The Darkness have announced their largest headline tour in two decades, with the flamboyant rockers set to bring their beloved riff-heavy anthems to arenas across the UK in December 2026, plus a huge summer appearance with Iron Maiden at Knebworth Park.
The seven-date arena run kicks off at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on 8 December and wraps up with the band’s debut headline show at London’s The O2 on 16 December. In between, they will hit Leeds First Direct Arena, Manchester’s AO Arena, Birmingham’s Utilita Arena, Cardiff’s Utilita Arena and Brighton Centre, bringing a full-throttle rock ‘n’ roll spectacle to some of the country’s biggest rooms.
Joining The Darkness on all dates will be GRAMMY-winning, multi-platinum American country rock duo Brothers Osborne and multi-million streamed UK rock favourites A, making this very much a bands-of-brothers affair.
“Powerful rock was designed to be played in huge rectangular buildings. Huge rectangular buildings were designed to house powerful rock bands. The Darkness are a powerful rock band and the arenas listed below are huge rectangular buildings,” frontman Justin Hawkins quips, promising a night where three bands of brothers turn each venue into a temple of Heavy Rock.
Brothers Osborne vocalist and guitarist TJ Osborne adds: “There was a cosmic ripple in the space time continuum that led to our paths crossing. We cannot wait to prove, once again, that brothers do it best and guitar solos are alive and well.”
The tour news follows the April release of Dreams On Toast, the band’s eighth studio album, which stormed into the UK Official Albums Chart at No. 2 to become their most successful record since 2003 debut Permission To Land – recently revealed as the most successful British rock album of the 21st century.
The Darkness have spent much of 2025 taking their new material and classic hits to sold-out crowds across the UK, Europe, Australia and the USA, with the likes of I Believe In A Thing Called Love, Growing On Me and Love Is Only A Feeling still igniting arenas worldwide.
Before the December arena jaunt, The Darkness will return to the legendary grounds of Knebworth Park on 11 July 2026 for a massive outdoor performance with Iron Maiden, teeing up what promises to be a monumental year for the band.
Pre-sale for the December 2026 UK arena tour starts at 10 am on Wednesday 26 November 2025, with general sale following at 10 am on Friday 28 November 2025. Tickets are available from aegpresents.co.uk/event/the-darkness-3.
With a hit-packed setlist, a reputation for over-the-top showmanship and their biggest production in years, The Darkness look ready to make December 2026 the season of glitter-drenched, arena-sized Heavy Rock.
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