Music fans still have the chance to secure their place at Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026, set to take over Herrington Country Park in Sunderland from Friday 22 May to Sunday 24 May 2026. Here’s how.
Music fans still have the chance to secure their place at Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026, set to take over Herrington Country Park in Sunderland from Friday 22 May to Sunday 24 May 2026. Here’s how.
Tickets are still available for one of the UK’s biggest music events of the year — and you can still be there.
Music fans still have the chance to secure their place at Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026, set to take over Herrington Country Park in Sunderland from Friday 22 May to Sunday 24 May 2026. With tens of thousands expected to attend and a line-up packed with global superstars and rising talent, the countdown to one of the most anticipated weekends of the festival season is officially on.
A huge start to summer
Across three days, around 100 artists will perform, spanning chart-topping headliners to breakthrough acts. With approximately 80,000 music fans expected, the event promises an electric atmosphere and a major kick-off to summer in the UK.
As the flagship live event from BBC Radio 1, Big Weekend has built a reputation for bringing world-class music to cities that don’t always host large-scale festivals. Previous editions have featured global icons performing across the country — from Taylor Swift in Norwich and Miley Cyrus in Middlesbrough, to Stormzy in Exeter and Ed Sheeran in Coventry.
A line-up packed with stars
This year’s Sunderland edition continues that tradition with a diverse and exciting programme.
Friday 22 May – Dance Party highlights include:
Fatboy Slim
FISHER
MK
Sonny Fodera
Saturday 23 May – Main Stage and New Music Stage:
Ellie Goulding
Louis Tomlinson
Nothing But Thieves
Zara Larsson
James Blake
Mitski
Sunday 24 May – Main Stage and New Music Stage:
Niall Horan
Dermot Kennedy
Kehlani
Jorja Smith (Party Set)
Ezra Collective
More than just music
Beyond the performances, Big Weekend delivers a significant boost to its host city. The festival shines a national spotlight on Sunderland while generating millions of pounds for the local economy — continuing a legacy of impact seen in previous host cities across the UK.
Ticket details — don’t miss out
Importantly, tickets are still available for Saturday and Sunday, giving fans a final chance to be part of the experience.
Friday (Dance Party, 18+): £34.50 (£30 + £4.50 booking fee)
Saturday & Sunday: £44.50 (£40 + £4.50 booking fee)
Tickets are geographically weighted:
30% reserved for Sunderland residents
60% for the wider North East region
10% available to the rest of the UK
All tickets are sold exclusively via Ticketmaster.
With a huge line-up, a buzzing atmosphere, and tickets still up for grabs, Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026 is shaping up to be one of the standout live music events of the year — and there’s still time to be part of it. If you can’t be there, don’t worry – the whole thing (well, most of it) will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer and YouTube.
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