Organisers hail success of spectacular Darley Park Weekender

The organisers of The Darley Park Weekender have hailed this year’s event a success with thousands of people enjoying three nights of unforgettable live music

For 2026, the event, staged at Darley Park by Derby LIVE, Derby City Council’s events team, brought together international stars, local talent and world-class orchestral performances.

It kicked off with a sold-out Friday night, headlined by Billy Ocean, followed by boy band and X-Factor icons JLS on the Saturday and then finishing with the Darley Park Concert performed by Sinfonia Viva on Sunday.

Tickets are now already on sale for the 2027 Darley Park Weekender, which is due to take place from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 August.

Councillor Gurkiran Kaur, the city council’s cabinet member for city centre, culture and tourism, said: “What a fantastic weekend of music in Darley Park! It was wonderful to see people of all ages coming together with friends and family to enjoy live music in one of our beautiful parks.

“A huge thank you to everyone who came along and joined the celebrations.

“The weekender has become a much-loved highlight of Derby’s summer programme and we’re already looking forward to welcoming audiences back to Darley Park.”

This year’s event began with a sell-out performance by Britain’s Caribbean King of Pop, Billy Ocean, who had the crowd singing and dancing.

He was joined by special guest Marti Pellow, whose unmistakable voice brought a host of Wet Wet Wet favourites and solo hits to the stage.

Also joining the Darley Park weekender stage was Katrina, formerly of Katrina and the Waves, with her feel-good pop anthems, while Mark Angels brought his popular DJ sets and local favourites Cassette Roulette helped get the weekend off to a flying start.

Saturday night saw boy band JLS headline, joined by Appleton, performing a mix of their own hits alongside All Saints favourites, and pop-rock favourite Chesney Hawkes, who returned to Darley Park after appearing at the Ultimate 90s event in 2024.

The Saturday night line-up also showcased some of Derby’s home-grown talent, with The Public Eye opening the evening.

The weekend ended on Sunday with the Darley Park Concert, performed by orchestra Sinfonia Viva and conducted by acclaimed conductor Stephen Bell.

This year’s programme, with a theme of Stage and Screen, took audiences on a journey through dramatic films and magical musicals.

It featured music from Apollo 13 and Beauty and the Beast, alongside classical favourites from composers such as Mozart and Tchaikovsky.

The concert also celebrated an array of exceptional talent, including vocalist Juliette Crosbie, powerhouse performer Red, the UHDB Staff Wellbeing Choir and the Derby Harp Ensemble, showcasing the wealth of musical talent from across the region and beyond.

Tickets for the 2027 Darley Park Weekender are now on sale, with acts to be announced in due course.

For more information and to book, click here.