Indie rock stalwarts The Strokes are set to make a highly anticipated return to the UK stage after a three-year hiatus, announcing a series of dates including a major show at London’s The O2.
The announcement follows hot on the heels of their first album in four years, Reality Awaits, and the recent release of their new single, “Going Shopping”, which marked their first new music since 2020.
As part of their “Reality Awaits The World 2026” tour, Julian Casablancas and co will play London’s The O2 on October 6, Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on October 25, and Manchester’s Co-Op Arena on October 26. They will also stop at Dublin’s 3Arena on October 28.
Support for the tour will alternate between London-formed band The Fat White Family, American rock band Cage The Elephant, US singer-songwriter Hamilton Leithauser, and singer Thundercat, with additional names yet to be revealed. Further European dates are also scheduled in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bologna, Dusseldorf, Berlin, and Paris.
Their last UK appearance was headlining London’s All Points East day festival in 2023. The band recently gave their new single its live debut at a San Francisco gig, followed by a performance at Coachella on Saturday.
Comprising singer Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr, bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti, The Strokes have garnered two top 10 singles and six top 10 albums in the UK, including the chart-topping First Impressions Of Earth (2006). Hammond Jr is the son of 1970s singer-songwriter Albert Hammond, known for his hit 'The Free Electric Band'.
Their seminal debut album, Is This It, released in September 2001, is widely credited with igniting a guitar music revival in the UK and US during the 2000s, featuring iconic tracks like “Last Nite”, “Someday”, and “Hard To Explain”. Their most recent album, The New Abnormal, arrived in April 2020, featuring singles such as “The Adults Are Talking”, “Bad Decisions”, and “At The Door”.
Tickets for the tour will be available via a presale at 10am on Wednesday for those who register on the band’s website, before a general sale commences on Friday.
