The BBC has officially unveiled its extensive summer broadcasting schedule for 2026, promising audiences across the United Kingdom an unmissable lineup of live performances, exclusive music documentaries, and multi-platform festival coverage. The comprehensive seasonal rollout will feature major global icons alongside a dedicated new BBC iPlayer destination designed to showcase a brand-new live performance every week.
Leading the summer entertainment schedule are highly anticipated, exclusive live performances from pop trailblazer Charli xcx and multi-award-winning vocalist Sam Smith. Additionally, the broadcaster's popular 6 Music Artist in Residence: AAA series will return to BBC iPlayer with five specialized films recorded at Maida Vale Studios. The upcoming episodes will provide an intimate glimpse into the creative processes of the Foo Fighters, house icon Honey Dijon, James Blake, alt-pop singer beabadoobee, and Swedish pop star Robyn, with each artist curating matching late-night audio playlists for BBC Sounds.
With Glastonbury Festival taking its traditional fallow year, the network will keep music fans connected to Worthy Farm by broadcasting 40 Glastonbury Gems on BBC Two. This archival retrospective will highlight legendary performances spanning from 1994 to 2025, including iconic sets from Amy Winehouse, Elton John, Dolly Parton, and Stormzy. The BBC will also collaborate with the V&A East Museum for The Music Is Black, a multimedia exhibition and dedicated live concert event hosted at the Hackney Empire to celebrate 125 years of Black British music history.
The broadcaster will maintain a major physical presence at prominent summer music events nationwide, including Radio 1 at Reading & Leeds, Boomtown, and the 60th anniversary of the Notting Hill Carnival via 1Xtra. Furthermore, the flagship Radio 2 in the Park festival will travel to City Park in Stirling, Scotland, this September, featuring headline sets from Chaka Khan and Simple Minds. Classical music fans can look forward to the return of the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, which will stage 86 concerts over eight weeks, welcoming world-renowned ensembles like the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic.
