BBC Introducing Reveals UK Events for Young Artists

Photo Credit: BBC Introducing

After the BBC Introducing Stage was removed from Reading & Leeds, the BBC has announced a month-long series of live events for emerging artists across the UK.

BBC Introducing has unveiled a series of live events for emerging artists across 10 cities in the UK in November. Taking place in Belfast, Bridgend, Gateshead, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham, and Sunderland, the shows will include workshops, educational panels, open mic sessions, networking opportunities, and, of course, performances.

News of the BBC Introducing events comes on the heels of confirmation that the BBC Introducing Stage has been removed from Reading & Leeds after 18 years. The festival stage hosted major artists like Ed Sheeran and The 1975 early in their careers since its launch in 2008. The BBC noted that it had supported approximately 70% of the British artists appearing across the festivals’ 2026 lineup.

According to a Festival Republic spokesperson, the Canopy Stage will host emerging musicians from a “wider pool.” The decision was apparently made to “support a more diverse range of up-and-coming artists, who will hopefully go on to headline the festival in years to come.”

Meanwhile, the BBC confirmed that its Introducing program would continue to work with other festivals to elevate blossoming artists, including The Great Escape and Latitude.

“Championing and nurturing artists and creatives is at the heart of everything BBC Introducing does, and so I’m excited that Introducing Live will be returning in November for our biggest year yet,” said BBC Introducing editor Kelly Betts.

Beginning in Bridgend and London on November 5, the program will conclude with four separate showcases in Leeds on November 28. The full list of events is as follows:

November

• 5 | Bridgend, London
• 6 | Sunderland
• 9 | Manchester
• 10 | Liverpool
• 11 | Gateshead
• 12 | London
• 13 | Belfast
• 18 | Nottingham
• 19 | Glasgow
• 28 | Leeds

BBC Introducing also supports unsigned musicians via its Uploader platform and across 23 local radio programs and six national shows. The platform has also launched in the United States through partnerships with college radio programs in Tennessee and plans to expand into more states in the future.