GLOBAL platinum-selling artist Calvin Harris and iconic rockers Kasabian have been announced as the headliners for V Festival’s Virgin Media stage.

Taking place from August 22 to 23, a host of music heavyweights have been pulled in to ensure the festival kicks-off its third decade in style.

Joining the headliners across the two festival sites in Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire will be a supporting cast of Britain’s finest talent and biggest names.

Music lovers with this summer’s hottest ticket will also see performances from recent four-time Grammy and 2015 Brit winner Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, The Script, Hozier, George Ezra, Stereophonics, Brit winners Paloma Faith and James Bay, Olly Murs, Tom Jones, Clean Bandit, Kodaline, Ella Henderson, Nero and Courteeners - plus many more to be announced across four stages at the two festival sites.

Making his debut on top of the bill, Calvin Harris said: “V Festival is always an incredible time and I can't wait to headline it this year. See you there.”

Kasabian’s Sergio Pizzorno, said: “V is for victory, V is for voodoo, V is for vacuum cloud, V is for very very very very excited. See you in the fields.”

The hugely popular Glee Club Comedy Tent also returns as the festival’s fifth stage this year, with a hilarious line-up that will be announced in the coming months.

Festival Director, Simon Moran comments: “We wanted to champion British talent at this year’s festival and with the likes of Calvin and Kasabian leading the way we don’t think it’ll disappoint. The eclectic mix of established artists and rising stars, with a few more in the pipeline, means that once again there is something for everyone at V Festival.

“It’s incredible to think what V has achieved in two decades. When we started out in ‘96, we were two stages and one tent, with the northern site only hosting one day of acts. Since then we’ve hosted some of the most iconic acts from around the world. Here’s to another decade.”

Over the festival weekend there’ll also be sets from The Kooks, Marina & The Diamonds, The Proclaimers, Jess Glynne, Andy C, Imelda May, Gregory Porter, Fuse ODG, Clean Bandit, Duke Dumont, Jessie Ware, Ella Eyre, Hannah Wants, Reverend & the Makers, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Annie Mac.

Tickets go on sale from Friday (March 6) at 9am with fans advised to visit www.vfestival.com, where all official outlets are detailed.

V organisers again stress to fans that purchasing tickets from unofficial outlets could lead to disappointment.