The BBC has issued a statement addressing rumours that Radio 1's Big Weekend could head to Cardiff in 2027. Speculation has been mounting on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, with music fans suggesting the Welsh capital as the next host city for the annual festival.
BBC's Response to Rumours
WalesOnline approached the BBC for confirmation, but a spokesperson gave no definitive answer. “We know our listeners love to guess the location of Radio 1’s Big Weekend, and wherever we will be, we’ll be sure to bring the biggest UK and international artists with us,” the spokesperson said.
The festival, which took place in Sunderland in 2026, is typically held each spring, with the location announcement often made in November. The last time Radio 1's Big Weekend was held in Wales was in 2018 at Swansea's Singleton Park, where headliners included Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, alongside George Ezra, Rita Ora, Niall Horan, Camila Cabello, and Sam Smith. That event drew 26,000 fans to the Welsh city.
Previous Welsh Hostings
Earlier editions in Wales include the 2003 event at Cooper's Field in Cardiff, featuring Pink, The Darkness, Travis, The Chemical Brothers, and Dido. In 2010, the festival took place in Bangor, north Wales, with a line-up that included Rihanna, Alicia Keys, and Justin Bieber.
Cardiff has recently proven its capacity for large-scale music events. Blackweir Live concluded its second successful year with a Pitbull concert, having hosted around 36,000 fans per show across five gigs—Pitbull, Lewis Capaldi (twice), The Cure, and Teddy Swims—in just over a week. Additionally, Cardiff Castle is mid-way through a series of 24 concerts, while the Principality Stadium has hosted Metallica and Take This summer.
Other 2027 Speculation
Beyond Radio 1's Big Weekend, music fans are also speculating about another major event in 2027: a potential Oasis reunion tour. Marking the one-year anniversary of the band's reunion kick-off in Cardiff, sources suggest a 12-night residency at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium could be announced within weeks, with additional dates possibly including a return to Knebworth, the site of their iconic 1996 concerts.
For updates on whether Radio 1's Big Weekend will return to Wales in 2027, follow the music and nightlife section.
