Not many rappers can command the world stage like Kendrick Lamar, but then again he’s no ordinary rapper. His socially conscious, no-holds barred lyricism and pristine production values have established him as one-of-a-kind, so far ahead of the curve that every new release feels like a shock to the system. 

As the world unpicked Lamar’s fifth studio album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers last Friday, he landed the one-two punch of The Big Stepper world tour, with eight arena dates across the UK. Want to get your hands on tickets? Then read on to find out when and where he’ll be touring, when tickets go on sale, what pre-sales are available, who’ll support Lamar on tour, and more. 

Where and when is Kendrick Lamar touring? 

The Pulitzer-winning rapper will kick of the UK leg of his world tour on Wednesday 2 November at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, before heading to Leeds’ First Direct Arena on Thursday 3 November, Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on Friday 4 November, Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on Saturday 5 November, London’s O2 Arena on Monday 7 November and Tuesday 8 November, Dublin’s 3Arena on Sunday 13 November, and a final date at Manchester’s AO Arena on Wednesday 16 November.

Here's a detailed list of his tour dates: 

Wednesday 2 November – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Thursday 3 November - First Direct Arena, Leeds
Friday 4 November – Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Saturday 5 November – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Monday 7 November  – The O2, London
Tuesday 8 November  – The O2, London
Sunday 13 November  – 3Arena, Dublin
Wednesday 16 November - AO Arena, Manchester

When do tickets for Kendrick Lamar’s UK tour dates go on sale? 

Tickets for Kendrick Lamar’s UK tour dates go on sale at 10am on Friday 20 May. 

Where can I buy tickets for Kendrick Lamar’s tour?

Tickets for Lamar's tour are available from Ticketmaster, See Tickets and Live Nation. Tickets for his O2 Arena shows are also available from AXS. 

What presales are available for Kendrick Lamar’s tour?

An O2 priority presale will begin at 10am on Thursday 19 May and conclude at 9am on Friday 20 May. A Live Nation presale will take place at the same time. There are also a few venue specific presales, so check in with your preferred ticketing provider to find out more. 

How much will tickets for Kendrick Lamar's shows cost?

We don’t yet have information on how much tickets will cost but we’ll update this section as soon as we do. This is, however, the biggest gig announcement of the year, so expect a basic rate of between £80 and £100. 

Who’ll be supporting Kendrick Lamar on tour?

Lamar will be joined on every date of his tour by Baby Keem and Tanna Leone, both of whom also contributed to Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers and are signed to Lamar’s label pgLang. This is a young and vital crop of artists forged in Lamar's image, and developing fast under his guidance. 

Have a listen to Tanna Leone’s ‘Nirvana’ below: 

Is Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers any good?

The world's biggest rapper has been cranking out classic album after classic album, and Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers is no different. It’s an ambitious and sprawling examination of Lamar’s personal life and the political turmoil surrounding him in an uneasy America, taking on themes of spirituality, racial tension, the crisis of masculinity, and grief. Its roster of special guests is almost as vast as its ambition, with cameos from Beth Gibbons, Tanna Leone, Kodak Black, Ghostface Killah, Sampha and more. 

At times it feels like art therapy, catharsis smashing through pain. That it sometimes gets lost in its own knotted complexity is besides the point, because this is an album designed to be picked apart for years. When he's in his dotage a few decades from now, it could easily be viewed as Lamar’s masterpiece. Find out what other reviewers thought of the album here. 

Don’t take our word for it. Have a listen to the album’s lead single ‘N95’ below: 

What else has Lamar been up to? 

Despite his fame, Lamar remains one of the most mercurial rappers on the planet. But in the world of business, he's has been quietly establishing himself as one of rap’s king-makers. In 2020, Lamar co-founded pgLang with partner Dave Free, an artist-friendly service company that aims to facilitate artists in any endeavour. 

In a press release for the new company, Dave Free claimed that pgLang ‘is not a record label, a movie studio, or a publishing house. This is something new. In this overstimulated time, we are focused on cultivating raw expression from grassroots partnerships.’

How can I guarantee that I’ll get tickets?

While there are no 100% guarantees when it comes to nabbing tickets for a high profile act like Arcade Fire, a few of these strategies will serve you well. 

First, try every presale that we’ve mentioned in this article (take a look at the ‘What presales are available for Kendrick Lamar’s tour?’ section). 

Second, sign up to your preferred ticketing provider in advance, whether that’s Ticketmaster, AXS, See Tickets or Live Nation. 

When on-sale day finally does come around, log onto your ticketing provider, enter the queue and remember not to refresh the page. 

Tickets for Kendrick Lamar’s 2022 UK tour dates go on sale at 10am on Friday 20 May.