Residents and visitors in Blackpool will be able to enjoy a free, large-scale music festival experience this spring as Abingdon Street Market hosts a public screening of Radio 1’s Big Weekend. The event will take place over the upcoming bank holiday weekend, running from Friday 22 May to Sunday 24 May 2026.
The market, located at Edward Street with entry via Edward Street and Cedar Square, will broadcast the performances on its big screen. While the festival itself is being held at Herrington Country Park in Sunderland, the Blackpool screening allows locals to catch the music without the need for travel. The lineup for the weekend features high-profile acts including Fatboy Slim, Zara Larsson, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Olivia Dean, alongside performances from Ellie Goulding and Lola Young.
Abingdon Street Market has become a central venue for local events following its multi-million pound renovation. The market, which is operated by Little Blackpool Leisure Company, reopened in May 2023 after being purchased by Blackpool Council. The redevelopment of the site, which originally served as a police station in 1862, was supported by funding from the UK Government’s Getting Building Fund, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and the Historic England Heritage Action Zone.
The venue’s transformation into a modern food hall has earned it recognition as one of the top 10 food halls in the UK in the British Street Food Awards. The upcoming festival screening reflects the ongoing efforts as part of Blackpool’s broader growth and prosperity programme to provide diverse attractions within the town centre.
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