Chester Road Sunderland to close for Radio 1 Big Weekend

Chester Road, which runs in front of Penshaw Monument along to Herrington Park from the A19 will be shut to motorists during the hotly anticipated festival from May 22 to 24.

Sunderland City Council confirmed the closure in a letter sent to residents near the park in late February, adding it will bring “significant benefits to the city”, with 31,000 tickets up for grabs.

BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend in Middlesbrough in 2019.

The letter, seen by The Northern Echo, reads: “Whilst we celebrate the positives of bringing such a high-profile event to the city, we also understand that hosting an event of this scale can raise questions for people who live near the event site and we want to share early information with you about what to expect.

“A series of road closures will be in place around the park on event days to manage access safely.

“Resident access will be maintained through a controlled permit system to allow movement as freely as possible.

“If you have specific caring responsibilities or are planning an important social event during this time, we will work with you as part of the traffic management plan to support your needs.

“Please note that Chester Road will be closed from May 22-24, 2026 between Herrington Country Park and the junction with the A19.

“Access will not be available along this section during this period. This closure is required to facilitate shuttle bus operations and provide a safe environment for those attending the event.”

The council added that a ‘drop in’ session at the park will be held for residents with questions and concerns on March 10 between 2-4pm and 6-8pm.

The full line up for the weekend is set to be revealed on Friday (March 6), but previous headliners have included the likes of Sam Fender, The 1975, Harry Styles and Billie Eilish.

Works have already started to make the park festival ready, with many grass areas currently fenced off.

But this is not the first time that the Big Weekend has come to the region – the last time it was at Herrington Park was in 2005, with headliners including the Foo Fighters and The Black Eyed Peas.

In 2019, the festival came to Middlesbrough.

Music stars from around the world arrived at Stewart Park, with around 64,000 festivalgoers watching the likes of Ellie Goulding, Miley Cyrus, Little Mix, Lewis Capaldi, James Arthur, Rita Ora, Stormzy, Anne-Marie, Mumford and Sons and The 1975.

Miley Cyrus headlined the Main Stage on the Saturday, with Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills describing her as “a megastar – she was amazing”.

Meanwhile, X Factor favourites Little Mix kicked off Sunday’s performances, with The 1975 closing the event.