The BBC has pushed back Radio 2 In The Park to September, aiming to prevent a clash with other events happening locally.
The festival had originally been planned for Stirling between August 7 and 9, but organisers have now confirmed it will instead take place the following month.
They explained that the shift comes after concerns were raised by nearby festivals and live events scheduled for the same period. The decision was made alongside the Scottish Independent Festival Association, following what BBC News described as organisers “listening to concerns about the impact of staging it in August”.
Details around the 2026 line up have not yet been revealed, and the exact September dates are still to be announced.
Radio 2 In The Park moved away from its long time base at London’s Hyde Park in 2022, and has since been hosted in Chelmsford, Leicester and Preston. The 2026 edition will also mark the first major BBC Music event held in Scotland since Radio 1 Big Weekend took place in Dundee three years ago.
“Our aim has always been to bring a brilliant event to Stirling, providing value for Scottish audiences and making a positive impact on the local community,” said Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, in a recent statement.
“Whilst tickets are yet to go on sale, we appreciate this may affect the plans of some people who were ready to join us in August, and we are sorry if this is the case. It is why we wanted to confirm the change as soon as we could,” she added. “We’re excited to be bringing the very best of Radio 2 to Stirling and we’ll have announcements on the amazing artists who’ll be joining us very soon.”
Previous headline acts have included Pet Shop Boys, Bryan Adams, Manic Street Preachers, Sting, Tears For Fears and Kylie Minogue.
Speaking on the decision to host the 2026 edition in Scotland, a SIFA representative said, via BBC News: “Scotland is a wonderful place to host events of every scale, and the Scottish independent festival sector is a much loved part of the cultural and economic life of communities right across the country.”
They also noted their appreciation for how the BBC approached the situation, saying they were “grateful to the BBC for the thoughtful way they’ve engaged to consider the right timing and structure for this event”, while a spokesperson for Stirling Council said they were “delighted” to welcome the festival for the first time.
Past editions of the event have been available to stream through BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer. Further updates on the line up, revised dates and any livestream plans are expected to be shared soon.
