The List

First Direct Arena

The First Direct Arena was voted Best New Venue in the World 2014, so you know it's got some half-decent events, which it has if the list of past performers is anything to go by: Sir Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Bublé, Gary Barlow, Prince and more. With a capacity of 13,000, the venue, which is operated by SMG Europe, is well-equipped for large-scale events.

What's On @ First Direct Arena

Peter Kay

Peter Kay

3 Apr 2026 - 8 Aug 2026

Peter Kay is one of Britain's best-loved comedians. His 2010 tour still officially ranks with the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest selling comedy tour of all time.
Europe's Strongest Man

Europe's Strongest Man

11 Apr 2026 - 11 Apr 2026

Jaw-dropping, inspirational and larger than life - this is live strength sport and entertainment at its absolute biggest and best.
Pete Tong Presents Ibiza Classics

Pete Tong Presents Ibiza Classics

11 Jun 2026 - 12 Dec 2026

DJ, broadcaster and global dance music legend Pete Tong has today announced that his critically acclaimed Ibiza Classics will return for a brand-new show in winter 2024. He will once again be joined by long time collaborator Jules Buckley and The Essential Orchestra. Special guest vocalists will be announced in the new year. Ibiza Classics has firmly cemented itself as part of the live music calendar becoming the world's most iconic orchestral electronic music event. Celebrating the legacy of dance music, the new live show will include a host of special guest DJs and singers showcasing stunning reimagines of timeless classic house tracks. Combining unique orchestration with unparalleled electronic production, ravers rejoice as it is set to be the party of the year reminiscent of the White Isle and its musical history!
YUNGBLUD

YUNGBLUD

11 Apr 2026 - 25 Apr 2026

YUNGBLUD has built a huge and devoted following of young people from all corners of the world that he considers a community rather than a fanbase. Bound by a love for his brilliantly outspoken and genre-bending version of 21st Century rock-and-roll music, that community has witnessed YUNGBLUD’s rise from a struggling musician living in a Northern England council flat to a global superstar hailed by Rolling Stone as a “pop-punk rebel on a mission.”
The Prodigy

The Prodigy

15 Apr 2026 - 30 Aug 2026

One of the most successful electronic groups of all time, The Prodigy, was formed in 1990, they’ve had 18 UK Top 40 hits and five number one albums. They’ve won numerous awards, including two Brit Awards and had two Grammy nominations.
Richard Ashcroft

Richard Ashcroft

2 Apr 2026 - 30 Aug 2026

Richard Ashcroft is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the frontman of the alternative rock band The Verve. The Verve achieved significant success with albums like Urban Hymns, and Ashcroft has also enjoyed a successful solo career.
Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow

9 Jun 2026 - 17 Jun 2026

With worldwide sales of more than 80 million records, Barry Manilow’s success is a benchmark in popular music. His concerts sell out instantly. He is ranked as the top adult contemporary chart artist of all time, according to R&R (Radio & Records) and Billboard magazines. Rolling Stone crowned him 'a giant among entertainers . . . the showman of our generation' and Frank Sinatra summed up Manilow best when Ol’ Blue Eyes told the British press: 'He’s next.' Manilow is ranked as the top adult contemporary chart artist of all time, according to R&R, with no less than 25 consecutive top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1975 and 1983. The list includes all-time favourites that Manilow still sings today: 'Mandy', 'It’s a Miracle', 'Could it be Magic', 'I Write the Songs', 'Tryin’ to get the Feeling Again', 'This One’s for You', 'Weekend in New England', 'Looks Like We Made It', 'Can’t Smile Without You', 'Even Now', and the Grammy award-winning 'Copacabana (At the Copa)'. All of these songs (and more) were anthologised on the commemorative 1992 four-CD boxed-set, Barry Manilow: The Complete Collection And Then Some.
Rick Astley

Rick Astley

10 Apr 2026 - 24 Jul 2026

In a career spanning over 30 years, Rick Astley has sold over 40 million records worldwide. His classic Never Gonna Give You Up has had over 1.2 billion views on YouTube alone. In 2016, Rick Astley surprised the world (and himself) with the release of his smash hit album, 50. The record soared to the top of the album charts, sold over 300,000 copies and was one of the biggest-selling releases of that year.
Alex Warren

Alex Warren

20 Apr 2026 - 4 May 2026

Alexander Warren Hughes is an American singer-songwriter and comedic video creator on YouTube. He is also popular on TikTok and Instagram. He was previously a member and a co-founder of the collaborative TikTok group The Hype House.
Professor Brian Cox

Professor Brian Cox

28 Aug 2026 - 13 Nov 2026

Whether an avid science reader or a total novice, Professor Brian Cox Live will test the limits of our knowledge and make highly complex ideas accessible to all. Always captivating, continually surprising and forever pushing the boundaries, Professor Brian Cox takes science to a new dimension in this new stage show, plus get up close and personal with the man himself with an interview hosted by his The Infinite Monkey Cage co-host Robin Ince. Brian Cox is perhaps the world’s foremost communicator of all things scientific. His innate ability to make highly complex matters enormously entertaining and easy to contemplate has made his science television shows ground breaking in their audience reach and accessibility. Brian Cox OBE is a British particle physicist, a Royal Society University Research fellow. He works on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, Switzerland and is a Professor at the University of Manchester. He is best known to the public as the presenter of a number of science programs for the BBC, boosting the popularity of subjects such as astronomy and physics.
James

James

3 Apr 2026 - 20 Aug 2026

James formed in Manchester in the early '80s and quickly earned a cult following with their jangly folk pop sound. The band was dubbed the next Smiths, even getting a thumbs up from frontman Morrissey who invited them to join The Smiths on tour. James scored their first big hit in 1991 with the single Sit Down and built on that success further with their critically acclaimed album Laid, produced by Brian Eno. The album became their biggest success in the US.
Louis Tomlinson

Louis Tomlinson

24 Apr 2026 - 3 May 2026

One-fifth of one of the biggest boybands in history and chart-topping solo artist Raised in South Yorkshire, Louis Tomlinson (born Louis Austin) first auditioned for The X Factor in 2009 but didn’t get selected, so he returned in 2010. The judges felt instead of a soloist he would be better partnered with four other contestants – Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Harry Styles – and hence, One Direction was conceived. Although the vocal group placed third during The X Factor’s seventh season, they went on to become one of the decade’s biggest acts, scoring numerous No.1 hits like 'What Makes You Beautiful', 'Story Of My Life', 'Drag Me Down', 'Little Things' and the cover 'One Way Or Another (Teenage Kicks)'. In 2015, after releasing five studio albums, One Direction went on hiatus and Tomlinson launched a hugely successful solo career. He released his debut single 'Just Hold On' in 2016. It peaked at No.2 on the official UK singles chart, and the following year he unveiled the singles 'Back To You' and 'Miss You'. Due to his interest in helping other artists develop, Tomlinson rejoined The X Factor in 2018. He served as a new judge with Robbie Williams and Ayda Field alongside Simon Cowell for the 15th series of the show.
Premier League Darts

Premier League Darts

2 Apr 2026 - 28 May 2026

The 2025 Premier League will be staged on Thursday nights from February until May, as the sport’s top stars - including reigning champion Luke Littler and world number one Luke Humphries - battle it out for the coveted title and £1m in prize money. The race for Play-Off qualification will intensify in April, with further league nights to be held in Berlin, Manchester, Rotterdam and Liverpool, before the season draws to a close in May. Dress Code: The PDC and Sky Sports encourage the public to engage themselves in the fun nature of the event and therefore fancy dress in permitted, although no imitation weapons, inflatables or political or religious dress will be allowed. Football club colours or politically insensitive costumes of any description are not permitted into the venue and members of the public arriving in team colours will be refused admission until they have changed. National team colours are permitted of the home country.
ShxtsNGigs

ShxtsNGigs

24 May 2026 - 19 Jun 2026

After touring across North America, Australia and beyond, Shxtsngigs are bringing the Daddy’s Home Tour to home ground for the first time. Best friends on and off the mic, James and Fuhad bring their unfiltered humour, chaotic storytelling and quick-fire chemistry to the stage for a night that feels just like the podcast, only louder. Whether you’ve been a Cult Baby from the start or you’re just discovering them, this is your chance to see the duo doing what they do best: making each other and everyone else cry with laughter.
Westlife

Westlife

2 Apr 2026 - 6 Nov 2026

Irish pop superstars bring Westlife 25: The Anniversary Tour to the UK. The tour will see the band deliver a euphoric, hit-filled set spanning their extraordinary 25-year career from timeless ballads to global chart-toppers. Over the last 25 years, Westlife have become one of the most successful pop groups of all time. Their music has been streamed over 3 billion times globally; they’ve achieved 36 No.1 albums worldwide, 14 UK No.1 singles (ranking only behind Elvis Presley and The Beatles), sold over 55 million records, surpassed 1 billion YouTube views, and sold more than 6 million concert tickets around the world. The Wild Dreams Tour sold over 1.2 million tickets alone. The band have performed over 200 shows since their reunion in 2019 across 30 countries. Westlife remain the UK & Ireland’s top-selling album group of the 21st century.
Clubland Live

Clubland Live

1 May 2026 - 9 May 2026

Clubland began as a series of compilation albums in 2002 and was the umbrella brand for an entire movement of commercial dance music which spawned countless classic dance hits over the past 20 years with artists such as Cascada, Scooter, BassHunter and Ultrabeat amongst many, many more. The various Clubland albums went on to sell in excess of 30 million copies over this period and became the market leader in dance music during this time – outselling established brands such as Ministry of Sound and Cream.
UB40

UB40

1 Jun 2026 - 18 Jun 2026

UB40 were formed in 1978 and have gone to sell more than 70 million records worldwide and have had over 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart including 'Red Red Wine', 'Kingston Town', 'Rat in Mi KItchen', 'Food For Thought', 'I Got You Babe', '(I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You', 'One In Ten', 'My Way of Thinking', 'Please Don't Make Me Cry', 'Many Rivers to Cross', 'Cherry Oh Baby' and many more.
Romesh Ranganathan Will Change Your Life
Hi. I’m Romesh Ranganathan and I Will Change Your Life. Tired of trying quick fixes and papering over the cracks in your life? Then you haven’t tried my new quick fix. My latest tour show. It’s scientifically proven to improve your self esteem. Simply standing next to my tour poster will boost your attractiveness to potential lovers. Problems at home? I will teach you how to successfully bottle up your feelings and pour them out to strangers at a variety of theatres and arenas. Watch my new improved show once and you will immediately become a Romesh Rangana-FAN. That’s Romesh Ranganathan’s new tour, guaranteed to CHANGE YOUR LIFE! Romesh Ranganathan is best known for The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, Parents' Evening, Rob & Romesh Vs, A League Of Their Own, The Weakest Link, Can't Knock The Hustle and his much-loved BBC Radio 2 Saturday morning show, his hit podcasts Wolf & Owl, For The Love of Hip Hop and The Romesh Ranganathan Show. Disclaimer: based on a sample of 3 people who live with Romesh. These claims have not been evaluated by a legal governing body. It isn’t. Presented by Off The Kerb Productions
Jane McDonald

Jane McDonald

28 Aug 2026 - 26 Sept 2026

One of the nation’s most loved entertainers will tour the UK in her brand new show. A must see event, not to be missed, packed full of phenomenal songs and arrangements featuring Jane’s exceptional musicians and singers. Jane is excited to be introducing Memory into her act, after receiving 5 star reviews for her performance as Grizabella in Cats. Be sure also to expect new amazing medleys, old fan favourites and some exciting additions guaranteeing you will be on your feet time after time. And, at last, by popular demand, Jane is finally introducing full versions of some of her own songs including Some You Win (from her platinum Number One album), The Hand That Leads Me (written for her mother) and of course her most recent composition, The Singer Of You Song (written for her fans). Get ready to make some memories and see Jane McDonald’s best show yet!
Lily Allen

Lily Allen

16 Jun 2026 - 7 Jul 2026

The remarkable Lily Allen, whose new album West End Girl has received rave reviews, will play her first dates for 7 years when she tours the UK in March 2026. The show - Lily Allen Performs West End Girl - will see the singer/songwriter play her brand-new album in its entirety, in the order the songs appear on the record. Lily has chosen the theatre venues specially to showcase her new material.
Squeeze

Squeeze

4 Jul 2026 - 5 Dec 2026

One of the best post-punk pop acts, helmed by the songwriting duo Glen Tilbrook and Chris Difford.
The Darkness

The Darkness

8 Dec 2026 - 16 Dec 2026

2003 saw the start of a love affair between one of the most extraordinary and best loved bands to come from the UK and fans all around the world. The Darkness exploded from their Lowestoft roots to global success when they released their debut album Permission To Land to almost overnight success.
Dermot Kennedy

Dermot Kennedy

6 Apr 2026 - 5 Jun 2026

Dermot Kennedy’s rip-roaring, free-flowing folk-pop grew out of years singing over rowdy crowds at local bars and open mics and in the streets of Dublin. Born in 1991, the singer/songwriter was raised in the small Irish village of Rathcoole, where he began writing songs as a teenager before studying classical music at Maynooth University and forming folk band Shadows and Dust. He soon set off on his own, busking on Dublin’s Grafton Street, the same spot favored by famous street musicians like Glen Hansard, The Frames frontman and Once actor. Kennedy built up his raspy, throat-ripping howls on the pavement, but found his largest following online after he self-released romantic ballads like 2015’s “An Evening I Will Not Forget” and 2016’s “After Rain.” A larger audience exposed him to a few key producers, including Stephen Kozmeniuk (Koz) and Mike Dean, both of whom have helped enhance the poetic intimacy of Kennedy’s songwriting with rumbling beats and expansive electronic production. Finding a delicate balance between soaring folk and understated hip-hop has been the key to Kennedy’s sound, starting with his 2019 debut album, Without Fear. His strengths come in turning quiet melodies into rousing anthems, including “Power Over Me,” a propulsive paean that captures the intoxicating rush of becoming enraptured, and “Outnumbered,” which feels almost gospel-like in its cathartic chorus. Meanwhile, his voice—a slightly weathered mix of grit and gravel—ties it all together, bringing the raw intensity he learned as a busker to pop charts around the world.
Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon

3 Jul 2026 - 6 Jul 2026

Since their debut in 2003, Kings of Leon ((Caleb (guitar/vocals), Nathan (drums), Jared (bass) and Matthew Followill (guitar)) have released eight studio albums (Youth & Young Manhood (2003), Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004), Because of the Times (2007), Only by the Night (2008), Come Around Sundown (2010), Mechanical Bull (2013), WALLS (2016), and When You See Yourself (2021)). The band have sold over 20 million albums and nearly 40 million singles worldwide.
Bill Bailey: Vaudevillean

Bill Bailey: Vaudevillean

5 Nov 2026 - 6 Feb 2027

Enthralling family fun, to divert and transport from the tribulations of daily life! Bill Bailey returns with a show that celebrates this great tradition, as the versatile multi-instrumental, multi-lingual, purveyor of humour and musical prowess, who could lay claim to being perhaps the foremost practitioner of this great tradition… An entertainer, a performer, a modern Vaudevillean!
Evanescence

Evanescence

8 Sept 2026 - 13 Sept 2026

Goth-lite from the pomp rockers who had their biggest hit with the overwrought 'Bring Me to Life'.
Kevin Bridges: Here If You Need Me

Kevin Bridges: Here If You Need Me

14 Aug 2026 - 13 Feb 2027

Kevin Bridges cut his comedy teeth in Glasgow after leaving school at the age of 17. From there, the young comedian began performing around the UK. Bridges made his TV debut at 18, taking part in Channel 5’s So You Think You’re Funny competition at the Edinburgh Fringe. By 2006, Bridges performed his first full-length solo show at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, his first of many performances at his hometown festival. With his star quickly rising, Bridges started to become a regular face on comedy TV series like Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Live at the Apollo, 8 out of 10 Cats, and Mock the Week.
Gabby's Dollhouse Live!

Gabby's Dollhouse Live!

1 Apr 2026 - 3 May 2026

In this a-MEOW-zing musical show, Gabby unboxes a special acorn that needs the magical touch of a rainbow to grow. But when CatRat causes a colour cat-astrophe and breaks the rainbow, Gabby and the Gabby Cats must find the colours again to set things right. Gabby, Pandy Paws and friends travel to the Cat-O-Sphere, Mermaid-Lantis and some favourite Dollhouse locations in search of the colours that will make rebuilding the rainbow, possible. Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! brings to life an exciting original story featuring incredible puppets, dynamic staging, a talented live show cast of singer-actor-puppeteers and songs from the beloved series, including “Hey Gabby”, “You Can’t Spell Meow Without Me” and “Sprinkle Party”.
Ne-Yo and Akon: Nights Like This

Ne-Yo and Akon: Nights Like This

27 Apr 2026 - 14 May 2026

GRAMMY award-winning hitmaker NE-YO and GRAMMY award-winning multi-platinum recording artist AKON have announced that they will be bringing their co-headlined ‘Nights Like This’ global tour to the UK. The tour brings together two generational artists whose catalogues have defined radio, nightlife, and pop culture. NE-YO and AKON will share the stage in a unique, dynamic back-and-forth set throughout the show stacked with era-defining hits, sing-along anthems, and club classics. Featuring NE-YO’s “So Sick,” “Closer,” and “Miss Independent,” alongside AKON’s “Smack That,” “Lonely,” and “Right Now (Na Na Na),” the ‘Nights Like This Tour’ is a nostalgia rush for longtime fans and fresh excitement to new listeners. From slow jams to club anthems, every night is built to feel like a throwback party and a celebration.
John Bishop: Back At It

John Bishop: Back At It

29 Apr 2027 - 15 May 2027

After years spent TV presenting, stage acting, podcast hosting, dog walking and decorating the spare room, John is getting back to the thing he loves most; standing on stage and making people laugh. John has achieved huge success with a number of his own comedy, entertainment and documentary shows including- John Bishop’s Australia (BBC1), John Bishop’s Britain (BBC1), John Bishop’s Only Joking (Sky1), The John Bishop Show (BBC1), The John Bishop Christmas Show (BBC1) and John Bishop’s Gorilla Adventure (ITV1). More recently John Bishop’s Ireland for ITV1 and four mammoth series of the critically acclaimed John Bishop: In Conversation With… which saw him chatting, one to one with some of the World’s biggest household names.
The Rock Orchestra

The Rock Orchestra

5 Apr 2026 - 30 Oct 2026

After entertaining 700,000 guests across the UK, USA and Europe, The Rock Orchestra is back in the UK with a brand new setlist! Prepare for a spellbinding 90-minute spectacle that infuses iconic Rock & Metal anthems with a hauntingly beautiful energy. In ethereal candlelit settings, this band of 14 classical musicians unleash effortlessly enchanting melodies alongside powerful walls of distortion. Witness the unexpected union of Classical music and Metal. The Rock Orchestra is a rotating collective of classical musicians, featuring some of the world’s greatest instrumentalists and vocalists. Performing the music of iconic bands including Metallica, Guns N Roses, AC/DC, System Of A Down, The Cranberries, My Chemical Romance, Linkin’ Park, Rage Against The Machine, Nirvana, The Rolling Stones & more!
Jack Whitehall: Settle Down

Jack Whitehall: Settle Down

7 Jan 2027 - 7 Feb 2027

Over the last few years, Jack has firmly established himself as one of the country’s most successful young talents. He cut his teeth at the Edinburgh Fringe, taking up four sell out shows over three consecutive years and earning an Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination in the process with his debut show Jack Whitehall: Learning Difficulties. In addition to his stand-up, Jack has also built a successful TV and writing career. As well as his role as JP in the award winning C4 series Fresh Meat, Jack has also written and stars in the acclaimed BBC3 sitcom Bad Education and is a panellist on Sky1’s hit show, A League Of Their Own.
Paul Smith - Pablo

Paul Smith - Pablo

17 Apr 2026 - 4 Sept 2027

Get ready to experience the jaw-aching, laugh out loud comedy that only Smith can deliver. This is Paul Smith’s biggest and funniest tour show yet, and it promises to have you rolling around in laughter with every joke. The show features a mix of his trademark audience interaction and hilarious true stories from his everyday life.
UB40 featuring Ali Campbell

UB40 featuring Ali Campbell

6 Jun 2026 - 11 Dec 2026

The original line-up of UB40 with Ali, Astro and Mickey enjoyed huge success over a period of 30 years from 1979 until 2008, including number 1 album’s and multiple top 10 gold and platinum selling albums and Grammy nominations, 4 number ones worldwide. Total of 70 million plus sales. We would not want anyone to confuse Ali, Astro and Mickey’s band with the band that carried on using the name UB40 after 2008 made up of other founding members and new members they tried to replace us with in their attempt to trade off the reflected glory of the success of the original line-up. Ali Campbell, founding member of the original UB40, embarks on a UK tour.
Tom Grennan

Tom Grennan

14 Jun 2026 - 23 Jan 2027

Born in Bedford but based in London, singer-songwriter Tom Grennan first found fame as the guest vocalist on Chase & Status’s track “All Goes Wrong”. A Hottest Record on Annie Mac’s Radio 1 Show, the track gave Grennan the chance to cut his teeth in the Radio 1 Live Lounge and on BBC Two’s Later… with Jools Holland. But it might not have turned out that way. As a teenager, he had a promising football career, playing for Luton Town, Northampton Town, Aston Villa and Stevenage. Tom’s first album Lighting Matches was one of the 10 best-selling debuts of 2018. Filled with huge tunes like “Found What I’ve Been Looking For”, “Barbed Wire” and “Something In The Water”, the album showcased Tom’s emotional, careworn voice, a rasp full of devilment and mischief as well as love and solace.
Korn & Limp Bizkit

Korn & Limp Bizkit

26 Oct 2026 - 4 Nov 2026

The mighty Korn & Limp Bizkit have announced that they will be co-headlining a UK tour for the first time in 19 years! With 75 million album sales between them, Korn & Limp Bizkit led the way for nu-metal bands in the late nineties and early noughties, garnering a reputation of being two of the most exciting and controversial bands in the world. Speaking ahead of their co-headline reunion, Fred Durst said: ´´You may have experienced a lot of cool concerts in your life, but I can guarantee you that an evening with Korn and Limp Bizkit will always and forever be your favorite. No one brings the party harder, heavier, and more exciting than us. No one! And... make sure you get plenty of rest the night before. It´s time to bring it back!”
Myles Smith

Myles Smith

7 Nov 2026 - 20 Nov 2026

Growing up in Luton, Myles Smith rapidly established himself as different to his peers, picking up an acoustic guitar and singing covers of some of his favourite folk and Americana artists, while building a huge online audience. Now crafting his own unique pop hits for fans of George Ezra and Lewis Capaldi, Myles is set to take the world by storm.
The Pussycat Dolls

The Pussycat Dolls

29 Sept 2026 - 13 Oct 2026

Global pop supergroup The Pussycat Dolls bring their highly anticipated PCD Forever Tour. Joining them on stage for an unforgettable night is the legendary Lil’ Kim! Celebrating 20 years of their debut album PCD, the iconic group will perform their biggest hits live in Liverpool as part of their major 2026 international tour across the UK, Europe, and North America. Fans can expect a high-energy arena show packed with signature choreography, powerhouse vocals, and chart-topping pop anthems that defined the 2000s.
Jungle

Jungle

21 Nov 2026 - 28 Nov 2026

Based around a core musical duo known simply as ‘J’ and ‘T’ who expand to a thrilling seven piece live band, Jungle make mesmeric, modern soul that’s unmistakably born in the UK but with true global appeal. Signed to legendary record label XL.

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