This is South Tyneside Festival 2026: Bents Park Sunday Concerts line-up revealed
The line-up for the 2026 Sunday Concerts in South Shields has been revealed.
A homegrown hero and an iconic 80s band are among the headliners for this year’s This is South Tyneside Festival.
The Sunday Concerts will be returning to Bents Park, in South Shields, for 2026 with organisers promising a “vibrant mix of chart-topping stars and local talent”.
The concerts will kick off on July 19, which coincides with Pride in South Tyneside, with South Shields’ own Joe McElderry set to be the first headline act.
Joe will be supported by popular songstress Sonia, alongside local singers Shelley Stevens and Channy.
On Sunday, July 26, 80s legends ABC will be taking to the stage along with Chesney Hawkes, who is best known for his infectious 90s anthem, ‘The One and Only’.
Nuromantica will also be performing on July 26 with a set packed full of classic 80s synth-pop hits.
The Sunday Concerts will draw to a close on August 2 with a high-energy finale from the legendary DJ Judge Jules, who will perform a set of dancefloor favourites to crowds in South Shields.
The final concert will also feature Ultrabeat and more names are set to be added to the line-up for the final day.
The full line-up of artists for the Sunday Concerts 2026 is as follows:
- Sunday, July 19: Joe McElderry, Sonia, Shelley Stevens and Channy.
- Sunday, July 26: ABC, Chesney Hawkes and Nuromantica.
- Sunday, August 2: DJ Judge Jules and Ultrabeat - with more acts set to be confirmed.
Organisers have confirmed that each show will also showcase local talent, with a number of performers from South Tyneside and across the region also appearing on the line-up.
‘A fantastic line-up’
Councillor Jay Potts, the Mayor of South Tyneside, has stated that “all the stops” have been pulled out to ensure that the Summer Concerts would be as memorable as ever.
He said: “Our team has once again come up with a fantastic line-up, with something for everyone.
“While we have had to introduce a cost this year, it remains incredibly affordable and offers fantastic value, particularly to be able to see artistes of this calibre.
“The concerts turn a real spotlight on South Shields and everything the Borough to offer and we are looking forward to welcoming not only local residents but visitors from across the region and beyond.
“The concerts also showcase the huge wealth of local talent we have and giving local performers the opportunity to not only share the stage with nationally and internationally known musicians, but to also showcase their musical skills to a large audience.”
Tickets for 2026
The Sunday Concerts are set to be fully ticketed for the first time in 2026, with South Tyneside Council stating that prices have been kept deliberately low to ensure that the event remains accessible and affordable for everyone.
General admission costs £5 per concert for those aged 17 to 65, with tickets priced at £2 for those aged 11 to 16 or 66 and over.
Entry is free for those aged 10 and under.
Online tickets are subject to a booking fee, which doesn’t apply to free tickets.
You can buy tickets at: www.visitsouthtyneside.co.uk - once purchased, they will be emailed to you and then scanned on entry to the event.
As well as the Sunday Concerts, the South Tyneside Festival returns with its annual live music at the Amphitheatre programme, the spectacular Summer Parade, Proms in the Park and Kids Fun-Fest.