The Luton 150 weekend at Stockwood Park ran on 12 and 13 September 2026, with Kaiser Chiefs on the Saturday and Proms in the Park on the Sunday.

Luton’s two biggest events of its anniversary year happen on the same weekend, in the same park, under opposite sets of rules. Party in the Park is on Saturday 12 September, with Kaiser Chiefs headlining. Proms in the Park is on Sunday 13 September, with Luton Music Service and a fireworks finale. Both are at Stockwood Park, LU1 4LX, and both are ticketed.

The differences matter more than the similarities, and they are the sort of thing people find out at the gate. On Saturday you cannot take in food, a picnic blanket, a chair or a pushchair. On Sunday you can take all four, plus up to four sealed cans or a bottle of wine per adult.

Neither day allows re-entry. Once you leave, that is it.

The two days at a glance

Luton 150 at Stockwood Park, as published by the organisers on 31 August 2026
 Party in the ParkProms in the Park
DateSaturday 12 SeptemberSunday 13 September
Gates2.30pm4.30pm
Last entry8pm7pm
Site closes10pmNot published
Minimum age6None published
Under-16sMust be with an adult over 18Must be with an adult over 18
Own food and drinkNo. Sealed water up to 500ml onlyYes. Small picnics, plus 4 sealed cans or 1 sealed bottle of wine per adult
Chairs and blanketsNo. Blankets cannot be used to reserve spaceYes. Picnic blankets and camping chairs allowed
PushchairsNo, except accessible ticket holdersNo, except accessible ticket holders
BagsA4 size only, 297mm by 210mm by 210mmNot specified
Re-entryNoneNone
PaymentCashlessCashless

Tickets, and the price that has already gone up

Party in the Park has a Luton resident price. Anyone with an LU1 to LU4 postcode pays £35 plus fees instead of the £45 general admission, and the discount is applied at checkout. The organisers say postcode verification may be required at entry, so take something with your address on it.

  • Luton residents, LU1 to LU4: £35 plus fees
  • General admission: £45 plus fees
  • Child, 12 and under: £15 plus fees
  • Accessible, includes a carer ticket: £35 plus fees
  • Family, Luton residents only, 2 adults and 2 children: £85 plus fees
  • VIP, 18 and over: £85 plus fees

Proms in the Park is much cheaper, and its prices have already changed. When the council announced the concert on 3 July it published a first-1,000 tier at £8 for 13 and over, £4 for under-13s and £16 for a family ticket. Those are gone. The prices on the organisers’ own FAQ page on 31 August are:

  • 13 and over: £10
  • 12 and under: £5
  • Accessible, includes a free carer ticket: £8
  • Family: £20
  • VIP, 18 and over: £35

If you were waiting for the cheap tier, you have missed it by an amount that is still smaller than a round of drinks.

Timings for the two Luton 150 concerts at Stockwood Park Party in the Park on Saturday 12 September 2026 opens its gates at 2.30pm, has a last entry of 8pm and closes the site at 10pm. Proms in the Park on Sunday 13 September 2026 opens its gates at 4.30pm and has a last entry of 7pm; no site closing time has been published. Parking for the Sunday event opens at 2pm. When the gates open, and when they stop letting you in Stockwood Park, Luton, 12 and 13 September 2026 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm Sat 12 Sep Party in the Park gates 2.30pm, last entry 8pm, site closes 10pm Sun 13 Sep Proms in the Park gates 4.30pm, last entry 7pm Sunday car park opens 2pm Source: Step Forward Luton event information and FAQs for both events, checked 31 August 2026. Graphic by Luton Daily.

Who is playing

Saturday’s bill is led by Kaiser Chiefs, formed in Leeds in 2000 and fronted by Ricky Wilson. The organisers list their support as The Feeling, The Hoosiers, Olivia Lynn, JW Paris and Rickie & Melvin, with more acts still to be announced.

Sunday is Luton’s own. The line-up is Luton Youth Percussion Orchestra, Luton Youth Rock Band, Luton Youth Funk Band and Luton Youth Cantores and Show Choir, closing with the Luton Music Service Proms Symphony Orchestra, made up of current musicians alongside former pupils and staff.

Three soloists are named, and all three are from the town:

  • Georgina Onuorah, a two-time Olivier nominee and West End performer, who started with Luton Youth Cantores
  • David Sear, a jazz trombonist who came through Luton Music Service
  • Hannah Bennett, an opera singer originally from Luton, working with companies across the UK

Julia Fraser, head of Luton Music Service, said the concert would bring together “current and former members of Luton Music Service, including professional musicians who began their musical journeys here”.

Getting there, and the bit most people get wrong

There is no free parking, and there is no park and ride. On-site parking at Stockwood Park is limited and has to be bought as an add-on with your ticket, one space per order. Stewards direct you in. For Sunday, the car park opens at 2pm, two and a half hours before the gates.

Accessible ticket holders get parking free, in designated spaces, and do not need to display a Blue Badge.

Everything else:

  • Walking is just over a mile from the town centre, via Farley Hill Road or Cutenhoe Road.
  • Cycling: free bike parking at the Green Gate, which is the main entrance, and at the Red Gate by the rugby club. Take your own padlock.
  • Train: Luton railway station is about a mile and a half away. Luton Airport Parkway has step-free platform access; Luton station’s is limited. The organisers warn that Thameslink and East Midlands Railway expect a busy weekend, so check the time of your last train home before you go.
  • Taxi drop-off and pick-up arrangements were still listed as “coming soon” on 31 August.

There will be road closures on Farley Hill Road and Cutenhoe Road, which may restrict vehicle access to the park. Cyclists are directed to use the London Road route instead. What is happening on the roads the rest of this month is in Luton roadworks and travel.

What it means for you

If you are going on the Saturday, buy your ticket with an LU postcode, because the resident price is £10 cheaper and you will be asked to prove it. Do not pack a picnic, a chair or a blanket for that day; you will be turned back at the gate or asked to put them away. Take an A4-sized bag at most, take a card rather than cash, and get in before 8pm, because there is no last-minute entry and no coming back once you leave.

If you are going on the Sunday, do the opposite. Take the picnic, take the chair, take the blanket. Gates are at 4.30pm and last entry is 7pm, so a Sunday afternoon plan that runs late will cost you the concert.

If you are going to both, buy the parking add-on now or plan to walk, because there is no shuttle and the two roads nearest the park are being closed.

Anyone needing specific food or snacks for medical reasons on the Saturday can ask permission in advance by emailing luton150enquiries@luton.gov.uk. Both days have an accessible viewing platform, free carer tickets on proof of eligibility, and a quiet zone.

Why it is happening

Luton became a borough in 1876, and the council is marking the 150th anniversary with a programme it says runs to around 150 events across the year. Both concerts are sponsored by Luton Rising, the council’s own airport company, which owns London Luton Airport, the Luton DART and the Morton House training centre.

Councillor Basit Mahmood, the portfolio holder for town centre regeneration and inclusive growth, said the aim was an event “both inspiring and accessible”, and that the pricing was intended to “remove barriers for our residents”. Councillor Javeria Hussain, vice-chair of Luton Rising, described the sponsorship as “one of the ways we thank everyone for supporting our airport”.

More of what is on locally is in things to do in Luton.

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