FLASH BACK: Oasis, Knebworth, 1996 - When 2.5 Million Tried to Get In

In August 1996, Oasis played two nights at Knebworth House that sealed their place at the top of British culture.

With talk of a 2026 Knebworth reunion doing the rounds, we’re looking back at the last time Oasis took that stage. August ’96 wasn’t just a big moment for the band—it was massive for British music, the country, and an entire generation.

It wasn’t just a pair of gigs, it was the biggest live event in UK music history at the time. Over a quarter of a million people made it through the gates across the weekend. More than 2.5 million tried to get tickets. No other British band, at that moment, could’ve pulled that off.

This was Oasis at full tilt. No holding back, no second-guessing. They weren’t just the biggest band in the country, they were the country. The afterglow of Euro '96 still lingered, the charts were ruled by homegrown guitar bands, and Britain was bursting with confidence. Knebworth captured all of that in two massive, muddy, euphoric nights.

The Build-Up: A Who’s Who of 90s Subculture

Both nights kicked off with a carefully curated support bill that showed just how broad the scene had become. Saturday’s lineup leaned into the chaos: Ocean Colour Scene brought the melodies, The Chemical Brothers turned the fields into a rave, and The Prodigy nearly blew the stage apart with sheer noise and power. Manic Street Preachers showed up with sharp suits and sharper lyrics, while a Beatles tribute band got the early birds singing.

Sunday had a different pace, more psychedelic, more emotional. The Charlatans returned to the stage just weeks after losing their keyboardist, bringing a raw edge to their set. Kula Shaker, Cast, and Dreadzone added colour and texture, with the Manics once again delivering a punch of political rock energy.

No filler here—just a snapshot of Britain’s music culture at its peak.

The Setlist: No Messing About

When Oasis came on, there was no intro speech, no drama. Just the roar of the crowd and the feedback from Bonehead’s amp.

Here’s what they played:

Main Set:

1. Columbia

2. Acquiesce

3. Supersonic

4. Hello

5. Some Might Say

6. Roll With It

7. Slide Away

8. Morning Glory

9. Round Are Way

10. Cigarettes & Alcohol

11. Whatever

12. Cast No Shadow

13. Wonderwall

14. The Masterplan

15. Don’t Look Back in Anger

16. My Big Mouth (first time played live)

17. It’s Gettin’ Better (Man!!) (first time played live)

18. Live Forever

Encore:
19. Champagne Supernova (with John Squire)
20. I Am the Walrus

It was a set built for fans. Big tunes, deep cuts, a couple of brand new ones, and an ending straight out of a Beatles daydream. There was no Rock ’n’ Roll Star, but no one cared. Every single person in that field was already living it.

The Atmosphere: One Big Voice

You couldn’t have planned it better. Warm August air, flares in the crowd, no phones in the way, just people shoulder to shoulder, singing like their lives depended on it. These weren’t just fans, they were believers. From the first chord to the last encore, it felt like the country had gathered to see itself reflected back in guitar and swagger.

It didn’t matter where you were from, London, Glasgow, Manchester, Blackpool, everyone was there for the same reason. Oasis weren’t just playing songs, they were soundtracking a moment. A generation finally had something to feel part of. You didn’t watch it, you felt it.

The Legacy: Everything After Was Different

Knebworth didn’t mark the start of anything. It marked the top. After that weekend, British music shifted. Oasis still had big albums to come, but nothing quite hit the same. The country changed too. New Labour rolled in. The club scene took over. Indie went quieter, more inward.

But for two nights in 1996, nothing else mattered. Oasis weren’t just the biggest band in the land, they were the main event, the soundtrack, the whole story. No gimmicks. No gloss. Just songs, swagger, and sound.

That’s the difference. That’s why people still talk about it nearly 30 years on.