Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026: Lineup, Tickets, and Location Details

Radio 1’s Big Weekend, the UK’s largest free-ticketed music festival, is set to return to Herrington Country Park in Sunderland from Friday, May 22nd to Sunday, May 24th, 2026. The festival will feature a diverse lineup of established artists and rising stars across multiple stages.

Lineup Announcements

The initial lineup includes headliners Fatboy Slim and Sonny Fodera, who will kick off the festival on Friday, May 22nd. Joining them will be Clementine Douglas, horsegiirL, FISHER, and DJ Arielle Free.

Saturday, May 23rd, will see performances from Zara Larsson, Louis Tomlinson, Lola Young, Nothing But Thieves, Ellie Goulding, and Skye Newman, the winner of BBC Sound of 2026. The Radio 1 Latest Music Stage will feature Florence Road, James Blake, FIRST, Mythical, Rachel Floor, and Eric LeCount, among others.

The headliner and full lineup for Sunday, May 24th, will be announced on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show on Tuesday, March 10th.

Ticket Information

Tickets for the festival are geographically structured to prioritize local residents. The first tickets went on sale on Friday, March 6th, at 9 am.

• 30% of tickets are reserved for residents of Sunderland.
• 60% of tickets are reserved for residents of the surrounding North East Combined Authority (NECA) region.
• The remaining 10% of tickets are available for the rest of the UK.

Tickets for Saturday and Sunday will go on sale at 5:00 PM GMT on Wednesday, March 12th. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

Festival History and Impact

Radio 1’s Big Weekend originated as a spin-off of Radio 1’s “One Big Sunday” roadshows, which took place from 2000 to 2002. The festival has been held annually since 2003, rotating locations across the United Kingdom.

The event aims to bring major music acts to areas that don’t typically host large-scale festivals, with previous editions held in cities like Hull, Norwich, Coventry, and Liverpool. The BBC is collaborating with Sunderland City Council to ensure a safe and secure environment for all attendees.

Previous Years

In 2025, Radio 1’s Big Weekend was held at Sefton Park in Liverpool, featuring performances by Sam Fender, Blossoms, Lola Young, Wet Leg, and more.