The 46th BRIT Awards will take place on Saturday February 28th, emanating outside of London for the first time, broadcasting live from Manchester’s Co-op Arena. With the likes of Sam Fender, Lola Young, Ed Sheeran, Dave, RAYE, Sleep Token, Central Cee, Olivia Dean and JADE to name a few having a landmark 2025, we wouldn’t be surprised to see them picking up some nominations.
Jack Whitehall is returning as host for the sixth time, while Jacob Alon, Rose Gray and Sienna Spiro are shortlisted for the 2026 BRITs Critics’ Choice award.
Olivia Dean and RAYE hit the road
Two of the UK’s biggest female popstars in RAYE and Olivia Dean are taking to arenas across the UK in 2026, and they’re deservedly two of the hottest tickets in town.
RAYE is poised to release her second studio album in 2026, and is entering 2026 with huge momentum; her latest single WHERE IS MY HUSBAND? peaked at Number 2 on the Official Singles Chart and spent 12 weeks inside the Top 10 in 2025. Her THIS TOUR MAY CONTAIN NEW MUSIC jaunt kicks off in February and includes six(!) nights at London’s The O2.
Olivia Dean is embarking on her debut arena tour, after 2025 saw her popularity skyrocket on both sides of the Atlantic. Olivia became the first woman ever to claim four concurrent Top 10 singles in late October, and was the first British female artist to score the Official Chart double in four years since Adele in 2021. Olivia’s The Art Of Loving tour kicks off in April and sees her stop in Glasgow, Manchester and London.
The Claudia Winkleman Show
The BBC have confirmed that Traitors and Strictly icon Claudia Winkleman is getting her own chat show this Spring, and have promised “the biggest names from the worlds of film, television, music and beyond to her sofa”.
Produced by the team behind The Graham Norton Show, if it follows a similar format to Graham’s show, then those biggest names in music will also be performing live. With a studio audience part of the action, keep your eyes peeled on how to get tickets, and maybe you could be in the crowd for some superstar performances.
Mighty Hoopla
Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ music festival returns to Brockwell Park in London for its landmark 10th instalment, with a huge line-up of pop icons, rising stars and guilty pleasures across Saturday May 30th and Sunday May 31st.
Lily Allen will perform her viral divorce album West End Girl in full to headline the Saturday night, while the US hitmakers Scissor Sisters top the bill on Sunday. Other acts on the bill include Alexandra Burke, Agnes, Cascada, Five, Jessie J, Louise and Perrie, plus Jane McDonald in the gay icon slot. We’re perched for a perfect weekend of pop!
The Weeknd’s unstoppable world tour returns to the UK
Canadian superstar The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn tour has been going on for almost four years at this point after kicking off in 2022. After he played three UK stadium shows in 2023, he’s back in again in 2026 following the conclusion of his trilogy of album releases with 2025’s Hurry Up Tomorrow.
Abel returns to Manchester’s Etihad Stadium for two nights in June before a five-night Wembley Stadium residency in August. Save Your Tears for some Blinding Lights across some Timeless nights!
BST Hyde Park
One of the UK’s most legendary festivals BST Hyde Park returns for 2026, with the line-up announced so far boasting an eclectic mix of pop, folk, country and a certain Mr. Worldwide.
Country legend Garth Brooks plays his first UK show in almost three decades on June 27th, ahead of a poptastic night from Maroon 5 with special guests OneRepublic on July 3rd. Mumford & Sons headline on July 5th, while Pitbull brings the party to Hyde Park on July 10th, supported by Kesha. The last headliner announced so far is Lewis Capaldi, who tops the bill on July 11th and 12th.
Blenheim Palace welcomes pop royalty
If Katy Perry, Alanis Morissette, Teddy Swims and Michael Bublé playing in the grounds of a palace sounds up your street, then Blenheim Palace have got you covered. Across six shows over two weekends in June and July, the likes of Neil Young, Pete Tong and Skunk Anansie will also take to the Great Court stage.
My Chemical Romance celebrate two decades of The Black Parade
Mama, we’re all going to hell. My Chemical Romance’s seminal album The Black Parade turns 20 in 2026, and the emo icons are commemorating the occasion with five stadium shows this summer. MCR play Anfield Stadium on June 30th, before hitting up Bellahouston Park in Glasgow on July 4th. The UK dates wrap up with three nights at Wembley Stadium on July 8th, 10th and 11th.
Ariana Grande’s European exclusive London residency
Ariana Grande has said that her upcoming Eternal Sunshine Tour will mark her “last hurrah” for a “long, long, long, long, long time”. The singer is playing a 10-night residency at The O2 Arena in August, giving London exclusive status for the entirety of Europe. The tour is in support of Ari’s fifth UK Number 1 album Eternal Sunshine, which features the Top 5 singles Yes And, We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) and Twilight Zone.
Gerard Way image: Richard Ecclestone/Redferns, Raye & Ariana images: Press
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.officialcharts.com ’
