Radio 1 fans react as Big Weekend location announced

BBC Radio 1 is getting ready for festival season with an announcement on where this year's Big Weekend will visit.

The radio station's festival takes superstar acts to different parts of the UK each year, giving fans living in the chosen location first dibs on tickets.

But what do we know about the 2024 Radio 1's Big Weekend - and how has the news gone down?

Where is Radio 1's Big Weekend 2024 and how can you get tickets?

Big Weekend is always one of the first festivals of the season, and this year it's set to take place on 24 - 26 May.

Radio 1 has announced that this year's festival will take place at Stockwood Park in Luton. Previous Big Weekends have travelled to Dundee, Coventry and Middlesbrough.

Ticket info is yet to be announced but is expected to prioritise local residents as usual.

How did fans react to Big Weekend visiting Luton?

Although Radio 1 makes an effort to take Big Weekend to parts of the UK that aren't already packed out with big name festivals each year, some people were left a little confused by the choice for 2024.

The location announcement came on Monday, 29 January and the reaction was not positive from all quarters, as one person commented on X: "big weekend in LUTON this must be a joke." Someone else added: "Luton? Bloody Luton, why Luton."

Others argued it was much too close to the airport as one person wrote: "Right under the departure/approach flight path for Luton Airport!" Another person agreed: "I grew up right next to Stockwood Park - the planes fly over it low and loud every four minutes."

Another person joked: "As J.Lo famously sang Brazil, Morocco London to Ibiza Straight to Luton, New York Vegas to Africa."

But others were delighted at the choice as one local commented: "That's fantastic! Luton will bring the energy to Radio 1's Big Weekend! Luton's gonna rock to Radio 1's Big Weekend! Can't wait to see the lineup," and someone else agreed: "This is great news for Luton."

Who is headlining Radio 1's Big Weekend 2024?

So far, no line-ups have been announced for the three-day festival but headline acts are expected to start being named soon.

Last year's star-studded line-up in Dundee included Lewis Capaldi, Becky Hill, Tom Grennan, Wet Leg, Self Esteem, Niall Horan, Zara Larsson and Thirty Seconds To Mars.

Read more: Radio 1

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