Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026 introduced for Sunderland

BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026 goes to be held in Sunderland, it has been introduced.

The annual music pageant will happen within the metropolis’s Herrington Country Park from 22 to 24 May subsequent yr.

Radio 1 Breakfast Show host Greg James advised listeners it was “very exciting for the city” as he revealed the information on air.

Tens of 1000’s of followers are anticipated to attend the three-day occasion, which is able to function about 100 acts from worldwide headliners to new rising artists.

Big Weekend is BBC Radio 1’s flagship occasion that’s held in a brand new location annually – often in locations the place there aren’t all the time huge dwell music occasions.

In earlier years acts akin to US pop star Taylor Swift got here to Norwich and Swansea, grime star Stormzy carried out in Exeter, pop rock band The 1975 in Dundee and US singer Bruno Mars in Londonderry.

Breakfast host Greg stated he is excited for the native acts of Sunderland.

“This is one of the great things about the North East,” the presenter stated.

“There’s so much good music (that) comes out of the North East, and we’re not just talking about Sam Fender in the last couple of years.

“I imply the heritage of music and bands in that a part of the world is unbelievable.”

He was joined by local musician Alex from the band Swindled to announce the location on air, who said: “Everything within the metropolis is simply going a technique on the minute, with the music and the soccer membership’s doing rather well – it is all constructive information actually.”

The musician said his band was aiming to perform on the Introducing stage, which platforms up-and-coming talent.

Last year, about 100,000 music fans attended the event in Sefton Park in Liverpool, which was dubbed “Scouse Coachella“.

Tom Grennan, Sam Fender and Mumford & Sons topped the bill, while Ed Sheeran made a surprise appearance and JADE, from Little Mix, got teary on stage.

About 90% of the tickets for the most recent Big Weekend went to locals, but Liverpool City Council had to defend spending £250,000 on hosting the event, saying the funding was from its events budget and the festival was great publicity for the city.

In 2023, the occasion generated nearly £7m for Luton’s economy following half one million kilos of funding.

Radio 1’s Big Weekend is the latest in a string of music events being held in the north-east of England after the Mercury Prize and Mobo Awards were hosted in the north earlier this year.

Sunderland City Council is working closely with the BBC to make sure it is a “secure, inclusive and satisfying occasion”, according to the broadcaster.

Leader of the council, councillor Michael Mordey, said it was “a unbelievable alternative to point out individuals who have not been to Sunderland, what a superb metropolis it’s and the way a lot is occurring right here”.

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