her new album, before moving into a set drawing heavily on Music, Fashion, Film alongside material from her February soundtrack album Wuthering Heights. She kept banter to a minimum throughout, telling the crowd simply: "Thank you, Reading."

Brat classics still had their place

Despite the shift towards a more instrument-led sound, several of Brat's biggest tracks remained in the set, including 360, Von Dutch and Guess, often blended with snippets from the new record. Before launching into Apple, she teased the crowd that a classic was coming.

A bigger production than the Brat tour

Where the Brat tour largely saw Charli performing solo, Reading brought a full live band and a large group of dancers dressed entirely in black, echoing the dark cover art of Music, Fashion, Film — which features Velvet Underground's John Cale, director Martin Scorsese and designer Marc Jacobs.

Highlights included a cigarette exchanged with a dancer during 2007, Pink Diamond beginning just as the sun set, and fireworks and flames during House, which features a spoken-word section from Cale. She also aired two Music, Fashion, Film B-sides rarely performed live, Playboy Bunny and If You Take Away The Music Then What Has She Got?, before closing with No One Lasts Forever, the album's closing track.

Charli changed outfits three times over the course of the set — starting in a blazer and her signature black shorts, before moving into a long blue dress and later a torn white shirt.

A wet start to day two

Friday's performance came after a rain-soaked start to day two at Richfield Avenue, with festivalgoers pictured in ponchos and wellies earlier in the day. US band Geese also braved a soaked tent during their earlier set at The Gallery.

Elsewhere on Friday's bill were Gene Gallagher — son of Oasis's Liam Gallagher — with his band Villanelle, alongside James Marriott, Skye Newman and Skepta.

What's next for Charli XCX

The Reading set follows a secret show at London's Scala in July ahead of Music, Fashion, Film's release, and a recent appearance at Lollapalooza in Chicago. Charli is now set to bring the same production to Leeds Festival on Saturday 29 August, giving a second UK crowd their first look at the new era.

Keep checking UK Festival Guides for the latest Reading & Leeds 2026 news, and our Leeds Festival Charli XCX recap this weekend.