Wilderness Festival returned for its fourteenth season this weekend, welcoming thousands of revellers to four days of music, art, food and wellbeing under the summer skies.
Presented by Audi, this year’s edition brought together critically acclaimed artists, musicians, chefs, thinkers, and creators for a weekend of joyful hedonism and creative escapism at the one, and only Wilderness Festival.
Music & Headliners
As the sun set over Cornbury Park, colossal headliners took to the Wilderness Stage across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
- Friday opened with an atmospheric set from French electronic duo Air, followed by Orbital, whose pulsating beats electrified the crowd late into the night.
- Saturday marked 30 years since I Should Coco as Oxford’s own Supergrass (main image) delivered a greatest-hits set that had fans singing along to every word.
- Sunday brought soulful tones from US artist Jalen Ngonda, indie-rock favourites Wet Leg performing tracks from their chart-topping new album Moisturizer, and an explosive finale from Basement Jaxx, returning with their first full live show in over a decade to celebrate 25 years of Remedy.
Beyond the main stage, The Jumpyard pulsed with Bristol basslines from Dr Meaker, swing’n’bass wizardry from Mister Trick, and folk festival favourite Beans on Toast.
New for 2025: The Dive
Making its debut this year, The Dive offered a dedicated space for underground live music, championing new talent and the UK’s indie scene.
Standout sets came from W.H. Lung, Mary in the Junkyard, Welly, Humane the Moon, and LA-based collective NOFUN!, each drawing packed, high-energy crowds.
The Valley: A Woodland Rave
Hidden beneath the trees, The Valley once again proved Wilderness’s beating heart of late-night euphoria.
Legendary broadcaster Annie Mac led the charge with an electrifying DJ set, joined over the weekend by Australian electro-pop outfit Confidence Man, Belfast-born selector Sally C, and rising star Isaac Carter, known for appearances at DC10, Fabric, and Village Underground.
Tarzsa, NTS resident and champion of electronic soul, completed the line-up with an uplifting, soulful closing set.
House of Sublime
This year, Hackney’s Yard Theatre brought fearless cabaret to the House of Sublime, featuring Sue the Huns and all-female DJ powerhouse Huns N’ Roses, who joined forces with Sue Veneers for a one-night-only, office-themed dance spectacular.
The Atrium & Participatory Highlights
In The Atrium, award-winning troupe POLICE COPS performed their comedy horror blockbuster to roaring laughter, while God’s Jukebox filled the tent with orchestral renditions of audience-requested classics — from The Beatles to Bowie.
Participatory events drew huge crowds, including:
- A mass singalong of Something by The Beatles with a 50-piece orchestra.
- A high-energy mass yoga session with dancer and yogi Kage Douglas.
- Joy in Dance, an interactive workshop inspired by pop’s most iconic choreography.
Culinary Excellence
Wilderness’s signature Long Table Banquet opened the weekend with a powerful celebration of food and community.
Partnering with charity Choose Love, British-Syrian chef Imad Alarnab served a Middle Eastern-inspired menu hosted by comedian Deborah Frances-White, with proceeds supporting refugees worldwide.
Across the weekend, top chefs curated unmissable dining experiences:
- Angela Hartnett OBE brought Italian-inspired flair to her lakeside feast.
- Professor Green (Stephen Manderson) teamed up with Tom Sellers for I Used to Rave But Now I Roast — a tongue-in-cheek Sunday roast accompanied by classic dance anthems.
Headline partner Audi expanded its food offering, hosting Monica Galetti in The Audi Kitchen — a serene fine-dining haven — and unveiling a new Audi Garden & BBQ led by Michelin-starred Rohit Ghai, overlooking the festival’s cricket pitch.
Family Fun
Wilderness continued to deliver for families and children.
New for 2025, Tinkertown introduced hands-on creativity, teaching youngsters the art of den-building with scrap timber.
Meanwhile, the world-famous animation studio Aardman — creators of Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep — hosted clay modelling workshops where children could craft their own Aardman characters to take home.
Wellness & Wellbeing
Set against the rolling hills of Cornbury Park, Wilderness 2025 offered festival-goers the chance to unplug and recharge.
Wellness highlights included:
- Embodied Movement’s Power Ballads HIIT class.
- Yoga with Spoken Word sessions blending poetry and movement.
- Queer Fitness Classes bringing inclusivity to the Sanctuary.
- SUP Yoga, inviting guests to paddleboard on the sunlit lake.
Global fitness brand Peloton made its Wilderness debut, curating runs, hikes, mindfulness breakfasts, and live experiences with their instructors — alongside opportunities to test the Peloton Bike+ and Tread.
Festival Spirit
Saturday’s “Bright Ideas” theme turned Cornbury Park into a glittering sea of lightbulbs, lasers, disco balls, and neon creations as festival-goers embraced this year’s costume brief in spectacular style.
Until Next Year
As Wilderness bid farewell to its wild ones who danced, roamed, and revelled across the four glorious days — the festival looked ahead to 2026 with a promise of even more art, music, and wonder.
Early Bird tickets for Wilderness 2026 go on sale Tuesday 5 August at 12pm.
Visit the Wilderness HQ Instagram for updates and booking links.
