The Radio 2 in the Park 2026 festival concluded its three-day residency in Stirling on Sunday, September 13, following a weekend that brought international pop icons and Scottish rock legends to the foot of Stirling Castle. The event was held at Stirling City Park.
The festival reached its peak on Sunday night with a headline performance by Simple Minds. The set was a significant milestone for the Glasgow-formed band, serving as their only UK performance of 2026. It also represented a homecoming of sorts; the performance took place exactly 50 years after the band first played in the city at Stirling University.
The festival also featured a viral moment from James Blunt, who opted for an unconventional method of interacting with the crowd. During his performance, the singer launched himself into the audience in a rubber dinghy, crowd-surfing across the thousands of fans gathered in the park.
Saturday’s schedule was led by “Queen of Funk” Chaka Khan, who headlined a main stage that featured a heavy rotation of established British talent. Performances earlier in the day included sets by Texas, The Script, and Emeli Sandé, alongside appearances by Deacon Blue and Lulu.
The choice of Stirling City Park as the venue provided a unique historical backdrop for the music. Also known as Kings Park, the site is part of the 12th-century Royal Park that was once utilized by Scottish monarchs, including Mary Queen of Scots. Attendees watched the performances from the grounds that house the King’s Knot, a series of earthworks that formerly served as a medieval royal garden.
The weekend’s festivities began on Friday, September 11, before transitioning into the full live band performances on Saturday and Sunday.
