BBC Introducing is expanding its support for emerging artists with a month-long series of live events across the UK this November, following the removal of its long-running stage from Reading & Leeds Festival.

BBC Introducing is giving emerging artists a new reason to get their live sets ready, announcing a major programme of events taking place across the UK throughout November 2026.

The month-long Introducing LIVE programme will visit 10 locations, bringing together live performances, workshops, open mic sessions, educational panels and networking opportunities for up-and-coming musicians, DJs and music creators. The announcement comes shortly after the BBC Introducing Stage was removed from this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival after 18 years.

For independent artists, the new programme could provide an important alternative route to live exposure at a time when opportunities for emerging musicians are increasingly valuable.

BBC Introducing takes its live support on the road

Introducing LIVE will take place across Belfast, Bridgend, Gateshead, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham and Sunderland throughout November.

The programme begins on November 5 with events in Bridgend and London before continuing around the UK. The month will finish with four special showcases in Leeds on November 28. Alongside performances, the programme will feature industry-focused activities designed to help artists develop their careers, including workshops, panels, open mics and networking opportunities.

There will also be a songwriting camp in Manchester and a takeover event at The Fire Station in Sunderland, which will feature panels, workshops, open mic sessions and an industry feedback centre.

BBC Introducing editor Kelly Betts said that championing and nurturing artists and creatives remains at the heart of the platform, describing this year’s Introducing LIVE as its biggest edition yet.

For artists still finding their feet in the industry, that combination of performance and education could be just as useful as the chance to get on stage.

The announcement follows the removal of BBC Introducing from Reading & Leeds

The new programme arrives at an interesting moment for BBC Introducing.

In July, it was confirmed that the BBC Introducing Stage would no longer appear at Reading & Leeds Festival, ending an 18-year run at the event.

Since launching in 2008, the stage had become one of the festival circuit’s best-known platforms for emerging talent. Artists including Ed Sheeran and The 1975 played the stage early in their careers, while the BBC said around 70% of British artists on the 2026 Reading & Leeds lineup had previously been supported by BBC Introducing.

The removal wasn’t presented as an end to emerging-artist support at the festival. Festival Republic said its new Canopy stage would provide a platform for a wider pool of up-and-coming artists, with organisers arguing that opening the stage beyond BBC-selected acts could create opportunities for a more diverse range of new musicians.

BBC Introducing also confirmed that it would continue working with other festivals, including The Great Escape and Latitude, to support emerging artists.

Why live opportunities matter for independent artists

For an independent musician, getting discovered online is only part of the equation.

Streaming platforms can help listeners find new music, while social media allows artists to build audiences directly. But live performance offers something different: a direct connection between artist and audience.

A strong festival performance can introduce an artist to hundreds of people in a single afternoon. It can also create opportunities to meet promoters, other musicians, managers, photographers and industry professionals.

That’s particularly important for artists who are still building their careers.

A festival slot isn’t necessarily going to result in an overnight breakthrough. But it can provide footage for social media, photographs for an EPK, new followers, future bookings and a chance to demonstrate that an artist can perform confidently in front of a crowd.

The BBC Introducing model has historically been built around this combination of discovery and development, rather than simply putting new artists on a stage and sending them on their way.

It’s more than just a gig

One of the most useful aspects of Introducing LIVE for emerging artists is the wider programme surrounding the performances.

Workshops and educational panels can give musicians access to information that isn’t always easy to find when you’re working independently. Networking events can also provide an opportunity to meet people who could become collaborators or industry contacts further down the line.

For newer artists, simply being in a room with other musicians and people working in the industry can be valuable.

The live music industry can sometimes feel difficult to break into from the outside. Events that bring artists and industry professionals together can help make those connections more accessible.

A reminder to independent artists, keep building your live profile

The BBC Introducing announcement also highlights the importance of being ready when opportunities appear.

If you’re hoping to play festivals, showcases or support slots, having a professional live setup and a clear artist profile can make a difference.

That means having your strongest songs ready, an up-to-date EPK, good-quality live footage and a clear online presence. It also means making sure your recorded music is easy to find when someone discovers you after a show.

For independent artists using digital distribution, keeping your catalogue organised across major streaming platforms is another important part of that process. A new listener who discovers you at a live event should be able to search your name and immediately find your latest music.

Platforms such as RouteNote allow independent artists and labels to distribute their music across major streaming and social platforms, helping turn those real-world discoveries into longer-term listeners.

BBC Introducing remains an important route for new music

Despite the change at Reading & Leeds, the latest announcement suggests BBC Introducing isn’t stepping back from emerging artists.

If anything, it is taking a broader approach.

Rather than concentrating its live activity around one major festival stage, Introducing LIVE will bring opportunities to artists in cities across the UK. That geographical spread could be particularly valuable for musicians outside London’s traditional industry hubs.

And that matters.

The UK has a huge community of independent artists creating music outside the biggest cities and established industry networks. Bringing workshops, performances and networking events to places such as Sunderland, Gateshead, Bridgend and Belfast creates more opportunities for artists to participate without necessarily having to travel to London.

For musicians trying to build a career from the ground up, accessibility can make a real difference.

What should artists do next?

If you’re an emerging artist, it’s worth keeping an eye on BBC Introducing’s upcoming opportunities and making sure your artist profile is ready for them.

But don’t wait for one particular festival or showcase to validate your project.

Keep releasing music. Keep performing wherever you can. Build relationships with local venues and other artists. Capture your live performances and use that material to strengthen your online presence.

And when an opportunity like Introducing LIVE comes along, you’ll be in a much stronger position to take advantage of it.

The removal of BBC Introducing from Reading & Leeds might have closed one door for emerging artists, but this new programme suggests the organisation is keen to open several more.

For independent musicians, that’s a development worth paying attention to.

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