Henley Festival, Britain’s only black-tie festival, opened its 2025 edition with Diana Ross on the Floating Stage and closed it with Jamie Cullum.
Henley Festival held five black-tie evenings at the Leander Club in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, from Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 July 2025. Diana Ross opened the Floating Stage on the first night.
The Henley Festival Trust held the first festival in 1982. It gave the town a music and arts festival of its own, and extended the use of the marquees and grandstands built for the Royal Regatta the week before.
It began as a classical festival with jazz later in the evening, and it still bills itself as Britain’s only black-tie festival. A registered charity, it has funded emerging musicians, visual artists and backstage crew through its RISE programme since 2022.
The Floating Stage sits on the river in front of a grandstand, with about 4,400 people seated on the lawn. Around it run a sculpture garden, ten galleries, smaller stages and riverside dining. Past headliners on the water include Elton John, Madness and Tom Jones.
McFly followed Diana Ross on the Thursday, and Rick Astley brought his big band on the Friday. Hacienda Classical played club anthems with the Manchester Camerata on the Saturday, and Matteo Bocelli and Jamie Cullum shared the closing Sunday.