Concerts and Nightlife
Rick Astley at First Direct Arena, Leeds – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
There must be 'Angels On My Side' because Mr. Astley is coming to town (This article contains affiliate links).
Thomas Melia -
10th April 2026 
Pop hitmaker Rick Astley is playing a few UK shows and is treating Leeds to a night of live music as part of The Reflection Tour.
Newton-le-Willows-born singer Rick Astley has achieved worldwide success, most notably with his work in the 80s alongside songwriting and production duo Stock-Aitken and Waterman.
Astley's album Whenever You Need Somebody has amassed 15 million sales across the globe and is a pivotal record that many would use to define 80s music.
On this LP is his huge hit 'Never Gonna Give You Up' which dropped back in 1987, with the track gaining more attention courtesy of social media trickery.
The worldwide recognition of this hit is all down to people online who deliberately link to the music video for this song, with the term being coined 'The Rickroll'.
Now, Rick Astley is returning to Leeds and ready to play out to over 13,500 people at one of Leeds' biggest indoor arenas First Direct Arena this April.
Gig guide | Rick Astley at First Direct Arena, Leeds - all you need to know
Rick Astley UK tour dates
- Fri 10 April - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
- Sat 11 April - Newcastle, UK - Utilita Arena
- Mon 13 April - Belfast, UK - SSE Arena
- Tue 14 April - Dublin, IE - 3Arena
- Thu 16 April - Liverpool, UK - M&S Bank Arena
- Fri 17 April - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
- Sat 18 April - Leeds, UK - First Direct Bank Arena
- Mon 20 April - Bournemouth, UK - Bournemouth International Centre
- Tue 21 April - Cardiff, UK - Utilita Arena
- Wed 22 April - Nottingham, UK - Motorpoint Arena
- Fri 24 April - Birmingham, UK - BP Pulse Live
- Sat 25 April - London, UK - The O2
- Fri 5 June - Scarborough, UK - Scarborough Open Air Theatre
- Fri 19 June - Newport, UK - Isle of Wight Festival
- Wed 24 June - Llangollen, UK - Llangollen Pavilion
- Thu 25 June - Lincoln, UK - Lincoln Castle
- Sat 27 June - Gloucester, UK - Westonbirt Arboretum
- Fri 24 July - Ludlow, UK - Ludlow Castle
- Sat 25 July - Sheffield, UK - Tramlines
- Sat 30 August - Silverstone, UK - Carfest
Are there any tickets left for Rick Astley in Leeds?
No need to 'Cry For Help', there's plenty of tickets for Rick Astley's Leeds show at First Direct Arena and you can grab yours HERE.
It's been 'Driving Me Crazy' waiting for the right opportunity to do a little Rickrolling of my own - the actual tickets can be found HERE.
Rick Astley setlist for 2026 tour
This year will mark Rick Astley's first official headline tour since 2024 meaning a full setlist is yet to be confirmed.
Here is a setlist from 2024 when the 80s performer played a series of festival sets:
- Never Gonna Stop
- Together Forever
- Beautiful Life
- It Would Take a Strong Strong Man
- Dippin My Feet
- Start Me Up (The Rolling Stones cover)
- She Wants to Dance With Me
- Juice (Lizzo cover)
- Forever and More
- Hold Me in Your Arms
- Seventeen Going Under (Sam Fender cover)
- Cry For Help
- Dance
- Angels On My Side
- Whenever You Need Somebody (O 'Chi Brown cover)
- Good Times (Chic cover)
- Highway to Hell (AC/DC cover)
- Maria Love
- Never Gonna Give You Up
Stage times for Rick Astley and support act for First Direct Arena, Leeds
Doors for Rick Astley's The Reflection Tour are set to open from 6.30pm with an official starting time of 7.30pm.
Support for this show comes in the form of another celebrated UK performer who achieved prominence the decade after Astley - Gabrielle.
This R&B-pop singer is recognised for her 1993 hit 'Dreams' and is known for soundtracking the 90s and noughties with multiple chart entries throughout the decades.
How to get to first direct arena
Bus Station
Located on Dyer Street next to Leeds City Bus Station and approx. 15min walk from first direct arena and is wheelchair friendly.
Support and help for any persons with a disability is available as the station is a registered ‘Safe place’ to come into and ask for assistance.
Nearest Bus Stops
- Clay Pit Lane
- Wade Lane/Lovell Park Road
- Woodhouse Lane
Nearest Train Station
Leeds City Station on New Station Street is around a 15min walk from first direct arena and a major hub on the national, regional and local rail network providing connections to a wide variety of destinations.
Parking
There are over 7,500 car parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the arena. The arena doesn’t have it’s own car park however there are lots of options nearby. To receive 5% off Q Park when attending a show at first direct arena click here
The nearest Car Park with EV charging is located on Albion Street click here.
None of the above car parks are operated by the arena so for questions, queries or comments we ask that you contact the companies directly.
Hiring Bikes in LeedsÂ
If you’re looking to hire a bike in Leeds, here are some of the best options you can try:
- Beryl bikes – you’ll find the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ from Beryl stationed throughout the city. These are all e-bikes, and they’re available to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs £1 to unlock the bikes, and then 16p per minute to use them. We’d say these are great for zipping around the city and getting from A to B.
- Talio – for a wider selection of electric bikes to choose from, Talio based at Buslinthorpe Green is a great option. From this company, you can hire cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes. Prices start from £20 per day for rental, but if you’re hiring for a month or longer you’ll get a good discount.
Read more: Audio North’s Artist of the Month: Sharan | April 2026
And about the rickrolling earlier... sorry not sorry.
Featured Images - Press shots via Peter Neill / Wikimedia Commons via Raph_PH
