Fatboy Slim & Sonny Fodera to Headline Big Weekend

BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend is set to descend upon Sunderland's Herrington Country Park from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, May 24, 2026. The festival's opening day, a celebration of dance music, will be headlined by renowned DJs Fatboy Slim and Sonny Fodera. They will be joined on the main stage by notable artists including Australian producer FISHER, Birmingham singer Clementine Douglas, and American DJ MK.

Tickets for the opening day go on sale shortly, with local residents receiving priority access. Fatboy Slim, whose real name is Norman Cook, is a familiar face at UK festivals, celebrated for his iconic hits from the 1990s. Sonny Fodera, an Australian DJ and producer, is known for his distinctive emotive house sound. The full Friday lineup also includes Radio 1 DJs Arielle Free, Danny Howard, Charlie Hedges, Sarah Story, alongside international talent like HorsegiirL and Ewan McVicar.

This event marks Sunderland's return as a host city for the festival, having previously welcomed Big Weekend in May 2005. Tens of thousands of music fans are anticipated to attend this three-day extravaganza, which will feature approximately 100 acts across its duration. Further headliners and the lineup for Saturday will be revealed on Monday morning.

General admission tickets for Friday are priced at £34.50, with VIP tickets at £86.00. Weekend tickets for Saturday and Sunday are £44.50 for general admission and £106.00 for VIP. It's important to note that Friday tickets and VIP access are restricted to individuals aged 18 and over, while younger attendees (15 and under) can attend the weekend days accompanied by an adult. Each person can purchase up to two tickets per day, and attendance is limited to either Friday plus one weekend day (Saturday or Sunday) to maximize opportunities for ticket buyers.