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.
American pop singer Kesha has dropped out of the Pitbull-fronted Roundhay Festival line-up, with a major shake-up announced today.
The second instalment of artists for Pitbull's headline Roundhay Festival show has been announced and it's missing highly-anticipated and originally-announced artist Kesha.
Festival organisers have said that the star will no longer be able to perform due to 'unforeseen scheduling conflicts'.
The American singer's musical adventure has taken a 'Joyride' since becoming independent in September 2024 and releasing her sixth studio album "." or Period almost a year ago.
Now, Kesha's title as 'Special Guest' has now been handed over to three very impressive artists who also shared a role in soundtracking some of the 2010s biggest hits.
Kesha was originally listed as a 'Special Guest' for Pitbull's Roundhay Festival gig in Leeds this July / Credit: Brendan Walters / Press Shots
One of these new artists is Jason Derulo, who is ready to treat the crowd to his array of chart-topping melodies like: 'Whatcha Say', 'Talk Dirty to Me', 'Trumpets'.
Another act who knows a thing or two about travelling the globe like Mr. Worldwide is 'Miami 2 Ibiza' hitmaker Tinie Tempah - things are definitely about to get 'Frisky'.
The final artist joining this already impressive list of names is Lil Jon who's bringing his high energy tracks to Roundhay Park such as 'Turn Down For What', 'Shots' and 'Get Low'.
Jason Derulo is just one of the artists making up the all-new Pitbull Roundhay Festival line-up / Credit: Wikimedia Commons (via Supplied)
Kesha's departure from this Leeds gig comes as a complete shock as the star is still set to play a whole host of UK festival dates including a BST Hyde Park show in London on 10 July.
In a statement shared via social media, Roundhay Festival has stated the reason for this very big change to the line-up:
"Due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts, Kesha will no longer be joining us this July. We hope to welcome her to Roundhay Park in the future."
Although fans who have already bought tickets to the show might still be 'Praying' for Kesha's return to the Roundhay Festival bill, it's safe to say these artists are a great addition.
Pitbull is coming to Roundhay Park in Leeds on Friday 3 July 2026 and so far he's bringing along Jason Derulo, Tinie Tempah and Lil Jon with more acts to follow - Tickets HERE.
Rick Astley at First Direct Arena, Leeds – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
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 is bringing The Reflection Tour to Leeds this April / Wikimedia Commons via Raph_PH
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
The Reflection Tour sees Rick Astley play various shows and festivals across the UK / Wikimedia Commons via Raph_PH
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.
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.
Thomas Melia -
22nd December 2025 
