Olivia Dean Shines as Radio 1's Big Weekend 2026 Grand Finale Star!

Olivia Dean is set to headline the final day of BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, which will take place in Sunderland this year. The popular British singer, who recently won four Brit Awards including best British artist, will close out the festival on Sunday. She will be joined by Niall Horan, a former member of One Direction, and American singer Kehlani. The festival will be held at Herrington Country Park from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, May 24. On Saturday, the main stage will feature performances from Zara Larsson, Louis Tomlinson, and Lola Young, while the first day will focus on dance music with sets from Fatboy Slim and Sonny Fodera.

This will be Olivia Dean's first time headlining a major UK festival. She has become one of the most exciting artists in the country, especially after winning best album for her soulful second record, The Art of Loving, and song of the year for her hit Rein Me In with Sam Fender. She also picked up a Grammy for best new artist and is nominated for four Mobo Awards. Niall Horan is also making headlines, as he will release his new single Dinner Party later this month, his first solo song since his last album in 2023. Other acts performing on Sunday include Irish singer CMAT and Brit Rising Star winner Myles Smith. The new music stage will feature artists like jazz group Ezra Collective, R&B group Flo, and singer Jorja Smith.

Saturday's lineup is packed with talent, including Swedish pop star Zara Larsson, who became famous with her song Lush Life in 2016. Louis Tomlinson, another former One Direction member, will also perform, along with Grammy winner Lola Young. Other notable acts include Nothing But Thieves, Skye Newman, Ellie Goulding, James Blake, Mitski, and Rachel Chinouriri. Fatboy Slim, known for his energetic festival sets, will headline Friday along with Australian producer Sonny Fodera. Sunderland last hosted Big Weekend in 2005, and this year, tens of thousands of fans are expected to attend. About 100 acts will perform over the three days. Tickets for the festival will go on sale soon, with local residents getting priority. Last year, the event was held in Liverpool and attracted around 100,000 music fans. Each year, Big Weekend brings major music acts to new cities, giving fans across the UK a chance to see their favorite artists live.