The Prodigy‘s Liam Howlett has spoken to NME about some “fuckin’ evil rave” music on the horizon and what’s in store for their run of huge outdoor shows in 2026.
After their UK and Ireland arena dates this April and May – a 12-date tour that sold out in record time and included two dates at Wembley Arena – the rave pioneers will now be playing some massive ‘Warrior’s Dance’ outdoor gigs next summer. These will mark some of the band’s biggest shows since the death of frontman Keith Flint in 2019.
“Every time we go out for a new tour or big shows like this, we spend a lot of time talking about what is possible – how can we make it better,” Howlett told NME. “We always try to make sure things are different and moving forward , but always delivering the punch, which it will.”
The tour will feature what promises to be a riotous Saturday show at Milton Keynes Bowl – made famous by the likes of David Bowie, Queen and Green Day – with the band returning after their legendary appearance at the iconic venue back in 2010.
“That Milton Keynes Bowl ‘Warriors Dance’ gig was like our Oasis at Knebworth,
it was a big moment for us as we had practically broken up during the early 2000’s,” recalled Howlett. “Then we all came back together in the studio to do ‘Invaders Must Die’ [2009], and that gig was the culmination of that album and what we had done before. It was an important and memorable gig for us.”
The founder, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist continued: “One thing that sticks in my mind is we were tearing around the site in golf buggies before it opened, racing around… Keef [Keith Flint] crashed into my one and ran me off the path into a bush.
“Keef was a master on two wheels, superbikes on track and the road, but he was a fucking terrible driver in anything with four wheels, during the mid ’90s Maxim [vocalist], Leeroy [Thornhill, former keyboardist] and me got to the point where we just refused to get in the car with him if he was driving.”
Howlett said that the band had considered playing other venues on the tour, but that the Bowl “just had more meaning for us”.
“A lot of shit has happened since then, and it just feels right to us to be back there to ignite the night once again,” he added.
The iconic DJs Carl Cox and David Rodigan will be on the bill for all four of The Prodigy’s ‘Warrior’s Dance’ shows, while drum’n’bass legend Andy C will play at the Milton Keynes and Manchester shows. Japanese producer ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U and British trap metal artist SCARLXRD will also be at the Milton Keynes, Manchester and Edinburgh dates.
“We specifically asked Carl, Andy C and David Rodigan to join us on these gigs because each of them have been important figures of inspiration to us at key points with the band over the years,” explained Howlett. “I remember being in a club in London late 1990 and Carl played ‘Everybody In The Place’ from our first EP before it was released. I couldn’t believe it. That was the first time I’d heard my music being played outside the studio. That will always be a memorable moment for me.
“People who are into our band will know that Andy C remixed ‘Firestarter’, which was never gonna be an easy task. I know this because I find it fucking impossible to remix my own tunes, especially that one, but he smashed it apart, gave it a different angle and made a monster of a tune, a classic. Andy was also Flinty’s favourite DJ.”
Howlett also recalled how he would listen to Rodigan on the radio long before The Prodigy had formed. “He has always been there as a figurehead, playing inspirational rare music that I love, which became ingrained in my mind and part of the make-up of what I think about when writing Prodigy music,” he said. “I have a deep respect for all three of them.”
Spotlighting the rest of the support acts, he said: “We are also honoured to have the skills of ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U direct from Japan, bringing his killer ‘Firestarter’ x ‘Kuliki’ mash-up from his Boiler Room set. And lastly SCARLXRD live, coming with his heavy as fuck mayhem.”
When Howlett last spoke to NME in 2024 (and the year before that), he teased progress on new material – saying that they were “writing bigger tunes and finding different ways to sonically attack the crowd”.
“Yeah, I did tell you that, didn’t I?” replied Hewlett when asked for an update this week, “and yeah, it’s coming along.”
He added: “Before, I described our sound as ‘evil rave’. This time the new tunes sound like ‘fuckin’ evil rave’.”
Asked if Flint’s fingerprints would be across the new record in any way, Howlett told us: “Keef will forever be deeply ingrained in The Prodigy sound. People will feel that when they hear our new music. When I’m writing beats in the studio, he’s always there in my mind, punching the air, spittin’ and snarlin’ in the background.”
So could we finally get some new tunes in 2026?
“Yeah,” replied Howlett. “New prodigy music will be heard next year.”
With a new generation of Prodigy fans to play to, so too are new waves of artists drawing inspiration from the headline-grabbing noise kings. Kneecap, for instance, have drawn comparison to the band for courting controversy while also tearing up festivals and dancefloors with their culture clash of sound.
“Well, there are lots of acts and bands out there doing their thing live,” ended Howlett. “I make sure I see as many as I can when I hear any noise about them, but none of them are The Prodigy.
“The Prodigy have only always been about the music, the escapism, the crowd, chaos, the unity, integrity and the ruckus. And that’s the way it will stay.”
The Prodigy’s full upcoming 2026 tour dates are below, with tickets to the new ‘Warrior’s Dance’ August gigs on general sale from 9am Friday (November 7) and available here.
APRIL 2026
15 – GLASGOW OVO Hydro
16 – MANCHESTER Co-op Live
18 – BIRMINGHAM Utilita Arena
19 – CARDIFF Utilita Arena
21 – BOURNEMOUTH BIC
22 – LEEDS first direct Arena
24 – LONDON OVO Arena Wembley
25 – LONDON OVO Arena Wembley
27 – BELFAST SSE Arena Belfast
28 – DUBLIN 3Arena
MAY 2026
01 – NOTTINGHAM Motorpoint Arena
02 – NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Utilita Arena
AUGUST 2026
20 – DUBLIN IMMA
22 – MILTON KEYNES National Bowl
29 – EDINBURGH Royal Highland Showgrounds
30 – MANCHESTER Wythenshawe Park
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nme.com ’
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