The legendary Professor Brian Cox is coming to Leeds with a brand-new arena show, and he says it’s his most ambitious one to date.
The physicist and presenter will be bringing Emergence to the First Direct Bank Arena next year as part of a huge world tour.
Prof Brian Cox has spent his entire career bringing fascinating, ground-breaking science into the public realm through TV programmes, radio, and live shows.
That’s included performing his smash-hit show Horizons to nearly half a million people, winning the Peabody Award for Wonders of the Solar System, to appearing in the hit BBC series The Planets.
He’s headlined cultural festivals, sold out arenas globally, and now he’s ready to do it all again with Emergence.
This show all began in the winter of 1610, when Johannes Kepler was crossing Prague’s Charles Bridge when he noticed a snowflake land on his arm. Why, he asked, are all snowflakes six-cornered? “I do not believe,” he wrote, “that even in a snowflake, this ordered pattern exists at random.”
Now, 400 years later, we have part of the answer, and Emergence will be celebrating such intricacies and exploring the laws of nature that sculpted the universe.
Professor Brian Cox will touch on everything from the cosmic web all the way down to the structure of the human brain, including black holes and snowflakes, to ‘observe a world of dazzling complexity underpinned by magnificent simplicity’.
Professor Brian Cox said: “I’ve loved creating Emergence – it’s the most ambitious live show I’ve ever written.
“I’ve been very lucky to collaborate with a wonderful group of scientists, musicians, filmmakers and graphic artists to bring cosmology, biology, philosophy and history to the largest and most advanced LED screens available, with the best sound and lights I could find.
“I hope the show is an all-encompassing experience, and I hope it leaves everyone, whether they love science or music or history, or simply contemplating the beauty of Nature, with something new to think about.”
Professor Brian Cox will bring Emergence to the First Direct Bank Arena on 10 October 2026 – tickets will go on sale on 3 October at 10am
Professor Brian Cox Emergence – UK and Ireland 2026 tour dates
7 and 8 October – Edinburgh Playhouse
9 October – Manchester Co-op Live
10 October – Leeds First Direct Arena
11 October – Derby Vaillant Live
15 October – Sheffield Utilita Arena Sheffield
16 October – Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
17 October – Newcastle Utilita Arena Newcastle
18 October – Glasgow OVO Hydro
21 and 22 October – Brighton Centre
23 October – London The O2
24 October – Plymouth Plymouth Pavilions
29 October – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena Nottingham
Hollywood Vampires are heading back out on tour, with a huge Yorkshire gig announced for this year.
The supergroup, which consists of one of the biggest names in Hollywood as well as one of rock’n’roll’s most iconic names, are set to perform at the AO Arena as part of a run of shows.
Hollywood Vampires is made up of A-lister Johnny Depp, as well as rock royalty including Alice Cooper, and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, plus Tommy Henriksen.
They last performed with an arena tour back in 2023, making these their first gigs in almost three years.
Hollywood Vampires have now announced a return to the stage, with a show at the iconic Piece Hall in Halifax on 22 August.
They’ll be supported by The Jesus and Mary Chain, who marked their 40th anniversary in 2024 with a new album, Glasgow Eyes.
Johnny Depp supergroup Hollywood Vampires announce Manchester gig. Credit: Aaron Perry
Hollywood Vampires formed in 2012, named after Cooper’s celebrity drinking club of the same name where the aim was reportedly to ‘drink until no one could stand up’.
Over the years, the supergroup has worked with the likes of Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, and Zak Starkey (formerly the drummer for Oasis).
A Three Presale for tickets will take place from 10am on Wednesday 21 January, followed by a venue presale on Thursday 22 January, then general sale from 10am on Friday 23 January.
You can now apply to play at Tramlines Festival 2026 as part of programme to support emerging artists
Clementine Hall
Ever wanted to play at Tramlines Festival? Well, now's your chance.
Applications are now open until Wednesday 28 January for Tramlines Festival’s 2026 Apply to Play programme.
This fantastic initiative offers emerging and unsigned artists the chance to perform at the festival, which is set to take place from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July.
This year's Tramlines Festival will be headlined by Fatboy Slim, Courteeners and Wolf Alice - so it's safe to say that if you win, you'll be in great company.
Alongside a paid slot at the festival, the overall winner will also perform at Truck Festival, Y Not Festival and Victorious Festival.
Images: The Sheff
The talented winner will also receive an official endorsement with Epiphone, one of the most iconic guitar brands in the world, a professional electric guitar, 12 months of artist relations support, access to Epiphone’s London showroom and a performance slot at the Gibson Garage.
And it doesn't stop there as they will also get £500 in studio credit from Pirate Studios and a slot at the This Feeling industry showcase.
Finalists will receive paid performance slots at Tramlines and a second artist will be chosen through a public vote from a shortlist of 100 entries. That artist will also receive the full Epiphone package and secure a guaranteed place in the final selection.
Timm Cleasby, Operations Director at Tramlines, said: “Apply to Play is one of the things at Tramlines I’m proudest of. Every year we get blown away by the talent coming through, not just from Sheffield but from all over the UK.
"We’ve had artists start out on a small stage and come back a couple of years later to play a packed tent. That kind of journey means a lot to us and shows emerging artists there is a pathway for them to grow. It’s why we do it and I can’t wait to see who steps up in 2026.”
Daisy Jackson -
29th September 2025 
