Radio 2 in the Park (formerly known as Radio 2 Live and Radio 2's Festival in a Day) is a British music festival organised by BBC Radio 2. From 2011 to 2019, it was held annually in Hyde Park in London. Starting with Leicester in 2023, it has been held annually in various locations in the UK.
Performances are broadcast live on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, and live streamed on BBC iPlayer. In 2017, attendance was 45,000.
Performers
Live in Hyde Park 2011 The inaugural festival in a day was held on 11 September 2011. Lionel Richie was originally set to headline the event but was forced to cancel due to ill health.
Gary Barlow Chic The Pierces James Blunt Imelda May Lenny Kravitz Jonathan Jeremiah Will Young Caro Emerald Beverley Knight Bellowhead Jools Holland and his Orchestra
Live in Hyde Park 2012 The 2012 festival in a day was held on 9 September.
Tom Jones Status Quo Emeli Sandé Jessie J Paloma Faith Rebecca Ferguson Average White Band Mick Hucknall The Band Perry Katzenjammer Angela Barnes
Live in Hyde Park 2013 The 2013 festival in a day was held on 8 September.
Smokey Robinson Jessie J James Blunt Josh Groban Manic Street Preachers Jack Johnson Texas Jamie Cullum Simple Minds Treacherous Orchestra
Live in Hyde Park 2014 The 2014 festival in a day was held on 14 September.
Jeff Lynne's ELO Blondie Billy Ocean Paloma Faith Gregory Porter Kacey Musgraves Bellowhead Chrissie Hynde
Live in Hyde Park 2015 The 2015 festival in a day was held on 13 September. The line-up was revealed by Chris Evans between 8 and 12 June.
Rod Stewart Giorgio Moroder Bryan Adams The Corrs Leona Lewis Kate Rusby Will Young Shaun Escoffery Ward Thomas and The Shires
Live in Hyde Park 2016 The 2016 festival in a day was held on 11 September. It also featured a DJ set by Craig Charles and a special edition of PopMaster with Ken Bruce.
Elton John Madness Status Quo Gregory Porter LeAnn Rimes Jamie Lawson Andreya Triana Travis
Live in Hyde Park 2017 The 2017 festival in a day was held on 10 September. The line-up was announced on 6 June by Chris Evans, with tickets for the event going on sale on 8 June. Between the main acts, the festival also featured a special edition of PopMaster with Ken Bruce, Sounds of the 80s with Sara Cox, A Question of Radio 2 with Clare Balding, Jeremy Vine, Fearne Cotton, Jon Culshaw and Rev. Kate Bottley plus live DJ sets from Craig Charles and Ana Matronic.
Take That Blondie Shania Twain James Blunt Emeli Sandé Rick Astley Seth Lakeman and Wildwood Kin Stereophonics
Live in Hyde Park 2018 The 2018 festival in a day was held on 9 September. Carrie Underwood was scheduled to perform but had to pull out due to illness and was replaced by The Shires. The festival featured a special edition of PopMaster with Ken Bruce and Sounds of the 80s with Gary Davies plus a DJ set from Craig Charles. During the headline set, Rick Astley and Jason Donovan appeared as special guests.
Kylie Minogue Manic Street Preachers Boyzone The Shires All Saints The Band of Love Rita Ora Lenny Kravitz
Live in Hyde Park 2019 The 2019 festival in a day was held on 15 September. Two acts were announced each day by Zoe Ball starting on Monday 3 June 2019, with the headliners the Pet Shop Boys being revealed on Thursday 6 June. Emeli Sandé was originally scheduled to perform but cancelled on the day due to having lost her voice. Her set was replaced by a Craig Charles DJ set. There was also a DJ set from Gary Davies. During the headlining set, Olly Alexander and Beverley Knight appeared as special guests.
Pet Shop Boys Westlife Status Quo Clean Bandit Bananarama Kelsea Ballerini Simply Red
Live in Hyde Park 2020 This year's Live in Hyde Park was a virtual affair due to COVID-19.
On 12 and 13 September 2020, the BBC aired new sets recorded from home by Sheryl Crow, Nile Rodgers and Chic featuring Rebecca Ferguson, Craig David, Erasure, Sir Tom Jones, The Killers, John Legend, McFly, Gregory Porter and The Pretenders. Several past performances by Sir Elton John, Jeff Lynne, Kylie Minogue, Pet Shop Boys, Rita Ora, Sir Rod Stewart, Shania Twain, Smokey Robinson and Take That were also made available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Radio 2 Live in Leeds 2022 Following two successive completely cancelled years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced on 5 April 2022 that the event was to be rebranded as Radio 2 Live and would take place in Leeds at Temple Newsam on 17 and 18 September. The line-up was announced on 14 June by Zoe Ball, revealing that Simple Minds would be headlining the event. Ball also stated that two additional acts would be announced in the following weeks On 2 August, Robbie Williams and the BBC Concert Orchestra were revealed as the second headliner alongside Elbow and the Radio 2 DJ line-up, which features Richie Anderson, Sara Cox, Rylan Clark, DJ Spoony, Jo Whiley, Dermot O'Leary, Gary Davies, Trevor Nelson, Tony Blackburn, Kate Bottley, and OJ Borg. However, on 9 September, the event was completely cancelled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II the previous day.
Radio 2 in the Park, Leicester 2023 On 12 June 2023 after a hat-trick of cancellations, it was announced that Leicester would be hosting Radio 2 in the Park on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September at Victoria Park. The following day, Zoe Ball announced the full line up, with Kylie Minogue as headliner and also featuring Rick Astley, Sam Ryder, James Blunt, Bananarama, and Tears for Fears, the latter two of whom were previously slated to appear at the 2022 event, which was completely cancelled last year due to the death of Elizabeth II. The festival featured DJ sets from Gary Davies, Rylan Clark, and Scott Mills.
Saturday 16 Tears for Fears Bananarama Texas James Blunt Deacon Blue Beverley Knight Busted Soft Cell
Sunday 17 Kylie Minogue The Pretenders Shalamar Rick Astley Jessie Ware Lemar Sam Ryder Simply Red
Radio 2 in the Park, Preston 2024 On 24 April 2024, it was announced that Moor Park in Preston would be hosting Radio 2 in the Park 2024 on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September, with tickets going on sale on 5 June, 2024. An additional "pre-party" also took place on Friday 6 September, featuring sets by Radio 2 DJs Vernon Kay, Sara Cox, Rylan Clark, Scott Mills, and DJ Spoony. The full line-up was announced on 3 June by Zoe Ball live on the breakfast show. During Shed Seven's set, Ferris & Sylvester appeared as special guests.
Saturday 7 Sting Sugababes Snow Patrol Craig David Kim Wilde Pixie Lott Shaznay Lewis Travis
Sunday 8 Pet Shop Boys Manic Street Preachers Sister Sledge ft. Kathy Sledge Gabrielle Shed Seven Paul Heaton Delta Goodrem Haircut 100
Radio 2 in the Park, Chelmsford 2025 On 3 June 2025, it was announced that Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex would be hosting Radio 2 in the Park 2025 on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September, with tickets going on sale the following day. An additional "pre-party" took place on Friday 5 September, featuring sets by Radio 2 DJs Vernon Kay, Scott Mills, Rylan Clark, DJ Spoony, and Michelle Visage.
Saturday 6 Bryan Adams Belinda Carlisle Ronan Keating Jessie J Kid Creole and the Coconuts Marti Pellow Ella Henderson Stereophonics
Sunday 7 Def Leppard Olly Murs Anastacia Soul II Soul Suede Louise Redknapp David Gray Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Radio 2 in the Park, Stirling 2026 Radio 2 in the Park is set to be hosted in City Park in Stirling from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September 2026, marking the first major BBC music event to be held in Scotland since the 2023 edition of BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Dundee. The event was originally planned to be held between 7 and 9 August, but was rescheduled to a later date to prevent clashes with local events. Snoop Dogg and Alexandra Burke made guest appearances during headliner Chaka Khan's set.
The full line-up was announced in June 2026.
Saturday 12
Chaka Khan The Script Emeli Sandé ABC Jack Savoretti Lulu Texas
Sunday 13
Simple Minds Deacon Blue James Blunt Level 42 Blue Cast Appleton
References
External links