Fans are already buzzing about Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026, and the big question on everyone’s mind is simple: where will it be held? We might not have the answer just yet, but we won’t be waiting long. On Rickie, Melvin and Charlie’s show a trailer from Greg James announced he had a “very special Big Weekend announcement” on his show from 8am, and if history is anything to go by, it’s likely to be the official reveal of next year’s host city.
In the meantime, it’s worth taking a look back at where the festival has travelled before, because Radio 1 loves to keep things moving around the UK.
A look back at past Big Weekend hosts
Radio 1’s Big Weekend has always been about taking huge artists to unexpected places, and over the years it’s popped up everywhere from parks and castles. Each year they take place around the late May Bank Holiday. Here’s a refresher:
The Early Years
-
2005 – Herrington Country Park, Sunderland
-
2006 – Camperdown Park, Dundee
-
2007 – Moor Park, Preston
-
2008 – Mote Park, Maidstone
-
2009 – Lydiard Park, Swindon
Into the 2010s
-
2010 – Faenol Estate, Bangor
-
2011 – Carlisle Airport, Carlisle
-
2012 – Hackney Marshes, London
-
2013 – Ebrington Square, Derry
-
2014 – George Square and Glasgow Green, Glasgow
-
2015 – Earlham Park, Norwich
-
2016 – Powderham Castle, Exeter
-
2017 – Burton Constable Hall, Hull
The “Biggest Weekend” detour (2018)
Across one mega weekend, BBC Music split the action between:
-
Titanic Slipways, Belfast
-
Scone Palace, Perth
-
Singleton Park, Swansea
-
War Memorial Park, Coventry
Recent Years
-
2019 – Stewart Park, Middlesbrough
-
2020 – Camperdown Park (planned, but cancelled due to the pandemic)
-
2022 – War Memorial Park, Coventry
-
2023 – Camperdown Park, Dundee
-
2024 – Stockwood Park, Luton
-
2025 – Sefton Park, Liverpool
That brings us neatly to the present, and to the burning question…
Where could Big Weekend land in 2026?
Greg James has been teasing an announcement on-air, and the timing lines up perfectly with when Radio 1 typically drops the Big Weekend location each year. The station loves rotating between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so there’s scope for almost anywhere.
Recent festivals have leaned towards parks, big open green spaces and cities with strong transport links, so expect something that fits that mould. And given the BBC’s track record of bringing major events to places that don’t often get nationwide spotlight, there could well be a left-field choice on the cards.
When will the announcement be?
Greg is expected to reveal the location tomorrow on-air from around 8am, so fans won’t be refreshing their feeds for long. Tickets and line-up information is not expected until February, giving time for music lovers to plan for the event next May.
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 through Ticketmaster. Demand is huge every year, so getting a pair isn’t guaranteed, but the BBC has a well-established system to keep things fair and local.
The Current Ticket System
To make sure the event genuinely benefits the community hosting it, the BBC operates a postcode priority system:
-
Around 95 percent of all tickets go to those living in local postcodes
-
The remaining share is released to the rest of the UK.
COMMENTS