Arctic Monkeys will headline the T In the Park festival next year, it was announced tonight.

The Sheffield band are the first act and the first headliners to be announced for next year's festival, which will take place at Balado from July 11-13.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday on the perenially popular Scottish festival's website.

Arctic Monkeys are performing on Thursday at the SSE Hydro venue in Glasgow in a re-arranged gig..

The band said: "We are delighted to be playing T in the Park and look forward to a great night with our Scottish fans."

Arctic Monkeys won the Mercury Music Prize for their debut record, which was also the fastest selling debut album in UK chart history, and their most recent album, AM, has also been praised.

Geoff Ellis, director of the festival, said: "We're thrilled to announce Arctic Monkeys as our first headliners for T in the Park 2014.

"After this year's fantastic 20th year celebrations, we asked our audience who they'd like to see at next year's festival and Arctic Monkeys came top of the poll, so we're really pleased to be able to confirm them for T in the Park.

"When they take to the stage in Glasgow this week they'll prove exactly why they're one of the greatest live acts around, and I'm sure we can look forward to another phenomenal set at T in the Park."

He added: "We have many more fantastic acts in store which we'll announce next year."

This week the festival is selling a limited amount of tickets at 2013 prices.

George Kyle, the head of sponsorship and Tennent's Lager, which has backed the festival for more than 20 years, said: "This year's T in the Park was one of the best ever, and I'm sure we have another wonderful weekend in store next July - Arctic Monkeys will put on a phenomenal show.

"We're exceptionally proud to still be a part of this incredible festival as it enters into its third decade."