Chelmsford revealed as BBC Radio 2 at the Park 2025 location

Alice Cunningham and Shivani Chaudhari

BBC News, Essex

Rylan Clark and Ellie Taylor tell their excitement in the announcement

BBC Radio 2 has announced this year's flagship live music festival will be Chelmsford, Essex.

Park 2 will be held on September 5-7 at Hylands Park outside the city.

The news was announced at the Scott Mills breakfast show, with the artist lineup revealed on the same show on Tuesday. Tickets will be sold on Wednesday.

Mills said: “For a long time, we did nothing in this area of the world, we had a venue there. The park has been used on the V Festival for many years.

Radio 2 in the park has seen stinging people performing on crowds before

Enjoy the view of Radio 2 from the distant Park Festival stage. Thousands of people stood in front of the crowd watching the stinging performance at night. The stage was lit up and there were two large screens on both sides. — Radio 2 in the park has seen stinging people performing on crowds before

He added: “I can’t think of anywhere on sunny days.”

Mills said the entire lineup will be revealed at 08:00 on Radio 2 on Tuesday.

Radio 2 chief Helen Thomas said it would be "the biggest party of the year", while Chelmsford City Council leader Stephen Robinson added that it was a "perfect opportunity" for the city.

The news comes as Mills talks with Radio 2 host and comedian Ellie Taylor of Essex Hail.

She aired in the Hylands House in the park with Rylan Clark from Essex to reveal the location.

"I'm by my side because I had to take the train to Preston last year, and I might be jogging this year," Clark said.

“I’m so excited that Essex definitely knows how to host the party.”

The V Festival was held in Hylands Park, Essex from 1996 to 2017

The crowd of PA media crowds, many of whom waved their arms, faced the stage on a sunny day at Hylands Park’s V Festival. The photos were taken from the stage. — The V Festival was held in Hylands Park, Essex from 1996 to 2017

"We have been busy booking some of the world's most popular artists, performing to the thousands of revelers in Highlands Park, and millions of listeners and audiences at home or moving," Ms Thomas said.

“We can’t wait to bring our 2 radio host family to Essex.”

Robinson added that the Highlands House was “no stranger to the festival” and had previously hosted the V-Festival, Southern and Country Telephone.

He said: “BBC 2 radio station in the park is a great opportunity for Chelmsford, which will enhance our local economy and enhance the city’s status as the best destination for events.”

“We look forward to welcoming this summer the world-renowned music performances from all over the UK, as well as 2 fans from thousands of radio stations from all over the UK, this is an unparalleled three-day music celebration.”

In recent years, the festival has been held in Lancashire and Preston in Leicester.