After a huge year in Preston back in September 2024, BBC Radio 2 in the Park will be back on the festival circuit again this year, making its way to Chelmsford for the first time.

The announcement was made on The Scott Mills Breakfast Show on Monday 2nd June, with the line-up revealed the following day. Essex native Rylan Clark expressed his huge excitement for the event, which takes place only a short walk from his residence. The unofficial ‘Earl of Essex‘ said “I can’t wait to welcome my Radio 2 family to Chelmsford and have this year’s Radio 2 in the Park right on my doorstep! If there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that an Essex crowd know how to party. See you all in Hylands Park!”

The station – which is the UK’s most listened to radio station with a weekly audience of 13.1 million (RAJAR Q1, 2025) – will broadcast live from Hylands Park throughout the weekend in September, and all the action will be broadcast on Radio 2, BBC Sounds and iPlayer. Most of Radio 2’s presenters will decamp to the city for the weekend and, back by popular demand and following its debut at Radio 2 in the Park in Preston last year, there will be a Friday night DJ party to kick things off ahead of a weekend packed with stellar live performances.

The 2025 line-up is arguably their biggest yet, with two huge main stage headliners, plus some fantastic names added to the line-up to spoilt the crowd throughout the day.

Canadian rock star BRYAN ADAMS and legendary Sheffield rock gods DEF LEPPARD have been revealed for this years headline slot, with the latter announcing that his will be a UK exclusive performance for 2025.

Bryan said “This will be my first time performing in Chelmsford, and I’m genuinely looking forward to bringing the show there. There’s something exciting about playing in a new place, especially somewhere that’s filled with a Radio 2 crowd ready to rock. I’m thrilled to be part of this event… brace yourselves, we’re gonna roll with the punches!”

Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott added “Def Leppard have never had the privilege of performing in Chelmsford before, but this will all change on September 7! We are very much looking forward to headlining on the Sunday and also having our good friend Bryan Adams on the festival the night before. It’ll be a fantastic weekend…thanks to the BBC and Radio 2…we’ll see you “In The Park”!”

The huge names don’t stop there though. Saturday will be kicked off with the iconic STEREOPHONICS opening the main stage. The Welsh band are performing a number of stadiums and outdoor shows this summer, which makes BBC Radio 2 in the Park the perfect ending to their run of dates in the fields.

ELLA HENDERSON, JESSIE J, RONAN KEATING and MARTI PELLOW have also been announced for the Saturday line-up, as well as BELINDA CARLISLE and KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS completing the Saturday line-up.

Joining Def Leppard on the Sunday will be Britpop legends SUEDE, festival staple SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR, plus performances from LOUISE, SOUL II SOUL, DAVID GRAY and ANASTACIA rounding up the 2025 edition of BBC Radio 2 in the Park.

Tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday 4 June, at 8.30am at bbc.co.uk/radio2inthepark (along with full terms and conditions). Tickets to the Radio 2 in the Park Pre-Party on Friday are £32 (plus booking fee). Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday are priced from £63 (plus booking fee).