Radio 1’s Big Weekend has announced that will be held virtually for the second year in a row. The festival has decided to remain online for another year due to ongoing coronavirus restrictions and uncertainty that comes with the government’s roadmap. The government has planned that live events should be able to resume by late June this year.
#BIGWEEKEND RETURNS FOR 2021
We’re bringing you 4 days of live music across @BBCSounds and @BBCiPlayer from the 28th – 31st May!
Get ready for brand new sets recorded exclusively for Big Weekend, alongside memorable Radio 1 performances from the Live Lounge and beyond pic.twitter.com/M4HfB1pUfH
— BBC Radio 1 (@BBCR1) March 24, 2021
Radio 1 cancelled its in-person 2020 festival in Dundee last March and held a remote festival in its place in May. Among the cancellation of all UK festivals and live events last year, Radio 1 was able to present an online festival featuring exclusive performances, throwback clips, and coverage that highlighted how fans were combating lockdown with mini-festival celebrations. Last year’s festival also included home-filmed performances by stars like the Jonas Brothers and Anne-Marie.
It has now been announced that the 2021 Big Weekend will take place on BBC Sounds and iPlayer over four days from May 28th- 31st. The BBC reported this announcement stating that this year’s festival is designed to be enjoyed “in parks, on beaches, in pub gardens” as coronavirus restrictions lessen. This decision comes amongst a slew of UK festivals including Latitude, Reading and Leeds, and Wireless who have planned to go ahead in person later this summer.
Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2021 promises a line-up featuring “the biggest acts on the planet” alongside “stars of the future”. In the past, the festival has hosted big names such as Coldplay, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, and Billie Eilish.
Speaking on the announcement, Radio 1 breakfast show host Greg James said: “We’ll be making the May Bank Holiday as fun and entertaining as possible with Big Weekend 2021.” He added: “We’ll keep doing what we can to thank our listeners and support the artists that have helped make the last year easier to manage.”
