Radio 1’s Big Weekend kicks off the UK’s festival season by bringing some of the biggest UK and international artists to locations that may not otherwise host such a large-scale event, shining a light on the local area and providing a major boost to the local economy.  Joining the likes of Olivia Dean, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson - See the run down of artists from our community on this year's edition of the festival below!

When: 22 - 24th May 2026
Where: Herrington Country Park, Sunderland (UK)

Last Updated: 11/03/2026

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Ahadadream B2B Arthi

The duo will be bringing their respective flavours together. Expect a journey through club belters, dancehall, reggaeton to garage and bass. With sounds across the UK and both the Indian and African diaspora and beyond.


Anish Kumar

Kumar wishes to deviate from the often over-finessed tropes of modern electronic music, breathing a new lease of life into the scene with undeniably soulful and forward-facing productions. British-Indian artist has received repeated co-signs from Four Tet, Daphni, Bonobo, Danny Howard and Pete Tong.


BombayMami

Born in Switzerland, resides in London and raised in between Switzerland, UK and India; Her distinctive music blends both of her cultural backgrounds, making for a unique sound seamlessly blending Indian classical music with RnB and pop, she creates a bold sonic and visual universe.


Kehlani

Kehlani will open your eyes, open your mind, and open your heart. For as blunt as she may be about life, lust, and love, her music occupies an elevated state above even the best high, yet remains deeply human and accessible with every listen. To date, she has earned over 20 gold and platinum RIAA certifications, tallied more than 5 billion streams, and received 5 GRAMMY® Award nominations.


Lola Young

An alternative pop star immersed in urban reality, not shying away from the topics of infidelity, job insecurity, self-loathing, mental health struggles and the hazards of the digital era.


Mitski

The acclaimed Japanese-American singer-songwriter known for her introspective lyrics and indie-rock sound. Raised globally, she recorded her first two albums at Purchase College before rising to prominence with albums Bury Me at Makeout Creek (2014) and Be the Cowboy (2018), often blending punk, pop, and orchestral influences. 


Wasia Project

Musical duo formed by siblings Will Gao and Olivia Hardy. Their mixed British-Asian heritage and musical upbringing have inspired their global approach to pop, melding styles and influences that cut across genre lines. In their songs, bedroom DIY combines with classical intellect, soft disco melds with freewheeling jazz, in a merging that’s underpinned by the duo’s deep knowledge of distinct musical styles which has seen them ring up tens of millions of streams.