Now that Christmas is round the corner, it seems that the gig schedule has turned its attention to tribute nights, theatre productions and Rod Stewart.
This Christmas there's a fantastic selection of nights of live music and performances ahead. Whether you've been waiting to see Craig Charles, UB40 or The Cure, the city is full of all genres to bring in the festive cheer, or help you forget about Christmas and enjoy a break from festivities with an evening of non-stop hits- either way you're in for a real treat.
Keep reading to find out the ten best live concerts that you can still grab tickets for this month.
Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club Xmas Party
Saturday 3 December 2022 | The Wardrobe, St Peter's Square
Image: Live Nation
Who better to bring in the festive cheer than Craig Charles? The actor, comedian, TV and radio presenter from Liverpool has become synonymous with British media during his career, but this DJ set is the latest of the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club performances to hit the town. Expect non-stop hits from one of Leeds' most exciting venues, and if this one can't get you in the mood for Christmas, we're not sure what will.
Tickets cost £18.00 each plus a £1.80 booking fee.
Get tickets for Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club Xmas Party here.
ABBA Christmas Party
Saturday 3 December, 2-6pm | 11-15 Hirst Yard, Leeds city centre
Image: Brunch Club
The ABBA Christmas party is a four-hour event where the resident DJ will be getting you in the festive spirit alongside live ABBA impersonators, fancy dress and tipsy cocktails.
So, what music can you expect? On the playlist there will be a mix of Christmas classics as well as all of ABBA’s top hits. So you can go from belting your heart out to Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You to jiving across the dance floor to Waterloo or Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
Tickets cost £15-£25 each, depending on whether you get tickets for the first, second or third release.
Get tickets for ABBA Christmas Party at Hirst's Yard here.
James Bay
Monday 5 December 2022 | O2 Academy Leeds, Millenium Square
Image: James Bay
The Hold Back The River singer-songwriter has been bringing soulful melodies to the UK and beyond since 2013, effortlessly intertwining folk rock with pop and classic Americana genres. Following from the original tour date in November, all James Bay tickets have been rescheduled for early December, but there's still a chance to grab tickets.
Tickets cost £31.65 each for either standing or balcony unreserved seat.
Tuesday 6 December 2022 | First Direct Arena, Arena Way
Image: First Direct Arena
Forming part of the 2022 European Tour, The Cure has made Leeds one of the 44 shows in 22 countries, and naturally the punk-rock band has got the city excited and nearing sellout on all available tickets. The Friday I'm In Love band is expecting to bring a huge array of bestselling hits on tour- hopefully Pictures Of You, Boy's Don't Cry and Same Deep Water As You.
Tickets are extremely limited but can be found from £88.40.
Get tickets for The Cure at the First Direct Arena here.
Stick Man
Wednesday 7 December – Saturday 31 December 2022 | Leeds Playhouse
Image: Freckle Productions
This touching and funny adaptation of Julie Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man is coming to Leeds for the festive season. The heartfelt children’s story follows the journey of a wooden stick who becomes separated from his family home and embarks on an Odyssey-like adventure to return there.
The production will showcase three fantastic actors whom will perform an array of puppetry, live music and funky dance moves. The play will run for 55 minutes and is aimed at children aged 2+, making it the perfect afternoon of fun for all the family.
Tickets cost between £14 and £21, plus a flat-rate booking fee of £2.50 each.
Get tickets for Stick Man at Leeds Playhouse here.
Being As An Ocean
Friday 9 December 2022 | The Key Club, Leeds Merrion Centre
Image: Wikipedia
The American post-hardcore band from California have made it over to the UK for a 10-year anniversary tour of Dear G-d, and Leeds is just one of a few chosen stops. This said, the band has five studio albums to choose from, so we're expecting a few hits from PROXY or maybe An A.N.I.M.O. Story?
Saturday 10 December 2022 | Mana Nightclub, Bradford
Image: Soundcloud
The Yorkshire lads began as a group that uploaded comedy and prank videos online before shooting to fame in 2020, becoming a huge lockdown success. Since then, they have been nominated for both the NME Award for Best New British Act and NME Award for Best New Act in the World, releasing album Disrespectful alongside EP Charva Anthems and a number of hit singles. Before heading on their UK tour next year, you can catch BBCC in their hometown Bradford.
Tickets cost £22.25 each (£20 plus the booking fee), and there's VIP packages for uo to eight people for £550.25 available too.
Get tickets for Bad Boy Chiller Crew at Mana Nightclub here.
Rod Stewart
Tuesday 13 December 2022 | First Direct Arena, Arena Way
Image: Live Nation
Naturally as soon as December rolls around, Rod Stewart has to make an appearance. Whether you're listening to him telling you to Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas on the radio or you're heading over to the First Direct Arena to listen to the legend himself bring his distinct voice to life in the company of 13,700 others- it's just not Christmas without him.
Tickets cost £64.40 each for remaining seats, with tickets up to £210.22 on resale.
Get tickets for Rod Stewart at the First Direct Arena here.
UB40
Tuesday 20 December 2022 | First Direct Arena, Arena Way
The English reggae-pop band has been bringing us bangers since 1978, and with over 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart since their humbled beginnings, there's a reason why UB40 can comfortably pack out an arena almost 45 years on.
Tickets cost £43.55 for standing, or from £46 on Ticketmaster resale.
Tuesday 27 December 2022 | Brudenell Social Club, Burley
Image: Slade UK
80s chart toppers and singers of the Christmas classic Merry Christmas Everybody, Slade is one of those bands that have truly stood the test of time. Now, you can relive the Slade era to bring the 2022 year to a close with the 'world's number one' Slade tribute act at the Brud with Slade UK.
Global superstar Bad Bunny is headlining the Super Bowl halftime show and we're giving you the rundown about this reigning reggaeton artist.
Born in Puerto Rico, Benito Antonio, now more widely recognised by artist moniker Bad Bunny, is a Spanish-speaking act who has transported modern-day reggaeton from Latin America to all new heights.
The Puerto Rican powerhouse has only ever visited the UK once, performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town in London, seven years ago back in 2018, as part of his first ever world tour titled La Nueva Religión.
Since then, El Benito has dropped seven full-length studio albums and nine musical projects overall, which have all helped establish him as a major force to be reckoned with in the music industry.
Alongside his musical career, Bad Bunny has seen himself at the forefront of various pop culture moments thanks to his innovative fashion sense and notable charm.
Bad Bunny is headlining the Super Bowl halftime show on 8 February / Credit: Press Shot via Apple Music(Supplied) / Unsplash via Naveen Venkatesan (Supplied)
What iconic moments is Bad Bunny known for?
With his first album X 100Pre (Forever) dropping back in 2018, Bad Bunny has spent almost a hefty eight years in the limelight, so it will come as no surprise that there's plenty of iconic moments you might remember.
Bad Bunny as a Drag Queen - To coincide with the release of his single 'Yo Perreo Sola' (I Twerk Alone), Benito stepped into unchartered territory, debuting three different Drag personas to combat toxic masculinity in the reggaeton music scene.
WWE - Benito is a huge fan of wrestling. He first appeared for a performance at the Royal Rumble in 2021, before returning later that year and teaming up with Damian Priest to take down The Miz and John Morrison.
VMA Performance - The Latin multi-hyphenate made headlines in 2022 after kissing a male dancer on-stage. Both fans and media outlets stated the performance harked back to Madonna's similar showcase two decades prior - Watch Bad Bunny's kiss HERE (skip to 2:50).
Met Gala - Well-recognised for its glamourous and glitzy outfits, the Met Gala brings together A-Listers for a showcase of all things fashion. Bad Bunny was styled by fashion house Jacquemus and wore a backless suit with a 26 foot train.
The Super Bowl is a huge accomplishment for all artists, now Bad Bunny joins the headlining roster / Credit: Jorge Rojas via Unsplash (Supplied)
SNL - The LATAM star has appeared on American comedy sketch-show SNL numerous times, both as an artist and as a part-time comedian. In 2023, Bad Bunny and Pedro Pascal became an overprotective aunty and mum duo and had crowds laughing uncontrollably.
Carpool Karaoke - James Corden's nighttime show segment was welcomed into the reggaeton world courtesy of Bad Bunny. However, it's his cover of 'Break Free' by Ariana Grande where he discusses it's the first English-spoken song he ever learnt that had people falling in love with him.
Coachella - This desert-based music festival is known for its large-scale productions and in the early summer of 2023, Bad Bunny became the first Spanish-singing artist to headline this mega music celebration.
No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí - Translating to 'I don't want to leave here', this was the title of his Puerto Rico residency. As well as creating lifelong memories for fans, this 31 date experience also boosted the economy of his home country.
What songs will Bad Bunny perform at his Super Bowl halftime show?
With 28 songs over one billion streams, Bad Bunny is going to have a tricky time deciphering which of his hits to include in his upcoming halftime show performance.
His most recognisable album is the beach-inspired Un Verano Sin Ti (A Summer Without You) which features six tracks with over one billion streams, so it's safe to say this LP is guaranteed some love.
The latest addition to El Benito's discography DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (I Should've Taken More Photos) might also steal the spotlight due to its focus on exploring traditional Puerto Rican sounds.
And, after reconciling late last year, Bad Bunny might take his friendship with J Balvin to Super Bowl status, performing songs from their collaborative album OASIS as well as their Cardi B link-up 'I Like It'.
The Hoot's Bad Bunny Super Bowl setlist predicition:
NUEVAYoL
Tití Me Preguntó/ Me Porto Bonito/ Moscow Mule (Medley)
Dákiti
I Like It (With Cardi B and J Balvin)
La Canción (With J Balvin)
Callaíta (With Tainy)
Un x100to (With Grupo Frontera)
Baile Inolvidable
Super Bowl halftime show performances normally contain around 10 songs and the setlist is very tight-lipped, however, it's always fun to throw out a predicition or two before the event on Sunday 8 February.
Which special guests will join Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show line-up?
Bad Bunny has worked with a multitude of artists from reggaeton sidekicks to pop supremes like Jennifer Lopez, Dua Lipa and Drake.
Although it's highly unlikely these big names will all be free at the same time, when it comes to the Super Bowl anything is possible.
The 'Tití Me Preguntó' songwriter is heading to the UK for the second time ever in his career, for his Debí Tirar Más FotosWorld Tour and he's chosen Tottenham Hotspur as the location for this huge cultural moment.
If you're wondering where to get tickets, you have two chances to watch this superstar in his element as he's performing on June 27 - Tickets HERE and June 28 - Tickets HERE.
Hopefully now you've discovered more about who this Latin American artist is so you're not left clueless when the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots take a quick 15 minutebreak mid-game.
Featured Images - Press Shot via Apple Music(Supplied) / Unsplash via Naveen Venkatesan (Supplied)/ Jorge Rojas via Unsplash (Supplied)
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10 of the biggest live gigs coming to Leeds next year | 2026
Thomas Melia
Leeds has some fantastic live music lined up next year, so we've rounded up 10 of the biggest concerts coming in 2026.
If there's two things that go hand-in-hand, it's Leeds and live music, so it'll come as no surprise that 2026 is shaping up to be another cracking year of gigs and concerts for the city.
No matter whether your ideal concert experience is a little boogie or some hardcore head-banging, this list has got you covered with a wide range of acts and artists.
It's been a brilliant year of live music this past year, but there's plenty more big names making their way to Leeds next year, so without further ado, here's 10 of the biggest gigs coming in 2026.
10 of the biggest live gigs coming to Leeds next year | 2026
Cast - The Wardrobe (Thursday 29 January)
Cast are gearing up to play a headline show at Leeds music venue The Wardrobe in January / Credit: Press Shot (via supplied)
After opening for Oasis earlier this summer one their Oasis Live '25 reunion tour dates, the Liverpool indie rockers are putting on a headline gig right here in Leeds.
Cast have chosen The Wardrobe as their latest live music spot, and they're ready for you to 'Live The Dream' with them when they play out in January.
If their support slot for Oasis is anything to go by, there's a lot of love for these rock legends. This gig will be one to remember, and you can find tickets HERE.
Whether you know him from his stint in The Rascals, alongside Alex Turner as co-frontman of The Last Shadow Puppets, or simply from his solo work, Kane's career is nothing short of remarkable.
His latest discography addition Sunlight In The Shadows dropped in October and features huge numbers like 'Love Is Cruel' and 'Without You'.
Fans will also be hoping he plays tracks from his 2011 album Colour of the Trap, with its hits including 'Rearrange' and 'Come Closer' when he visits in February. Get tickets HERE.
Bob Vylan - O2 Academy Leeds (Saturday 7 February)
The Bobs, better known as Bob Vylan, are expected to raise the roof at O2 Academy Leeds next year / Credit: Ki Price (via supplied)
London punk rap duo Bob Vylan released their first project Dread in 2019 with a full-length album We Live Here releasing one year later.
Since then, Bobbie and Bobby have released an array of singles including 'Makes Me Violent', 'Dream Bigger', and 'Sick Sad World'.
The alternative rappers garnered widespread attention after their Glastonbury performance this year with their songs addressing a number of social and political issues, such as racism and economic hardship. You can get tickets HERE.
The Beaches - Stylus, Leeds University Union (Saturday 14 February)
Canadian four-piece The Beaches are coming to Leeds and ready to rock out at Stylus / Credit: Press Shot (via supplied)
The 'Last Girls At The Party' are heading to Stylus to play tracks from their latest project No Hard Feelings, as well as a couple other hits.
Comprised of sisters Kylie and Jordan Miller alongside fellow bandmates Eliza and Leandra, The Beaches have been dropping bangers for quite a few years now.
The Canadian four-piece always put on a good show, and if you haven't joined The Beaches hype train yet, then we recommend the songs 'Blame Brett' and 'Edge of the Earth' to get you started. Find tickets HERE.
Chesney Hawkes - Brudenell Social Club (Thursday 12 March)
English singer Chesney Hawkes has chosen 'The One and Only' Brudenell Social Club to host his upcoming Leeds gig.
Hawkes became a recent frequent face on our screens after his appearance as a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother, and now he's about to become a frequent UK music venue player too with his new Smash It To Pieces Tour.
His most recent release, Living Arrows, dropped back in April and you can expect this 90s icon to command the Leeds crowd with all his usual charm. Get tickets HERE.
After supporting pop icon Lionel Richie on his Say Hello to the Hits tour, Combe is headlining her own show and she's bringing it to one of Leeds' staple music institutions, The Wardrobe.
She's touring up and down the country, including in Wigan, Preston, and Blackpool to name a few, and has kindly decided to bless Leeds with her bouncy and upbeat tracks too.
Get ready to be 'Dancing At The Edge Of The World' when the soul singer-songwriter plays out her cathartic tunes to this packed out Leeds city centre gig hotspot. You can grab tickets HERE.
Jessie J - O2 Academy Leeds (Saturday 11 April)
Expect incredible vocals and stage presence when Jessie J visits O2 Academy Leeds / Credit: Press Shot (via supplied)
Stomp, stomp she's arrived. UK pop heavyweight Jessie J is making her way to Leeds on the back of her self-released LP Don't Tease Me With a Good Time.
The 'Price Tag' songwriter has soundtracked the 2010s with radio hits spanning from 'Do It Like A Dude' and 'Domino', to 'Who's Laughing Now' and 'Bang Bang' - a triple-billed hit alongside Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.
Earlier this year, Jessie J announced her recent breast cancer diagnosis saying it has inspired her to live life to the fullest. Now, the Brit vocalist is heading out on the road again and ready to thrill UK crowds.
Rick Astley - First Direct Arena (Saturday 18 April)
80s pop sensation Rick Astley is returning to Leeds for a stellar First Direct Arena show / Credit: Peter Neill (via supplied)
First Direct Arena is about to 'Keep Singing' because 80s chart-topper Rick Astley is heading to this major venue in April.
This arena has welcomed the 'Never Gonna Give You Up' singer countless times, most recently in February when he surprised fans with some covers of modern-day tracks like 'As It Was' by Harry Styles.
The Newton-le-Willows star and First Direct Arena are destined to be 'Together Forever', and you can witness him live on The Reflections Tour by getting tickets HERE.
Lily Allen - First Direct Arena (Sunday 21 June)
Lily Allen is coming to Leeds next Summer playing at First Direct Arena / Credit: Charlie Denis (via supplied)
Get ready for an electric night when Lily Allen performs West End Girl as part of her biggest headline tour of her career.
Allen is getting ready to turn First Direct Arena into her pop-up 'P*ssy Palace' for one night only next summer.
The London star announced her arena tour after selling out a string of theatre dates one week prior. We expect this Leeds show to be just as exceptional, the only thing we don't know is "Who's Madeline?". Tickets are HERE.
Jane McDonald - First Direct Arena (Saturday 26 September)
Jane McDonald is gracing the Leeds crowd at First Direct Arena in September 2026 / Credit: Matt Crockett (via supplied)
Wakefield's finest Jane McDonald is also embarking on one of the biggest tours of her career too with the release of her new album Living The Dream.
The national treasure has amassed four UK top 10 albums, with her self-titled debut album spending three weeks at the top spot.
Expect to be out of your seat and singing along to quite a few hits when McDonald returns to First Direct Arena next autumn, and you can grab your seat HERE.
Sophie Smith -
30th November 2022 
