Radio 2 in the Park 2025 is poised to deliver one of BBC Radio 2’s most vibrant and diverse music celebrations yet when it takes over Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex, from Friday 5 September through Sunday 7 September. The festival opens with a beloved Friday DJ party featuring sets from familiar voices like Vernon Kay, Scott Mills, Rylan, DJ Spoony, and Michelle Visage, offering a nostalgic yet electrifying start to the weekend.

The following day is anchored by Canadian rock icon Bryan Adams, marking his first-ever performance in Chelmsford. Known for chart-topping hits across more than 40 countries, Adams brings his upcoming album Roll With The Punches and a promise to deliver a show “filled with a Radio 2 crowd ready to rock”.

Saturday’s lineup reflects Radio 2’s musical breadth, welcoming Belinda Carlisle—whose solo career and time with the Go-Go’s have shaped decades of soundtrack memories—alongside Jessie J, Ronan Keating, Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Marti Pellow, Ella Henderson, and Stereophonics, who come fresh off their ninth UK number-one album and a summer of stadium performances.

Sunday brings an electrifying close to the festival with Def Leppard headlining in an exclusive UK performance for 2025, delivering the rock spectacle fans have come to expect from a band whose multi-platinum legacy includes genre-defining albums like Pyromania and Hysteria.

Sharing the stage will be Anastacia, whose powerhouse vocals and hits like “I’m Outta Love” have sold over 30 million records; Soul II Soul, the Grammy-winning group that helped define UK soul culture; Britpop legends Suede, preparing to release their tenth studio album Antidepressants; pop icon Sophie Ellis-Bextor, known for global dancefloor hits; Singer-songwriter David Gray, closing out his UK tour; and Louise, returning with new music in 2025.

The announcement for the Chelmsford festival was made live on the Scott Mills Breakfast Show, with resident Radio 2 presenter Ellie Taylor sharing the news right from Hylands Park and Rylan—self-styled as “The Earl of Essex”—delivering his trademark enthusiasm about having the Radio 2 family “right on his doorstep”.

This three-day spectacle promises to invigorate the local economy, with estimations suggesting it could bring in up to £5 million for Chelmsford, helping enhance the city’s reputation as a festivals hub and delivering fresh opportunities for businesses and venues across the region.

Tickets on sale now http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2inthepark