Radio 1’s Big Weekend Predicted Line Up
Written by Chloe Cartlidge on 10th February 2026
Radio 1’s Big Weekend is coming to Sunderland this year, and the big question everyone is asking is who will be playing the festival? I’ve done some research and this is my prediction for this year’s show.
Louis Tomlinson
Former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson has recently released his third solo album, How did I Get Here?, which has already reached the UK’s Number 1 spot. To complement his new album, Tomlinson is embarking on an EU, UK and North America Tour. Between his last UK show in London (3rd May) and his first American show (3rd June) Tomlinson appears to have a month long gap, so he will be free for the Big Weekend. It is reported that Tomlinson is reuniting with his fellow One Direction member, Zayn Malik to film a documentary that will be available to view on Netflix over the coming year. The Big Weekend would bring the star to the front of people’s minds ready for the highly anticipated reunion show that is in the works.
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Zara Larsson
With social media claiming that 2026 will be the new 2016 it seems like a no-brainer that Zara Larsson should be considered to perform at the Big Weekend. With Lush Life returning to the charts over 10 years after its initial release date and Larsson’s 5th studio album, Midnight Sun, proving to be a hit, she is more popular than ever. Recently, her makeover and the Lush Life dance have taken over social media sites such as TikTok and Instagram, leading the younger generation to obsess over her style and making her become a must see artist.
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran is no stranger to the Big Weekend stage having played at multiple events including a surprise set at last year’s host city, Liverpool. His recent comeback with Azizam and Sapphire have shown a new side to Ed Sheeran that we hadn’t seen before. Sheeran still stays loyal to his roots as he continues to play songs from his earlier albums, such as Sing from 2014’s Multiply and Shape of You from 2017’s Divide. Although he is currently on tour, his last date is 23rd May where he is playing in Ecuador meaning he could still make it to Sunday’s set list.
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Raye
WHERE IS MY HUSBAND? Was one of the top songs of 2025 with the rap becoming a TikTok trend and Raye performing her latest music on The Tonight Show and at the 2025 Capital Jingle Bell Ball. Raye announced on the 22nd January that her new album, THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE, will be released on the 27th March 2026. Her tour comes to an end in London on the 20th May, but Raye does not visit the North East during her tour so Radio 1’s Big Weekend would be a great way to show her northern fans some love.
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Harry Styles
Having just returned to the music scene after a well deserved break since his 22 month long Love on Tour concert tour, ‘Aperture’ is set to be one of the songs of 2026. The recent announcement of his new album, Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally which is due to be released on 6th March is set to return Harry Styles to the top of the charts. Styles is performing in Amsterdam on 23rd May but does not return to the Dutch stage until 26th May, making it still a possibility that we could be seeing him on the Big Weekend stage in just three months time.
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Swindled
After recently being announced as one of the BBC’s Ones To Watch 2026, Swindled have proved themselves to be a top upcoming talent of the North East. Lead guitarist, Alex Winn, also joined Greg James live on Radio 1’s Breakfast show in November to help announce that Sunderland was chosen as the Big Weekends host city for 2026. With new songs in progress and a promising career ahead of them, playing at the Big Weekend would be a big step for the band’s popularity and reputation.
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Aitch
Since his recent appearance on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Aitch has won the hearts of the British public as we got to see behind his rapper persona. Aitch performed at the Big Weekend hosted in Liverpool last year, before his appearance on the hit TV show and I believe that Radio 1 will want him back again this year.
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Olivia Dean
Olivia Dean’s 2025 album The Art of Loving shot her to fame with her single Nice to Each Other becoming a trending song on social media and reaching number four on the UK charts. Dean is on tour this year but has over a month between her London shows where she could make the Big Weekend.
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