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- 4th Mar 2026
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Sunderland’s Radio 1 Big Weekend tickets go live this Friday – here’s everything you need to know
Music fans – it’s that time again. Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026 is set to take place at Herrington Country Park in Sunderland from Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th May 2026.
It’s a huge celebration of music organised by the BBC in partnership with Sunderland City Council, bringing together both world-famous acts and rising stars for three days of live performances.
The event previously took place in places like Liverpool and Luton and always draws big crowds with around 100 artists performing across multiple stages throughout the weekend.
While the 2026 lineup hasn’t been fully released yet, looking at who appeared at Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025 gives you a great idea of the kind of artists that could show up again. Last year’s festival, held at Sefton Park in Liverpool, featured a mix of big names and exciting new talent across the weekend.
On the Radio 1 Main Stage in 2025, headliners included Tom Grennan kicking things off on Friday, alongside big acts like Biffy Clyro, James Hype and The Wombats. Saturday’s big moment saw our very own Sam Fender take centre stage with performances from Blossoms, Tom Odell and Wolf Alice.
On the Sunday main stage, fans were treated to sets from Mumford & Sons, Jorja Smith, Lola Young, Tate McRae and Wet LRight.
Elsewhere, the festival was stacked with brilliant acts on the New Music Stage and BBC Introducing Stage, including Aitch B2B AJ Tracey, Inhaler, Flo, JADE, Self Esteem, Nia Archives and Katy B. Over on the Dance Stage, DJs like Charlie Hedges, Danny Howard and Arielle Free kept the vibes alive well into the night. Basically, there’s something for everyone — from rock to pop, hip hop to dance, and plenty of new music discoveries.
Looking ahead to 2026 in Sunderland, you can expect that same mix: big names, fresh talent, epic atmosphere and unforgettable live moments. Once the full lineup drops, keep an eye on official announcements so you can plan which day to go.
Okay, onto the all-important ticket info. Tickets go through Ticketmaster, so forget third-party sites. Ticketmaster’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use apply, and the BBC isn’t responsible for your data, so give those a read.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GETTING TICKETS
Friday tickets: go live Friday 6th March at 9am
Saturday and Sunday tickets: go live Wednesday 11th March at 5pm
We all know the stress of buying tickets online but here are a few of our tips…
You’ll need a Ticketmaster account to queue and buy, so set up before Friday to save the last-minute panic. At sale time, clicking the link puts you in a queue; too early and you’re just in a waiting room. Radio 1’s Instagram and TikTok will post updates as tickets start to sell out.
How much will the tickets cost?
Friday: 31,000 general admission tickets (£34.50) and 2,960 VIP tickets at (£86)
Saturday and Sunday: 31,000 GA tickets/day (£44.50) and 2,960 VIP/day at (£106)
Accessibility?
Buy first, then apply for an Essential Companion if needed. Don’t buy their ticket before approval.
NOTE: There’s a limit of only two tickets per person per day. You can do Friday plus one weekend day, but not both Saturday and Sunday. Refunds only if cancelled/postponed. Any dodgy or bot purchases can be cancelled.
Ticket allocation:
Pot 1: 30% Sunderland residents
Pot 2: 60% NECA region (County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland and South Tyneside).
Pot 3: 10% open UK-wide
Remember: uppercase postcode, VIP 18+ only, carry ID (passport, driving licence, PASS photocard) and obey the rules, or your tickets could be cancelled.
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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