BBC - Radio 1's Big Weekend - Tickets - FAQs
How do I get a ticket?
The only way to get a ticket for this year's event was by registering on this site. Registration was open from 8.30 am Monday 21 April until 10 am Monday 28 April.
Tickets are free - but over half a million people applied for them this year. There is a limit to how many people the site is licensed to hold, which includes all those working and performers. We have over 30,000 tickets available across the weekend, so you'll need to be lucky to get a pair.
How were tickets allocated?
Over 30,000 tickets were given away across the weekend, but 518,000 people around the UK registered for tickets. As promised the majority of tickets went to those in Maidstone and the surrounding area.
45% of tickets went to those with postcodes covered by Maidstone Borough Council itself. A further 40% went to other parts of Kent, including those with Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury, Dartford, Bromley and Croydon postcodes.
10% went to areas bordering Kent, including parts of Sussex, Surrey, Essex and London, with the remaining 5% for other areas in the UK.
You had the highest chance of being allocated a ticket if you lived in Maidstone itself, and you had more chance of getting a ticket if you lived in the wider Kent area than elsewhere in the UK.
This weighting method was also used at the last two Big Weekends in Preston and Dundee. Before that people had to queue for tickets on a weekend prior to the event.
However, even if we were able to accommodate twice as many people at the event, there would still not have been enough space for all those in the local area who wanted to attend.
Note: Any one found to have registered under a false address will have those tickets cancelled and they will be reallocated. We will also cancel the tickets of anyone found attempting to sell tickets online.
I missed registration - will it be reopened at any stage?
Unfortunately no. We already have far more people awaiting returns than we can supply.
How do I find out if I have been allocated a ticket?
You will be emailed by Friday 2 May to say if you have been successful or not - so please check the email account you registered with, including any spam or junk folders. You can also check online if you have your personal registration number.
How old do you have to be to attend?
There is no age limit for Radio 1's Big Weekend. However, if you are under 16 you must be accompanied by a responsible person who is at least 18 years old. You may also be asked for ID if you look under 16.
Children under two years old do not need a ticket, but those two and over will need one. Please also bear in mind that this is an outdoor event, with large crowds expected.
How do you allocate tickets?
Radio 1's Big Weekend is held in a different place each year - we were in Preston last year, and Dundee and Sunderland before that. We always give preference to local residents, so tickets in the general ballot are allocated randomly, but weighted in favour of those living in Maidstone, Kent and the surrounding areas- a smaller amount will be distributed nationally.
Am I guaranteed a ticket if I live close to the event?
No. Even if we allocated all the tickets to people in Maidstone, there would still be more people wanting to go that we have tickets for.
How secure is the system?
This ticketing method has been used at a number of events in the past and we're worked hard to ensure that the system is very secure. All tickets are printed with a unique barcode and the name and address of the person receiving them. ID checks may take place at the entrance to the event and we may ask for proof of identity or address. The barcode is then scanned - any tickets with invalid barcodes will be rejected. Tickets are fully traceable and we can cancel them at any time by invalidating the barcode.
How do you prevent people selling tickets?
Sadly we cannot totally stop people doing this. By re-selling tickets, people are breaking our terms and conditions however and we'll try and cancel the tickets where possible.
You should also be aware that people are able to invalidate tickets and ask for replacements if their originals fail to arrive in the post. There have been instances in the past when a few unscrupulous people have passed the invalidated tickets to others. If you buy tickets you will have no way of knowing if they are valid or not until you arrive at the gate.
If I am successful but then find out you cannot attend, how do I return my ticket?
If you cannot attend please visit our ticket returns page to let us know. We will then cancel the ticket and re-issue to someone else who registered for the event. The ticket returns page will go live once ticket confirmation emails have been sent out.
What happens if my ticket does not arrive?
The email that says you have been successful will also include details of our help-line for ticket holders. They will be able to arrange for new tickets to be issued, but you will need to bring photo ID and prove you are resident at the registered address.
If I am unsuccessful in the ballot, is there any other way of getting tickets?
Yes - but only if you are very lucky. In the week before the event some Radio 1 programmes will be running Radio 1's Big Golden Ticket competition for you to win tickets. For more details about the competition visit our competition page
There will be far fewer tickets allocated by competition - but winners will be given a pair of tickets for both days. Please note however, only those who originally registered for Radio 1's Big Weekend tickets can enter the on-air competition.
What time does the event start and finish?
Doors will open around 12 noon on both Saturday 10 May and Sunday 11 May. The event will finish around 10pm each night.
What facilities are you providing for disabled people?
The two main stages will have a viewing platform for disabled people with accessible toilet facilities, but please note this is a green field site without pathways in places. Disabled parking is available for anyone with a blue badge.
Can I bring food and drink into the event?
You can not bring food and drink into the arena - with the exception of personal supplies of water in a plastic container with unbroken seal (up to 1 litre per person).
Can I bring a camera?
Yes, but please be aware professional photography equipment is not allowed and we advise you to leave zoom lenses and other pieces of expensive equipment at home.
Where can I find out more about Maidstone?
Where can I find traffic and travel information for Maidstone?
Our colleagues at BBC Radio Kent offer a traffic and travel service.