Big Weekend 2020: How to watch performances by Jonas Brothers, Niall Horan, Sam Smith and more

BBC is showing a number of performances by some of the world's biggest pop stars across one virtual weekend

BBC Radio 1‘s Big Weekend is taking place despite the ongoing lockdown, this year as a virtual festival that fans can watch from the comfort of their own home.

The event will see a number of artists performing in a weekend of special programming across the BBC.

Sam Smith and the Jonas Brothers are among the artists on the billing, while sets from previous Big Weekends will also be shown, including Katy Perry’s headline set in Glasgow, Rihanna’s 2012 show and Lady Gaga’s performance set in 2011.

Here’s what you need to know

When does BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend take place and how can I watch?

The festival kicks off on Friday 22 May with the dance stage, and runs until Sunday 24 May.

Performances will be shown across five virtual stages: The Radio 1 Stage, the Radio 1 Dance Stage, the 1Xtra Stage, the BBC Music Introducing Stage, and the Headliner Stage, where re-runs of past headline performances will be shown.

The festival will air all weekend on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Sounds, and you can also watch it on BBC iPlayer.

Radio 1 DJ Greg James said: “We’re going to do our best to bring you a virtual festival. Whatever you’re doing that weekend, get the radio on and you can experience a load of stuff from Big Weekends gone by, and some brand new festival performances.”

Who’s on the lineup?

Friday’s dance stage will show sets from Disclosure, CamelPhat, Bicep, The Black Madonna and more.

The rest of the stages open on Saturday and Sunday, with Sam Smith and the Jonas Brothers as headliners.

You’ll also get to see performances from Niall Horan, Haim, Anne-Marie, Biffy Clyro, Aitch x AJ Tracey, Sean Paul and Ellie Goulding, plus Rita Ora, Dermot Kennedy, Mabel, Blossoms, Becky Hill, Declan McKenna, Lauv, Rex Orange County, Young T & Bugsey and Yungblud.

What have the artists said about performing?

“I think everyone should pretend they’re at a festival and camp in their living room during Big Weekend. I’m going to do it right here in my living room, and I can’t wait,” Annie-Marie said in a statement.

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Niall Horan said: “Some of my favourite memories have been at festivals. This time with no audience, no crew and an amateur like me setting the sound up will be interesting but I’m going to give it a right go. Also my toilets are super clean unlike some of the literal pits I’ve seen at previous things!”

The Independent will be liveblogging the event on Saturday and Sunday.