Radio 2 In The Park 2026: radio 2 in the park 2026 to take place in City Park, Stirling
radio 2 in the park 2026 will be staged at City Park in Stirling, Scotland, from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 August 2026, Scott Mills revealed on his Breakfast Show. The three-day festival will feature Radio 2 presenters and some of the most loved artists performing across three stages, with tens of thousands of music fans expected to attend.
Dates, venue and stages
The festival is set for Friday 7 to Sunday 9 August 2026 at City Park in Stirling. Organisers say performances will take place across three stages and that, back by popular demand, a Friday-night DJ party will kick things off ahead of a weekend of live shows. Many of the station’s presenters are expected to decamp to the city for the weekend.
What the presenters said
Scott Mills, who hosts the Breakfast Show and attracts a weekly audience of 6. 5m listeners, said: "What an absolute treat for Radio 2 in the Park to land in Scotland this summer! Every time I’ve DJ-ed in Scotland, I received the warmest welcome, so I truly cannot wait for what promises to be the most brilliant weekend in August. A Scottish crowd is the best crowd. Stirling - we’re coming for you!"
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, said: "Everyone in the Radio 2 presenter family is hugely excited to be heading to Stirling for our Radio 2 in the Park weekend. When they all found out together that we were going to Scotland, a cheer rang out across the room! We’re now busy building a line-up of some of the world’s most loved artists to perform live for tens of thousands of people in the park, as well as for millions of listeners and viewers at home or on the move. "
Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Susan McGill, said: "We can’t wait to welcome fans and artists to our amazing city for an unforgettable celebration of world-class live music set to the stunning backdrop of Stirling Castle. While Stirling has a proud track record of successfully staging major music events, Radio 2 in the Park will be our biggest one yet – so this is incredibly exciting news and a huge boost for the city and the wider region. We will see you there!"
How the announcement unfolded
The news was revealed live on Scott Mills’s Breakfast Show, with The Scotsman noting the reveal took place on February 27 and that a listener named Lorna appeared live from Stirling Castle during the broadcast. After making the announcement, Mills played songs from last year’s event and Yes Sir, I Can Boogie by Baccara.
Broadcasts and past activity
The station, which is described in the context as the UK’s most listened to radio station with a weekly audience of 12. 7m, will move to City Park for what is called Radio 2’s favourite three days of the year, with all the action being broadcast on Radio 2, Sounds as well as iPlayer. Radio 2 has covered Celtic Connections and staged numerous outside broadcasts in Scotland over the years, including the Glasgow finale of Paddy McGuinness’ Children in Need Challenge in 2024.
Historic context and previous festivals
This event marks the first major Radio 2 live music event in Scotland since Music’s Biggest Weekend in May 2018 at Scone Castle, Perth. Previous host cities for Radio 2 in the Park include Chelmsford last year, Preston in 2024 and Leicester in 2023. In 2023, Radio 1’s Big Weekend took place in Camperdown Country Park in Dundee.
Line-up, tickets and local measures
The full artist line-up and ticketing details will be announced at a later date. An FAQ on the website states that further information will be "confirmed in due course. " The Scotsman noted that details about how to get tickets have yet to be revealed. There are several ticket types on offer at past events, and it is suggested a selection of tickets for the festival will be reserved for residents of Stirling; last year, 30% of tickets were reserved for those who lived within certain postcodes around Essex. In 2025, Radio 2 in the Park was held in September with tickets on sale from June.
Past editions of the festival have included headline and supporting performances from acts such as Bryan Adams, Def Leppard and Belinda Carlisle last year, and earlier editions featured artists including Sting, Pet Shop Boys, Tears for Fears, Kylie Minogue, Marti Pellow, Manic Street Preachers, Snow Patrol, Ronan Keating, Jessie J, Olly Murs, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Suede.
City reaction and local signs
Stirling’s National Wallace Monument and the Tolbooth live music venue were illuminated in orange to celebrate the upcoming Radio 2 in the Park coming to the city this August, reflecting local excitement for the event and its location against the backdrop of Stirling Castle.
Further information, including the full artist line-up and ticketing details, will be announced at a later date.
