A major outdoor concert series is gearing up to mark its 25th anniversary, bringing big-name music to the heart of Thetford Forest.

Forest Live is returning to High Lodge next week, with a packed line-up of well-known artists including Snow Patrol and McFly.

Visitors can also enjoy woodland trails, mountain biking, disc and adventure golf and Go Ape experiences, alongside play areas for children, a café, picnic areas and options for bike and mobility scooter hire.

Here is a break down of what the five-day event has to offer.

June 17: McFly

McFlyMcFly will be the first headliners at Forest Live 2026 at Thetford Forest (Image: Ian West/PA Wire)

McFly will be the first to take the stage at Thetford Forest and will be supported by Twin Atlantic and Remember Monday.

The band, which first rose to fame in the mid-noughties, are best known for chart-topping hits Five Colours in Her Hair, Obviously and All About You.

With seven UK number-one singles alongside seven Top 10 albums and more than 10 million sales, McFly have earned multiple Platinum certifications and a BRIT Award for Best British Pop.

June 18: Nile Rodgers and CHIC

Nile Rodgers and ChicNile Rodgers and Chic will perform at High Lodge (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)

Nile Rodgers is a Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame inductee and multiple GRAMMY Award-winning
songwriter, composer, producer, arranger and guitarist.

As the co-founder of CHIC, Rodgers wrote chart-topping hits including Le Freak, the biggest-selling single in the history of Atlantic Records, and Good Times. 

He and his band CHIC will take to the stunning woodland stage on the second night with The Brand New Heavies and James Emmanuel.

June 19: Fatboy Slim

DJ Norman Cook, aka Fatboy SlimDJ Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim (Image: IAN WEST/PA)

Chart-topping DJ Fatboy Slim will be headlining on the third night and the show will also feature Eliza Rose and Lizzie Curious.

Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, is an English musician and DJ who helped popularise the big beat genre in the 1990s.

He will then go on to play at a further three Forest Live gigs around the country.

June 20: Snow Patrol

Snow Patrol will perform at Thetford Forest (Image: Supplied)

Rock band Snow Patrol will take to the stage with The Amazons after playing to packed-out crowds last summer in Forestry England's Delamere, Cannock Chase Forest and Westonbirt Arboretum venues.

Formed in Dundee in 1994, the band, led by frontman Gary Lightbody, released their five time-platinum, major-label debut Final Straw in 2003.

The group are best known for their hits Chasing Cars, Run, Just Say Yes and Called Out In The Dark.

They have amassed seven Meteor Ireland Music Awards and been nominated for six BRIT Awards and one Grammy.

June 21: UB40 ft Ali Campbell

Ali Campbell is behind UB40 splinter group, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell (Image: Wikimedia Commons/Stuart Sevastos)

UB40 featuring Ali Campbell will be the final headliner to take to the stage at High Lodge and will be joined by Bitty McLean and Reggae Roast ft MC Horseman.

UB40 is an English reggae band formed in 1978 in Birmingham.

The band has had more than 50 singles in the UK charts, including Red Red Wine and Can't Help Falling in Love.

Parking and opening hours

Parking for the event is separate from standard visitor parking and vehicles may need to be moved when the forest site closes ahead of concert entry.

Regular visitors to Thetford Forest should also note that opening hours may differ during the event period and may close earlier than usual.

Day rates for car parking at the forest are not included in Forest Live car parking tickets.

The concert arena opens at around 5pm and the shows normally finish between 10.30pm and 10.45pm.

Live music will not continue beyond 11pm.