She said: “I’m so excited to be headlining Barclaycard Wireless next year!  My UK fans rock and I can’t wait to see them at Hyde Park!”

Rihanna is currently on her sensational ‘Loud’ tour throughout Europe.  Her incredible live reputation has resulted in staggering ticket sales in excess of 320,000 for her UK dates, which include a record breaking ten shows at London’s O2 arena.  Rihanna now boasts the longest ever run at the venue for a solo female artist since it opened in 2007.  The boundary breaking Barbados native has released five spectacular albums since she burst onto the scene in 2005 including her latest chart topper “Loud”, “Girl Like Me”, and “Good Girl Gone Bad”.  Her brand new album “Talk That Talk” is set for release on November 21.  With five UK number one’s, “Umbrella”, “Only Girl (In The World)”, “What’s My Name”, “Take A Bow” and the current smash “We Found Love”, she is set to give an explosive headline performance at Barclaycard Wireless in 2012.

2011’s acclaimed line-up saw a record breaking 140,000 people descend onto London’s Hyde Park to enjoy the most successful Barclaycard Wireless yet, with triumphant sets from headliners The Black Eyed Peas, The Chemical Brothers and Pulp.   Previous headliners have included Jay-Z, P!NK, Daft Punk, and New Order.

Entering its eighth consecutive year Wireless promoter Steve Homer from Live Nation is looking forward to another outstanding year in the capital.  He said, “Following our most successful Wireless to date in 2011, we are delighted that Rihanna will headline the festival on Sunday 8 July 2012. Confirming Rihanna for her only UK performance next year reinforces our reputation as a major player on the festival circuit."

Dan Mathieson, Head of Sponsorship, Barclaycard, added, “We're very excited to be sponsoring Wireless for the fourth consecutive year and this announcement that Rihanna is the headline act on Sunday shows that the Barclaycard and Live Nation partnership continues to draw quality artists to this ever growing event. We will be continuing to provide our customers with great experiences and valuable benefits from when tickets go on sale through to on-site next summer and can promise a fantastic event next year.”

Hyde Park has been home to London’s most sensational summer concerts for over four decades, an iconic location for some of the greatest names in musical history. Acts that have performed include Morrissey, The White Stripes, Kanye West, Aerosmith,Eric Clapton, and Foo Fighters.

Barclaycard Wireless is a dazzling open-air live music experience in the heart of bustling London. It offers a chance to experience the excitement of watching the best in popular music right on your doorstep; with many more acts and details still to be unveiled, Barclaycard Wireless 2012 is certain to be the biggest and best event on the summer’s musical calendar.

Ticketing Information:

Tickets go on sale Friday 18th November at 10am and are priced at £52.50 plus booking fee.

Tickets available at www.wirelessfestival.co.uk

Barclaycard customers have the exclusive opportunity to purchase limited two for one tickets, on sale Wednesday 16^th November at 9am viawww.barclaycardunwind.com followed by a 48 hour presale.

Vodafonecustomers can buy tickets 48 hours before they go on general sale. Get yours from 9am, Wednesday 16th November atwww.vodafone.co.uk/vip