The STAGES Festival 2026 will launch in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, with a special underground music event held in a city car park on 27 March 2026. This high-energy night, titled fstr., is designed to offer residents a new type of cultural experience and to help increase evening footfall in the city centre.
The performance will take place in the Riverside Car Park at Farringdon Row (the Riverside Multi Storey Car Park), chosen for its raw, industrial character. Headline sets will be provided by Ben Nicky and Darren Styles; the night itself is titled “fstr.”.
According to Sunderland City Council, the event forms part of the final months of the city’s Year of Music (June 2025–June 2026). The Year of Music follows Sunderland’s successful bid to join the global Music Cities Network in January 2025.
Councillor Beth Jones, Portfolio Holder for Communities, Culture and Tourism, said transforming a multi-storey car park into a music venue “reflects the ambition and energy driving Sunderland forward” and that the council looks forward to welcoming fans from across the region and beyond. Organisers say the event is expected to attract visitors from outside the region and to create opportunities for local musicians and promoters.
