Headline Acts Announced for Radio 2 in the Park
Chaka Khan and Simple Minds are set to headline this year’s Radio 2 in the Park festival, which will take place in Stirling’s City Park from 11 to 13 September. This event marks the first major BBC music festival held in Scotland in three years.
Festival Kick-Off and Lineup
The weekend will begin on Friday night with a DJ party featuring sets from Radio 2 presenters Sara Cox, DJ Spoony, Gary Davies, Michelle Visage, and Rylan. On Saturday, artists including The Script, ABC, Emilie Sandé, Jack Savoretti, Lulu, and Texas will perform on the main stage prior to multiple Grammy Award winner Chaka Khan’s headline set.
Sunday’s lineup includes Deacon Blue, Level 42, James Blunt, Cast, Blue, and Appleton, who will perform before Simple Minds close the festival.
Broadcast and Artist Comments
All live performances throughout the weekend will be broadcast on Radio 2, , and , allowing audiences to experience the event remotely.
Chaka Khan expressed her enthusiasm for the event and the location, describing Stirling as a "magical place."
"I can't wait to share the songs, the love and make some beautiful memories together," said the singer of "I'm Every Woman."
Jim Kerr, frontman of Simple Minds, highlighted the significance of the festival being the band’s only UK performance this year.
"It's going to be in Stirling which is not so far from our neck of the woods and Simple Minds in Scotland is always special, especially as it will be our first and only gig in the UK this year.
"It's going to kick off a whole lot of momentum for us so we are already really looking forward to it."
"I'm pretty confident we'll have the place jumping up and down," Kerr added, noting that their set will be very upbeat and interactive with the crowd.
Festival Significance and Venue History
Jeff Smith, head of music for Radio 2, emphasized the importance of bringing world-renowned artists, including some of Scotland’s finest, to the historic city of Stirling.
"It's a real privilege to bring some of the world's biggest artists, including many of Scotland's greatest, to the historic city of Stirling for this year's Radio 2 in the Park.
"You'll hear many of these stars' iconic songs performed live against the backdrop of this incredible setting.
"The range of musical genres represented is a testament to the breadth and diversity of music played on Radio 2 - there is truly something for everybody."
Radio 1's Big Weekend in Dundee in 2023 was the last major BBC music event held in Scotland. Ahead of the announcement in February, several Stirling landmarks, including the Wallace Monument, were illuminated.
Previous editions of Radio 2 in the Park have been hosted in Leicester, Preston, and Chelmsford, following the festival’s relocation from its traditional venue in London’s Hyde Park in 2022.
City Park has a history of hosting notable music events, having been the venue for Stirling Summer Sessions in 2024, which featured performances by Tom Jones, Young Fathers, and Shania Twain.
However, the Stirling Summer Sessions event was cancelled in 2025.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the three days of Radio 2 in the Park will go on sale on Wednesday, 10 June, starting at 08:30. Prices begin at £40 (plus booking fee) for the Friday pre-party, while tickets for Saturday and Sunday start from £84 (plus booking fee).
