Sunderland residents are being advised to plan their journeys well in advance as the city prepares to host BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend at Herrington Country Park from 22 May to 24 May 2026. With between 80,000 and 100,000 music fans expected to visit over the three days, Sunderland City Council has released comprehensive travel guidance to help manage the influx of visitors.
Travel will be significantly impacted by temporary road closures surrounding the event site. These restrictions will begin at 8:00am on Friday 22 May and remain in place until 1:00am on Monday 25 May. Most notably, the A183 Chester Road will be closed from the A19 junction to the roundabout at Chislehurst Road.
There will be no general parking available at Herrington Country Park during the festival, with only pre-booked accessible spaces permitted on-site. Attendees are strongly encouraged to use official shuttle bus services, which must be pre-booked and will run from Park Lane Interchange, Heworth Metro Station, and the Durham Belmont Park and Ride.
Traffic is expected to be particularly heavy on Sunday 24 May, as the final day of the music festival coincides with a football match between Sunderland AFC and Chelsea at the Stadium of Light. Residents should account for this additional congestion when travelling through the area.
The event, which features more than 100 artists, is supported by a total investment of £975,000, with funding provided by the North East Combined Authority and the city council. Officials anticipate the festival will generate an economic benefit of more than £3.5m for the region.
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