Radio 1 Big Weekend 2026 Lineup: Zara Larsson, Fatboy Slim and BBC Introducing Acts Revealed
The radio 1 big weekend 2026 lineup has been revealed with major headliners and a wide roster of acts set to play Herrington Country Park in Sunderland. Organisers say the festival will run from Friday 22 – Sunday 24 May, with headline slots on Friday and a stacked Saturday including Zara Larsson and Louis Tomlinson. The announcement highlights national stars alongside Introducing selections and community outreach designed to boost the local economy and youth engagement.
Radio 1 Big Weekend 2026 Lineup: headliners, first waves and ticket details
The confirmed bill for the Radio 1 Big Weekend 2026 Lineup lists Fatboy Slim and Sonny Fodera as Friday headliners and a Saturday roster that includes Zara Larsson, Louis Tomlinson, Lola Young, Nothing But Thieves, Ellie Goulding, James Blake, Skye Newman, Rachel Chinouriri, MUNA, Erin LeCount, Mitski, Florence Road and Wasia Project. Festival organisers expect the site at Herrington Country Park to welcome over 100, 000 music fans across the weekend. Tickets for Saturday 23 May and Sunday 24 May go on sale at 5: 00pm ET on Wednesday 11 March, with General Admission priced at £44. 50 (£40. 00 + £4. 50 booking fee). The ticket allocation remains geographically weighted: 30 percent reserved for Sunderland residents, 60 percent for the surrounding NECA region and 10 percent for the rest of the UK; the booking process will be handled by the official ticketing agent named by organisers.
The next tranche of names and stage-by-stage listings are scheduled to be released in the days following the first wave; the Radio 1 Big Weekend 2026 lineup already spans major international names plus a substantial set of electronic and DJ talent announced earlier, including DJ acts and b2b performances.
Introducing and local acts to watch
Local talent featured through Introducing will appear on a dedicated stage, with North East artists highlighted for the Sunderland slot. Acts named for the Introducing stage include Max Jones, Sorley and Imogen and the Knife. Ellie Scougall, a 22-year-old DJ from Newcastle who discovered electronic dance music at 13 and has supported artists such as Gorgon City and D. O. D., is among those promoted from the region. Sorley, from Sunderland, founded the hometown club night HAZE and has performed alongside international names; Max Jones mixes tech house and techno with underground textures and old-school influences.
Outreach activity will run in the region ahead of the festival. Radio 1’s Life Hacks will host live panels from Tuesday 24 – Friday 27 March at East Durham College, Sunderland College, South Tyneside College and Red House Academy, focusing on themes such as building a future, navigating life after education, managing mental health and understanding modern relationships. These sessions will involve local organisations, charities and entrepreneurs to connect young people with support and opportunities.
Immediate reaction from the broadcast side is scheduled into on-air programming: “Tune into Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James from 7: 30am ET on Tuesday 10 March to find out which acts will be joining the bill and performing on Sunday 24 May at Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026, ” said Greg James, presenter, Radio 1 Breakfast.
Practical details published alongside the line-up stress safety and inclusion; organisers are working closely with Sunderland City Council to manage the site and stewarding plans. The Radio 1 Big Weekend 2026 lineup combines headline draws with a pronounced local focus, staging panels and reserved ticketing to prioritise nearby communities.
What comes next: expect further artist announcements in the immediate days after the first reveal, on-air reveals tied to Radio 1 programming, and more detailed stage times and access guidance ahead of the festival weekend in May. The radio 1 big weekend 2026 lineup will expand as organisers update the full stage-by-stage schedule and final ticket batches are released.
