Swedish Heavy Metal kings Europe will celebrate four decades of their breakthrough album The Final Countdown with a huge European run in 2026, playing the record in full every night.
Released in 1986 as the band’s third studio album, The Final Countdown turned Europe into global stars. The title track hit the Number 1 spot in 25 countries, the album spawned multiple Top 40 singles and spent more than a year on the US Billboard charts.
In the streaming era the song has only grown bigger. In 2022 Europe became the first Swedish band to pass one billion YouTube views for a single track, and the count is now pushing 1.4 billion.
The Final Countdown 40th Anniversary Tour will hit 19 cities across 12 countries, with a career‑spanning set each night before the band perform The Final Countdown album from start to finish. The run includes three UK dates in Glasgow, Wolverhampton and London before moving through the Netherlands, France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria, Poland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
Since The Final Countdown first landed, Europe have stayed on the road and in the studio, releasing eight further albums and picking up a Classic Rock Award, a Grammy and a stack of other accolades along the way.
Remarkably, the band still boast their classic line‑up, and 2026 will also see the arrival of their as‑yet‑untitled 12th studio record, tracked at RMV Studios in Stockholm with producer Tom Dalgety (Ghost, The Pixies, Royal Blood, Opeth).
“In a blink of an eye 40 years have passed,” frontman Joey Tempest says, “and we’re about to perform TFC in full for only the second time in our career, together with other hits and our favourite songs from our upcoming album. This will be amazing. We’re working on making the production and show match this very special occasion.”
Special guests on the entire tour will be Canadian rockers The Damn Truth, who have enjoyed heavy support from Planet Rock and BBC Radio 2, with their self‑titled fourth album produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue).
Scottish hard rock veterans Gun will appear as very special guests on all UK dates. Their debut Taking On The World cracked the UK Top 30 back in 1989, and their cover of Word Up! hit the UK Top 10, while 2023’s Hombres also made the Top 10.
Tickets go on general sale Friday 28 November at 10:00 local time, with UK presales from Wednesday 26 November at 10:00.
Europe – The Final Countdown 40th Anniversary 2026 Tour
– 30 September – Glasgow, SEC Armadillo
– 2 October – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
– 3 October – London, Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith
– 5 October – Arnhem, Musis (Netherlands)
– 6 October – Paris, Olympia (France)
– 8 October – Barcelona, Poble Espanyol (Spain)
– 9 October – Bilbao, Arena Miribilla (Spain)
– 10 October – Madrid, La Cubierta (Spain)
– 12 October – Lausanne, Salle Metropole (Switzerland)
– 13 October – Zurich, Volkshaus (Switzerland)
– 14 October – Milan, Alcatraz (Italy)
– 16 October – Stuttgart, Liederhalle (Germany)
– 17 October – Vienna, Gasometer (Austria)
– 19 October – Berlin, Admiralspalast (Germany)
– 20 October – Warsaw, Torwar (Poland)
– 22 October – Copenhagen, Falconer (Denmark)
– 23 October – Gothenburg, Film Studios (Sweden)
– 24 October – Stockholm, BK (Sweden)
– 26 October – Oslo, Sentrum Scene (Norway)
Europe are:
Joey Tempest – lead vocals
John Norum – guitars
John Leven – bass
Mic Michaeli – keyboards
Ian Haugland – drums.
