BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend Returns to Sunderland in 2026

The BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend festival will return to Sunderland's Herrington Country Park from May 22 to 24, 2026, with British DJ Fatboy Slim announced as the headliner for the opening night on Friday, May 22.

The three-day event, marking its first appearance in the Wearside area in 21 years, will feature a dance-focused lineup for the Friday evening, restricted to those aged 18 and over. In addition to Fatboy Slim topping the bill, performers include FISHER, MK, Sonny Fodera, Danny Howard, Ewan McVicar, Clementine Douglas, L.P. Rhythm, Ahadadream B2B Arthi, Arielle Free, Charlie Hedges, horsegiirL, Marlon Hoffstadt, NOTION and Sarah Story. The acts will perform across the main stage, new music stage and BBC Introducing stage, setting the tone for what organizers describe as a high-energy dance party to kick off the weekend.

Tickets for the Friday event went on sale at 9 a.m. on March 6 via Ticketmaster, priced at £34.50 for general admission. A total of 31,000 general admission tickets and 2,960 VIP tickets are available. To prioritize local access, 30 percent of general admission tickets are reserved for Sunderland residents, 60 percent for those in the wider North East...