All you need to know about 6 Music Festival 2023

This year’s BBC Radio 6 Music Festival will take place from Friday 24th – Sunday 26th March in Greater Manchester.

The station’s flagship event - which will see global premieres of brand new live shows, new music debuts, unique collaborations and surprise guests - returns to the location of the station’s first ever festival in 2014. Greater Manchester will also be the 6 Music Festival’s permanent home.

Read on to find out how to get tickets, who's performing, what's on and when it's happening.

Get festival ready with BBC Sounds

Check out special programmes and mixes from The Morning After Mix, 6 Music's Rave Forever, 6 Music's Indie Forever and 6 Music's Artist Collections

🔊 Back-to-back build-up for 6 Music Festival 2023

You'll also be able to follow the coverage live on 6 Music and BBC Sounds, watch selected full sets on BBC iPlayer, and catch up on demand for 30 days after the event. On Sunday 26 March, you can watch the 6 Music Festival Channel on iPlayer, where highlights from the festival will be streamed from the early afternoon into the evening.

Loyle Carner

The acclaimed rapper stole the hearts of the UK music industry in 2017 with the release of his deeply personal debut album, Yesterday's Gone. With his emotive, intelligent lyrics, along with the inclusion of samples from songs written by his dad, and poems written by his mum, he created an easy intimacy with his listeners, which he maintained through his second and third albums. He first performed at 6 Music Festival in Glasgow in 2017, and now he returns with a very special set. You'll hear his music in a way you've never heard it before - performed in collaboration with the AMC Gospel Choir.

Christine and the Queens

Christine and the Queens is a renowned French singer-songwriter, known for his poignant electronic pop music. His ability to dance between French and English and still bring along the listeners who don't understand the other language is just one of the things that makes his work so enchanting. In the nine years following his debut Chaleur Humaine, he has constantly pushed boundaries.So what is 2023 going to bring? Chris' set at 6 Music Festival will contain the global premiere of his brand new live show, and we can't wait.

Arlo Parks

Arlo Parks was first played on the radio at the age of just 16, when she uploaded her very first demos to BBC Music Introducing. At the early stages her music was already garnering a lot of excitement, but she was catapulted into the spotlight with the release of her stunning debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams, which won the Mercury Prize in 2021. She has gone on to play festivals across the world, achieved support slots for the likes of Harry Styles and Billie Eilish, and has raised awareness for mental health with her poetic lyrics. In January, she announced that her highly-anticipated second album will be released in May - and her performance at 6 Music Festival will be the world premiere of her new music, featuring some special guests.

📢 Full line up details

What's on when?

Thursday 23 March

• 7:30pm: BBC Music Introducing host a showcase at Band On The Wall, featuring Phoebe Green, Antony Szmierek and Afflecks Palace

Friday 24 March

• 6:30pm: Loyle Carner and Wu-Lu perform at Victoria Warehouse
• 9pm: 6 Music's Indie Forever host a club night at Band On The Wall, featuring DJ sets from Yard Act, Good Future, Tim Burgess, Steve Lamacq and Emily Pilbeam

Saturday 25 March

• 6:30pm: Christine and the Queens and Lava La Rue take to the stage at the Victoria Warehouse
• 11pm: 6 Music's Rave Forever will curate a club night at Victoria Warehouse with DJ sets from Hot Chip, Erol Alkan, AFRODEUTSCHE and Phoebe IH

Sunday 26 March

• 1pm: Daniel Avery will deliver a two-hour DJ Mix at Ramona, as part of a live broadcast for The Morning After Mix
• 6:30pm: Arlo Parks and The Big Moon will close the festival at Victoria Warehouse