BBC Radio 2’s flagship live music event, Radio 2 In The Park, has been postponed by a month, with organisers citing concerns about its potential impact on other festivals. The event, set to take place in Stirling, Scotland, will now be held in September instead of its originally planned August dates.
The decision to reschedule comes amid worries that staging the festival in August would disrupt other music events already scheduled "in the locality". Tens of thousands of music fans were expected to attend the three-day festival at City Park in Stirling, which was initially slated for Friday 7 August to Sunday 9 August. New dates and the full line-up are yet to be announced.
Helen Thomas, head of BBC Radio 2, addressed the change, stating: "Our aim has always been to bring a brilliant event to Stirling, providing value for Scottish audiences and making a positive impact on the local community, just as we have done in Leicester, Preston and Chelmsford in previous years."
She added that the BBC had "worked closely with the Scottish Independent Festival Association (SIFA) to find a solution that supports a brilliant summer of music across Scotland."
Acknowledging the inconvenience, Ms Thomas said: "Whilst tickets are yet to go on sale, we appreciate this may affect the plans of some people who were ready to join us in August, and we are sorry if this is the case. It is why we wanted to confirm the change as soon as we could." She concluded by expressing excitement for the upcoming artist announcements.
In previous years, the festival has been hosted in locations such as Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Moor Park in Preston, and Victoria Park in Leicester. It has attracted major artists including Sting, Jessie J, Rick Astley, Snow Patrol, and Pet Shop Boys, bringing together prominent UK and international musicians alongside Radio 2 presenters.
A spokesperson for SIFA praised Scotland as a "wonderful place" for events, highlighting its independent festival sector as a "much-loved part of the cultural and economic life of communities right across the country". They thanked the BBC for their "thoughtful way they’ve engaged to consider the right timing and structure for this event" and expressed anticipation for a successful weekend.
Stirling Council also welcomed the news, with a spokesperson saying: "We are delighted that BBC Radio 2 in the Park is coming to Scotland for the first time to City Park Stirling, which has a proven track record of successfully hosting large-scale events." They added: "We can’t wait to welcome fans and artists to our amazing city for an unforgettable celebration of world-class live music."
The event will be broadcast live across Radio 2, BBC Sounds, and iPlayer.
