The Sunday concerts at Bents Park in South Shields return this weekend for the 2026 season, now fully ticketed for the first time. The rebranded live events kick off on July 19 with a Pride in South Tyneside special headlined by local star Joe McElderry, fresh from releasing his summer single Love Me Out Loud.
Ticket Prices and Entry
There is no free entry this year. Tickets cost £5 for over-16s, £2.50 for over-66s and 11–16-year-olds, and under-11s get in free. The same pricing applies to all three Sunday concerts.
Gates open at 12 noon each week, with access opening from 11am for ticketing and bag checks. In line with Martyn's Law and national security guidance, bag checks and entry restrictions will be enforced at all events.
Permitted Items and Bag Size
Small bags, small two-wheeled trollies or shopping carts up to 40cm x 40cm x 33cm are allowed. Folding camping chairs, children's buggies, and cool bags or cool boxes up to 24 litres are also permitted.
Banned Items
The following items are prohibited: BBQs, glass (including bottles of alcohol or soft drinks), weapons, corkscrews, sharp knives, airhorns, audio recorders, long-range cameras, drones, fireworks, flares, illegal substances, bags larger than 40cm x 40cm x 20cm, and four-wheeled festival trollies.
Alcohol and food are allowed in, and multiple vendors will be on site.
Full Line-Up
Sunday, July 19 – Pride in South Tyneside: Joe McElderry, Sonia, 911, Channy, Shelly Stevens.
Sunday, July 26 – ABC and Chesney Hawkes.
Sunday, August 2 – Judge Jules and Ultrabeat.
Past performers at Bents Park include Billy Ocean, Busted, The Vamps, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Jason Donovan, Shayne Ward, and Liberty X.
