Lewis Capaldi and Louis Tomlinson will top this year’s Radio 1 Live Lounge month, the BBC announced, as the station lines up a series of stripped-back performances and surprise covers running from late September into early November.
Capaldi is scheduled to perform a special five-song set during his appearance, a late edition of the Live Lounge in which he will add three extra tracks to the usual format. The singer, who returned to performing after a two-year break, told Greg James on his Breakfast Show that he was "excited" to join the line-up but admitted to feeling pressure ahead of the session.
Radio 1 said the Live Lounge specials will air on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at noon during Rickie, Melvin and Charlie's show. Olivia Dean will open the month on Monday, Sept. 29, and Florence + The Machine will close the series on Monday, Nov. 3. Other confirmed guests include Conan Gray, Myles Smith, Machine Gun Kelly, PinkPantheress, Robbie Williams, The Last Dinner Party, Skye Newman, Reneé Rapp, Demi Lovato, Wet Leg, Mumford & Sons and Louis Tomlinson, whose slot is set for Wednesday, Oct. 29. Robbie Williams will perform a Radio 1 Anthems Live Lounge on Friday, Oct. 10.
Live Lounge guests traditionally perform one of their own songs and a cover of another artist's track; this year’s schedule preserves that format while allowing for occasional extended sets such as Capaldi’s. Radio 1 producers said the month is designed to create "those unforgettable moments that only the Live Lounge can bring," citing the element of artists "stripping things back" and delivering unexpected cover choices.
The Live Lounge has long been a showcase for intimate and inventive performances. Over the years it has featured major acts including Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran and Ariana Grande. Several sessions have attracted huge audiences on Radio 1's YouTube channel, with performances by Miley Cyrus, 30 Seconds to Mars, Dua Lipa and Bruno Mars each surpassing 50 million views.
Hosts Rickie, Melvin and Charlie have previously welcomed a range of guests into the Live Lounge, from established pop stars to emerging names such as Teddy Swims. This year’s run aims to maintain that mix by pairing high-profile headliners with rising artists and surprise cover moments.
Radio 1 will broadcast the Live Lounge specials across the scheduled weekday slots, with individual session dates and times available on the station’s website and social channels as the month approaches.