As 2022 careers out of view like a drunk driver behind the wheel of a soon-to-be-totalled Maserati, we’re probably all hoping that 2023 will be packed with a little more fun and a little less war, poverty and, well, Tories. 

Our cultural utopia may not happen this year, but the world of triple-A gigs is already looking like it'll infect punters with joyrona, as a host of blisteringly exciting acts prepare to tour stadiums and arenas across the UK. We’ve collected a few highlights from the gig-going calendar to get you excited for the coming year.

Lewis Capaldi 

The perpetually lovelorn balladeer Lewis Capaldi will hit arenas next week to regale fans with his curious mixture of sad lad pop and observational humour. The tour comes as he prepares to release his second album Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent on Friday 19 May, which is almost guaranteed to sell millions globally. People just can’t get enough of Bathgate's most self-effacing songwriter. 

Lewis Capaldi’s 2023 UK tour dates:
Sunday 14 January – First Direct Arena, Leeds
Monday 16 January – Utilita Arena, Sheffield
Wednesday 18 January – AO Arena, Manchester
Thursday 19 January – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
Saturday 21 January – Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Monday 22 January – P&J Live, Aberdeen
Wednesday 24 January – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Friday 26 January – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Saturday 27 January — Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
Wednesday 1 February – International Arena, Cardiff
Thursday 2 February – Westpoint Arena, Exeter

Tickets for Lewis Capaldi's UK tour are on sale now. 

Arctic Monkeys

Hot off the success of their seventh studio album The Car, the Arctic Monkeys are preparing to embark on their first UK tour in a very long time. While the latest album found Alex Turner exploring a more sedate and melancholic style, the band’s headline set at Reading & Leeds last year proved that they can still cause a ruckus when they need to.

Arctic Monkeys’ 2023 UK tour dates: 

Monday 29 May –  Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol
Wednesday 31 May – Building Society Arena, Coventry
Friday 2 June – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
Saturday 3 June – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester 
Monday 5 June – Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough
Wednesday 7 June – Carrow Road Stadium, Norwich
Friday 9  June –  Hillsborough Park, Sheffield
Saturday 10 June – Hillsborough Park, Sheffield
Monday 12 June – Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea
Wednesday 14 June – The Ageas Bowl, Southampton
Friday 16 June – Emirates Stadium, London
Saturday 17 June –  Emirates Stadium, London
Sunday 18 June –  Emirates Stadium, London 
Tuesday 20 June – Marlay Park, Dublin
Sunday 25 June – Bellahouston Park, Glasgow

Tickets for the Arctic Monkey’s UK tour are on sale now. 

Gwen Stefani 

Gwen Stefani always offered an oddball presence to the pop world, accessible but a little off kilter, so it’s good to see she’s still drawing crowds across the world. She’ll no doubt whip out plenty of her mid-2000s chart-toppers when she heads on tour this summer, and we wouldn’t be surprised if ‘Don’t Speak’ rears its earwormy head during the encore. As well as her own tour of country estates, she’ll also form part of the line-up at BST Hyde Park when P!nk headlines.

Gwen Stefani 2023 UK tour dates:
Friday 23 June – Warwick Castle
Saturday 24 June – Hyde Park, London
Sunday 25 June – Hyde Park, London
Tuesday 27 June – Harewood House, Leeds
Wednesday 28 June – Bolesworth Castle, Chester
Thursday 29 June – Broadlands Estate, Romsey

Tickets for Gwen Stefani’s UK tour are on sale now. 

The Weeknd

With his latest album Dawn FM topping a slew of ‘best of the year’ lists, The Weeknd enjoyed quite the year in 2022. It looks 2023 is going to just as good with his After Hours Til Dawn World Tour, including multiple dates in the UK. Special guests Kaytranada and Mike Dean will join the star for all dates.

The Weeknd 2023 UK tour dates:
Saturday 10 June – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Wednesday 28 June – Marlay Park, Dublin
Friday 7 July – Olympic Park Stadium, London

Tickets for The Weeknd’s UK tour are on sale now. 

N-Dubz

The bafflingly successful N-Dubz are hitting a huge number of arenas this year as part of their comeback tour. We don’t understand the appeal, but if you want to see a guy in a silly hat and his two mates perform songs that sound like they were pootled out by a five year old, then be our guest. 

N-Dubz 2023 UK tour dates:
Thursday 15 June – Isle of Wight Festival, Newport
Friday 7 July – Stanmer Park, Brighton
Saturday 8 July – Dreamland, Margate
Sunday 9 July – QEII Arena, Telford
Thursday 20 July – Open Air Theatre, Scarborough
Saturday 22 July – Stadiwm Zip World, Colwyn Bay
Friday 11 August – Gunnersbury Park, London
Thursday 17 August – Earlham Park, Norwich
Saturday 26 August – Custom House Sqaure, Belfast
Friday 8 September – Alexandra Head, Cardiff

Tickets for N-Dubz' UK tour are on sale now. 

Shania Twain 

Question for the day: has there ever been a Shania Twain cover act called Shania Twin? If not, we hope some enterprising singer will grab that pun with both hands.  Anyway, the difficult-to-impress Canadian pop royal Shana Twain kicked up a storm last year when she announced her latest tour, taking place this September. It’ll come partly in support of her upcoming album Queen of Me, set for release on Friday 3 February. 

Shania Twain 2023 UK tour dates:

Thursday 14 September – OVO Hydro, Glasgow 
Saturday 16 September – O2 Arena, London
Sunday 17 September – O2 Arena, London
Friday 22 September – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Saturday 23 September – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Monday 25 September – AO Arena, Manchester
Tuesday 26 September – Resorts World Arena, Birmingham
Thursday 28 September – First Direct Arena, Leeds

Tickets for Shania Twain's UK tour are on sale now. 

Pulp 

In an era where class relations are growing increasingly fraught, the return of Pulp is a welcome sight. Jarvis Cocker and co will hit the road for an expansive tour this year, alongside a spate of festival appearances. If you’ve never bellowed ‘Common People’ with an excitable crowd, now’s your chance. 

Pulp 2023 UK tour dates:
Friday 26 May – Bridlington Spa
Sunday 28 May – Victoria Park, Warrington
Friday 9 June – St Annes Park, Dublin
Saturday 1 July – Finsbury Park, London
Friday 7 July – Glasgow Green
Wednesday 12 July – International Arena, Cardiff
Friday 14 July – Utilita Arena, Sheffield
Saturday 15 July – Utilita Arena, Sheffield
Friday 21 July – Henham Park, Suffolk

Tickets for Pulp’s UK tour are on sale now.