After months of intense speculation, the news was officially delivered by Greg James on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show this morning: Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026 is heading to Sunderland, returning to Herrington Country Park from Friday, 22 May to Sunday, 24 May.
The North East is officially kicking off the UK festival season, with Radio 1 promising an “unforgettable start” to the summer. Over the course of the weekend, the station expects around 100 acts to perform, ranging from the biggest names in music to exciting new and emerging artists, for an estimated crowd of 80,000 music fans.
A Nod to the Roots
A full line-up and further ticket details will be announced on Radio 1 in the coming months, but the buzz has already started.
This isn’t the first time Radio 1 has taken the Big Weekend to Herrington Country Park. The festival first landed there in 2005, when the event was far smaller and still finding its feet. Returning in 2026 feels like a clear nod to its roots, while giving a new generation of fans a chance to experience it on a much bigger scale, following huge recent performances by superstars like Taylor Swift in Norwich, Sam Fender in Liverpool, and Lana Del Rey in Hull.
A Look Back at Past Big Weekend Hosts
Radio 1’s Big Weekend has always been about taking huge artists to diverse locations across the country that may not otherwise host such a large-scale event. Each year they take place around the late May Bank Holiday. Here’s a refresher:
The Early Years
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2005 – Herrington Country Park, Sunderland
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2006 – Camperdown Park, Dundee
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2007 – Moor Park, Preston
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2008 – Mote Park, Maidstone
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2009 – Lydiard Park, Swindon
Into the 2010s
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2010 – Faenol Estate, Bangor
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2011 – Carlisle Airport, Carlisle
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2012 – Hackney Marshes, London
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2013 – Ebrington Square, Derry
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2014 – George Square and Glasgow Green, Glasgow
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2015 – Earlham Park, Norwich
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2016 – Powderham Castle, Exeter
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2017 – Burton Constable Hall, Hull
The “Biggest Weekend” detour (2018) Across one mega weekend, BBC Music split the action between:
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Titanic Slipways, Belfast
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Scone Palace, Perth
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Singleton Park, Swansea
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War Memorial Park, Coventry
Recent Years
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2019 – Stewart Park, Middlesbrough
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2020 – Camperdown Park (planned, but cancelled due to the pandemic)
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2022 – War Memorial Park, Coventry
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2023 – Camperdown Park, Dundee
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2024 – Stockwood Park, Luton
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2025 – Sefton Park, Liverpool
That brings us neatly to the present, and to the burning question…
How Can I Get Tickets?
One of the standout features of Radio 1’s Big Weekend is that ticket costs are very affordable, and are sold exclusively through Ticketmaster. Demand is huge every year, so getting a pair isn’t guaranteed, as tickets sell out almost immediately.
The Current Ticket System
To make sure the event genuinely benefits the community hosting it, the BBC operates a postcode priority system, working closely with Sunderland City Council to ensure the event is safe and enjoyable:
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Around 95 percent of all tickets go to those living in local postcodes.
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The remaining share is released to the rest of the UK.
Fans should listen to Radio 1 in the coming months for the full line-up and ticketing details.
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