The Darkness announce biggest UK tour in 20 years with career-spanning arena shows

British rock band The Darkness have announced their largest headline tour in two decades, set to hit arenas across the UK in December 2026 with a set built around their biggest hits and fan favourites.

Framed as a celebration of their chart-topping, award-winning and multi-platinum catalogue, the run promises a full-scale arena spectacle, leaning into the band’s trademark mix of flamboyance, falsetto vocals and tongue-in-cheek rock excess. The shows are being billed as a “best of” experience, with an expansive setlist spanning all eight studio albums.

The band’s commercial peak came with their 2003 debut Permission To Land, which spent four weeks at No.1 on the UK Albums Chart and helped spearhead a resurgence in British guitar music. More than two decades on, they have continued to prove their longevity, with 2025’s Dreams On Toast reaching No.2. Their breakthrough single I Believe in a Thing Called Love also climbed to No.2 on the UK Singles Chart and remains one of the defining rock tracks of the era.

That full-circle career arc will be reflected in the live shows, which draw from across their discography while showcasing the band’s evolution from early 2000s breakout stars to established arena performers.

The tour opens in Glasgow on December 8 and concludes with a landmark show at The O2 on December 16, marking the band’s first ever headline performance at the venue. Stops along the way include Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Brighton.

Frontman Justin Hawkins said the shows would showcase “the very bestest of The Darkness”, promising an immersive live experience that leans into both the band’s theatricality and their heavier side.

Support across all dates will come from Brothers Osborne and UK rock band A, adding a cross-genre element to the bill.

Tickets are on sale now.

THE DARKNESS 2026 TOUR DATES
Dec 8^th – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
Dec 9^th – Leeds, FD Arena
Dec 11^th – Manchester, AO Arena
Dec 12^th – Birmingham, Utilita Arena
Dec 13^th – Cardiff, Utilita Arena
Dec 15^th – Brighton, Brighton Centre
Dec 16^th – London, The O2

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and chief editor of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.