Ready for the big one?

With just a day to go, the latest pictures show the huge size of Radio 1’s Big Weekend as it transforms Herrington Country Park into one of the UK’s biggest festivals.

Final preparations are made at the site of the BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Sunderland, which will see global stars including Olivia Dean, Zara Larsson and Kehlani dazzle the North East with 100,000 people expected to make the trip to Herrington Country Park over the three-day event. | North News & Pictures Ltd

placeholder image — Final preparations are made at the site of the BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Sunderland, which will see global stars including Olivia Dean, Zara Larsson and Kehlani dazzle the North East with 100,000 people expected to make the trip to Herrington Country Park over the three-day event. | North News & Pictures Ltd

Gates open at 2pm tomorrow, Friday, May 22, for one of the biggest events in Sunderland’s calendar for 2026.

Around 100,000 people will attend the festival to see around 100 acts perform across three stages.

These shots captured by North News shows the scale of the site, with the main stage, which will see headline performances from Fatboy Slim, Zara Larsson and Olivia Dean, against the backdrop of Penshaw Monument.

Weather is looking good for the weekend with a high of 25degrees, but there’s also a covered stage in the big marquee, as well as a BBC Introducing stage.

The site looks spectacular by night | North News & Pictures Ltd

Anyone who’s driven past Herrington Country Park over the past week can’t failed to have noticed the big Radio 1 ferris wheel - a Mackem Eye of sorts.

There’s also a host of food and drink traders, with local traders including Bobacat Kitchen and Redheads Mac n Cheese with the bars selling an exclusive Big Weekend ale brewed by Vaux.

A great showcase for Sunderland | North News & Pictures Ltd

Ahead of Big Weekend, Greg James has been in the city all this week, broadcasting the Radio 1 Breakfast show live from a mobile studio in Keel Square.

In between stints on the airwaves, he’s immersing himself in the city’s food, drink and cultural offering - even getting behind the bar to pull some pints at The Dun Cow.

Everything you need to know about Radio 1’s Big Weekend.

Speaking to the Echo earlier this week, he said: “It’s my favourite week of the year doing Big Weekend. And all the DJs think the same, we throw everything at it.

“It’s the most fun thing to take the radio show out of London and to the glorious North East, which is actually where I started doing radio at Galaxy back in the old days and I love it.

“Great people, great food, great welcome. Everyone’s really funny - what’s not to like?”