Pitbull to headline Roundhay Festival plus special guest Kesha
American Express presents Roundhay Festival, the newest highlight of Leeds’s 2026 summer cultural calendar, is thrilled to announce that Mr Worldwide himself, Pitbull, will headline, joined by Kesha and many more acts still to be revealed.
Pitbull will take to the stage on Friday 3 July 2026 at the new festival which is the newest highlight of Leeds’s 2026 summer cultural calendar. Tickets go on general sale on Wednesday 8 October. Visit www.roundhayfestival.com. Lewis Capaldi has already been announced as the headliner for Saturday 4 July, with more artists across multiple stages to be announced.
The international superstar has sold more than 25 million studio albums and has more than 60 million monthly listeners on streaming platforms. He has worked with everyone from Jennifer Lopez to Christina Aguilera to Usher.
With mega hits including ‘Don’t Stop the Party’, ‘Timber‘, ‘Hotel Room Service’, ‘Time of Our Lives’, ‘Give Me Everything’, ‘Fireball’ and ‘Get On The Floor’ the Grammy Award winner has secured his place as not only one of the pre-eminent figures in Latin music and hip hop but as one of the biggest names in the pop world.
Pitbull’s 15-date sold-out ‘Party After Dark’ European tour in June, including two shows at the O2 arena, really took off! Thousands of bald cap adorning fans gathered at arenas across the globe.
The Times gave a 4-star review for the show at the O2, while Metro gave 4.5, writing: “I expected a good time, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the pandemonium I witnessed.”
Rolling Stone UK described Pitbull’s show as “the only cult I’d ever want to join”.
The shows resulted in a viral explosion of fans proudly wearing bald caps and dubbing themselves “The Bald E’s” in honour of the artist’s signature look and larger-than-life persona. The fan movement has taken social media by storm, celebrating Pitbull’s iconic image with humor, creativity and unity.
A true pop icon and electrifying live performer, Kesha burst onto the scene with her record-breaking debut single TiK ToK, which became one of the best-selling digital singles of all time. She quickly followed it with global anthems like We R Who We R and Die Young, cementing her place as one of the defining pop voices of the 2010s. Alongside her own hits, she also topped charts worldwide with the Pitbull collaboration Timber, and first came to prominence after featuring on Flo Rida’s No.1 smash Right Round.
Across her career she has sold millions of records, clocked billions of streams and earned a Grammy nomination, all while evolving her sound from euphoric pop to raw, emotional ballads and genre-spanning experiments. This summer, Kesha returned with her acclaimed new album (…), hailed by The Guardian as “a smart, funny return to her hedonistic hot-mess persona” and by NME as “a classic combo of sass, sex and spirituality.” Kesha herself described it as “the first album I’ve made where I felt truly free” – a powerful new chapter from one of pop’s most distinctive and enduring voices.
Roundhay Park is steeped in music history, having hosted legendary performances from the likes of Madonna, The Rolling Stones and, more recently, Ed Sheeran. Next year it will host live music from some of the world’s biggest stars, as well as a midweek programme of free activities.
Launched in collaboration with Leeds City Council, Roundhay Festival will deliver substantial benefits to the local area, including increased economic activity. Following the success of AEG’s other festivals, Roundhay will engage local suppliers, employ local staff, and boost spending on accommodation, food and entertainment. The festival’s midweek programme of free-to-access activities for all ages will also offer high-quality arts, culture and wellbeing activities, providing a platform for local talent and encouraging continuous use of the park during the summer.
Roundhay Festival is committed to a sustainable future for live music. From powering the festival responsibly to managing waste and partnering with local food vendors, sustainability will underpin every decision. The festival will continually refine its policies to minimise environmental impact while maximising benefits for the local community.
Roundhay Park, one of Europe’s largest city parks, spans over 700 acres of lakes, woodlands, formal gardens, playgrounds and the Tropical World visitor attraction. Legendary acts that have performed at the park include The Rolling Stones (1982), Genesis (1987), Madonna (1987), Michael Jackson (1988), U2 (1997) and Ed Sheeran (2019). Roundhay Festival will showcase unforgettable performances in Leeds next summer.
AEG Presents, the organisers of London’s flagship festival BST Hyde Park, is bringing premium festival experiences, next-level production and world-class performances to Leeds. Renowned for its high-quality fan experience, BST Hyde Park has offered once-in-a-lifetime concerts since 2013. The award-winning festival’s attention to detail in event production has built its reputation as a top-tier music event.
Pitbull also headlines American Express presents BST Hyde Park on Friday 10 July 2026, joined by Kesha and more acts to be announced. Visit www.bst-hydepark.com
Roundhay Festival headliners, full line-ups and programmes are to be announced. Follow Roundhay on Instagram and X, and join their newsletter here for updates.
Line up and ticket information coming soon, sign up for updates here
Tickets:
Amex presale begins – Friday 3 October, 10am
Artist presale begins – Monday 6 October, 10am
Roundhay presale begins – Monday 6 October, 10am
General on sale – Wednesday 8 October, 10am
