Music fans from every corner of the globe are already looking ahead to 2026, as a wave of major concert announcements and festival lineups promise a year filled with nostalgia, fresh talent, and genre-spanning performances. From legendary headliners at iconic state fairs to intimate songwriter nights in historic venues, the upcoming year’s live music calendar is shaping up to be one for the ages.
One of the most anticipated returns comes courtesy of Elvis Costello, who, after a whirlwind 2025 packed with over 40 concerts, has revealed his first headlining dates for 2026. According to reporting by Ultimate Classic Rock, Costello’s new tour—dubbed ‘Radio Soul!: The Early Songs of Elvis Costello’—will sweep across the United Kingdom in June and July. Fans can expect a set list that leans heavily into Costello’s early catalogue, spanning from his 1977 debut My Aim Is True to 1986’s Blood & Chocolate. The shows will feature his long-standing band, the Imposters, as well as singer-songwriter Charlie Sexton.
This U.K. trek isn’t Costello’s only engagement next summer. The legendary British rocker will also be opening for Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts at several venues, keeping his schedule packed. The dual commitments mean that some nights will see Costello in the headlining spotlight, while others find him setting the stage for another music icon. It’s a balancing act that fans are eager to witness.
Reflecting on his enduring appeal, Costello shared in a press release, “For any songwriter, it has to be a compliment if people want to hear songs written up to fifty years ago. Among them, ‘Radio Soul,’ the first draft of what eventually became ‘Radio Radio.’ You can expect the unexpected and the faithful in equal measure. Don’t forget this show is ‘Performed by Elvis Costello & the Imposters’, an ensemble which includes three people who first recorded this music and two more who bring something entirely new. They are nobody’s tribute band. The Imposters are a living, breathing, swooning, swinging, kicking and screaming rock and roll band who can turn their hands to a pretty ballad when the opportunity arises.”
Costello’s 2026 tour will make stops in cities such as Birmingham, London, Manchester, Portsmouth, Chelmsford, Glasgow, Newcastle, and Oxfordshire, as well as international dates in Nimes and Nancy, France, Cork in Ireland, and Weert in the Netherlands. For those who caught his ‘Early Songs’ tour in America in 2025, this European leg promises both familiar favorites and a few surprises.
Meanwhile, in the heart of Jackson, Mississippi, Duling Hall is gearing up for a diverse and lively 2026. As reported by the Clarion Ledger, the historic venue—housed in the former Lorena Duling School—will offer an eclectic mix of rock, jazz, country, and comedy acts throughout the first half of the year. The lineup reads like a sampler platter of musical flavors, ensuring there’s something to suit every taste.
Among the highlights are appearances by Grammy Award-winning jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, who will bring his evolving "Side-Eye" tour to Duling Hall for a pair of shows in early March. The North Mississippi Allstars, fresh off their latest album Still Shakin', will take the stage in February, while rock fans can look forward to performances by Marbin, The Sadies, Nik Parr & The Selfless Lovers, The Band of Heathens, and Ty Segall.
Country music is well represented, too. James McMurtry, supported by folk singer BettySoo, will perform in February, and Chris Knight, joined by Oklahoma’s Autumn Ragland, is set for a spring show. The Wood Brothers, Eggy, and Fust round out a lineup that blends established names with rising stars.
Duling Hall isn’t just about music, either. Comedy takes center stage with the Southern humor of Couyons of Comedy and Louisiana comedian DJ Rhett, while interactive events like Choir! Choir! Choir!’s Queen sing-along invite the audience to join in the fun. For those who favor something a little different, “SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of ‘Saw’” offers a tongue-in-cheek twist on the cult-classic horror film, with two performances scheduled in April.
Songwriters and music lovers alike can mark their calendars for The Writers 'Round', a Nashville-born, community-based event that encourages both established and aspiring songwriters to take the stage. These songwriter nights, set for January 6 and February 3, promise an intimate, participatory experience that’s become a Duling Hall staple.
Ticket prices for Duling Hall’s events range from around $13 for songwriter nights to $85 for headline acts like Pat Metheny, with most shows falling in the $25–$40 bracket. The venue’s central location in Jackson’s Fondren neighborhood and its storied history make it a magnet for both touring artists and local talent.
Farther north, the Iowa State Fair is already building anticipation for its 2026 edition, having announced the first two Grandstand headliners: Rod Stewart and Lainey Wilson. As reported by the Des Moines Register, Stewart—who will be 81 by the time of the show—returns to the fair for the first time since 1984, taking the stage at 8 p.m. on Friday, August 14. Lainey Wilson, a rising star in the country scene, will make her Grandstand debut two nights later, joined by special guest Tigirlily Gold on Sunday, August 16.
Tickets for both Stewart and Wilson’s performances go on sale at 10 a.m. on December 12, 2025, via the Iowa State Fair’s official website. Prices range from $69.50 to $134.50, reflecting the marquee status of these acts. The fair itself runs from August 13 to August 23, 2026, and this year’s theme, “Fair Spirit,” is a nod to America’s 250th anniversary. The patriotic motif echoes the 1976 fair, which celebrated the nation’s bicentennial with a similar sense of pride and pageantry.
“Fair Spirit” isn’t just a slogan—it’s a call to celebrate community, heritage, and the enduring appeal of live music as America marks a major milestone. And with Rod Stewart and Lainey Wilson representing both classic rock and contemporary country, the Iowa State Fair is setting the tone for a summer of cross-generational celebration.
From the grand stages of the Iowa State Fair to the intimate halls of Jackson and the storied venues of the U.K., the 2026 live music calendar promises a little something for everyone. Whether your tastes run to rock legends, jazz innovators, country storytellers, or interactive sing-alongs, there’s a show—or several—waiting to be circled in red on your calendar. For fans and artists alike, the coming year is shaping up to be a vibrant celebration of music’s power to unite, inspire, and entertain.
