Greg James has announced BBC Radio 1 will take its Big Weekend to Herrington Country Park in Sunderland this year.
The three-day event runs from Friday 22 May to Sunday 24 May, with around one hundred artists set to perform across multiple stages. With about eighty thousand people expected, the station says the festival will again focus on bringing major acts to places that do not often host events of this size.
The Big Weekend has previously taken artists such as Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Stormzy, Lana Del Rey, Ed Sheeran and Sam Fender to towns and cities around the UK, giving local audiences the chance to see global names up close.
Radio 1 is working with Sunderland City Council to deliver a safe and welcoming event. Greg James said the return to the North East feels special for him, adding that he “started my radio career there” and is looking forward to spending time in the area.
Aled Haydn Jones said the event will provide a platform for established names as well as new local artists. He said the station is keen to showcase talent from the region to listeners across the country.
Councillor Michael Mordey said hosting the festival will highlight Sunderland’s music scene and its Music City status. He said it will also bring wider benefits, including increased visitor numbers.
Further details, including headliners, the full line-up and how to access tickets, will be confirmed on Radio 1 in the coming months. The station will broadcast live from the site throughout the weekend, with sets available on Radio 1’s iPlayer channel and BBC Sounds.