Summer festival season in the UK is about to begin in spectacular fashion as BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026 prepares to take over Sunderland this May. The station’s flagship live music event returns with a packed line-up spanning global chart stars, emerging voices and some of the most exciting acts in contemporary music.
Set to run from Friday 22 May to Sunday 24 May at Herrington Country Park in Sunderland, the three-day festival is expected to welcome more than 100,000 music fans across the weekend.
As in previous years, Radio 1’s Big Weekend will kick off the UK’s festival season by bringing major international and British artists to a city that does not usually host an event of this scale — giving a significant boost to the local cultural scene and economy.
Friday: Dance giants open the weekend
The weekend begins with a dance-focused Friday night led by legendary DJ Fatboy Slim, joined by house favourite Sonny Fodera. The opening day also features a lineup of electronic heavyweights and club favourites including FISHER, MK, Clementine Douglas and Ewan McVicar, setting the tone for a high-energy start to the festival.
Across the New Music and BBC Introducing stages, fans will also see emerging electronic and underground talent such as Ahadadream B2B Arthi, horsegiirL, NOTION, Marlon Hoffstadt, and rising acts like Mia Lily, Sorley, Niamh and Anish Kumar.
Saturday: Zara Larsson, Louis Tomlinson and Ellie Goulding lead the pop spectacle
Saturday brings a powerhouse mix of pop, indie, and alternative energy. Zara Larsson headlines the Radio 1 Main Stage, joined by Louis Tomlinson, Lola Young, Ellie Goulding and Nothing But Thieves, with Skye Newman and presenters Charlie Hedges, Dean McCullough, Jeremiah Asiamah, Maia Beth, Melvin Odoom, Nat O’Leary, Rickie Haywood-Williams and Vicky Hawkesworth keeping the stage buzzing throughout the day.
Across the New Music Stage, audiences will hear a spectrum of boundary-pushing talent, from the soulful resonance of James Blake and Rachel Chinouriri to the genre-defying sounds of Mitski, MUNA, Erin LeCount, Florence Road and Wasia Project.
On the BBC Introducing Stage, fresh acts such as Bella Barbe, BombayMami, Heidi Curtis, LeoStayTrill, Aaron Rowe, Tom A Smith and Swindled provide festivalgoers with an early glimpse at the UK’s emerging music scene.
Sunday: Olivia Dean, Niall Horan and Kehlani close the festival
Sunday shifts the focus to headline-driven performances and dynamic party sets. Olivia Dean takes the Radio 1 Main Stage spotlight alongside Niall Horan, Kehlani, Dermot Kennedy, CMAT and Myles Smith.
Meanwhile, the New Music Stage on Sunday features a vibrant roster of breakthrough talent, from the jazz-infused grooves of Ezra Collective to the chart-topping pop of FLO, Holly Humberstone, Maisie Peters, Alessi Rose and Odeal, with Jorja Smith delivering a special Party Set.
Fans can also discover emerging names like Able Jack, DC3, Finn Forster, Imogen and the Knife, RUBII, Venus Grrrls and Wohdee, rounding out a day dedicated to both star power and the next generation of talent.
Tickets and pricing
Tickets are expected to move quickly, as Big Weekend has historically sold out within minutes. General admission prices are set at £34.50 for Friday and £44.50 for Saturday and Sunday, while VIP tickets cost £86 on Friday and £106 for the weekend’s final two days.
To support local attendees, ticket allocations are geographically weighted: 30% of tickets are reserved for Sunderland residents, 60% for those in the wider NECA region, and the remaining 10% are open to buyers across the UK.
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How to watch and listen
For those unable to attend in person, BBC Radio 1 will broadcast live from Herrington Country Park across the entire weekend, with performances and highlights also available on demand via BBC Sounds and the Radio 1 iPlayer channel.
With a lineup that spans global pop icons, indie acts and rising newcomers, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026 once again promises to set the tone for the UK’s summer festival circuit.
What do you think about the Big Weekend 2026 lineup? Share your thoughts with us on X, and visit Lyrical Muse for more music updates.
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