London’s live music scene is gearing up for a blockbuster year in 2025 and 2026, with a wave of landmark concerts and tours announced by some of the industry’s most celebrated artists. From the thunderous return of System of a Down and the arena-filling spectacle of Raye’s first major headlining tour, to a nostalgic and electrifying celebration of Genesis’ legacy by Steve Hackett at the Royal Albert Hall, the capital is set to offer music fans an unforgettable run of shows and releases.
System of a Down, the iconic heavy metal band known for their politically charged lyrics and explosive stage presence, are set to make a triumphant return to London with two massive concerts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday, July 13 and Wednesday, July 15, 2026. According to LADbible, tickets for these long-awaited performances have become a hot commodity, with fans scrambling to secure their spots through a variety of resale platforms. Standard resale tickets are available on Live Nation and Ticketmaster starting from £165, while Viagogo and StubHub offer them from £163. For those seeking a more exclusive experience, VIP and hospitality packages can be found at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium starting at £265, and at Seat Unique for £399.
The excitement doesn’t end there. System of a Down’s London gigs promise to deliver more than just the band’s signature sound. The shows will be bolstered by powerhouse support acts: Queens Of The Stone Age and Acid Bath. Both bands bring their own devoted followings and a reputation for high-octane live performances, ensuring that attendees will be treated to an evening brimming with energy and genre-defining music. As LADbible reports, the most available seats are currently in the 100, 300, and 500 blocks of the stadium, and fans eager to scope out the best vantage points are encouraged to check resources like A View From My Seat for real fan photos and seating perspectives.
Queens Of The Stone Age, not content with just supporting System of a Down, are also set to close out their Catacombs Tour with a special headline show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. The band, known for their genre-blurring rock anthems and enigmatic frontman Josh Homme, will deliver fan-favorite tracks along with unique reimagined versions of their songs. Resale tickets for this exclusive evening are available on platforms such as Viagogo, StubHub, Ticombo, and VividSeats, with prices ranging from £170 to £660 depending on seat location and demand.
While the rock and metal scenes are buzzing, British pop and R&B sensation Raye is preparing to embark on her biggest tour yet. Fresh from her BRIT Award win and a period of relative quiet, Raye has announced a staggering 40-date European and UK tour for 2026, titled ‘This Tour May Contain New Music Tour.’ According to Express, the tour kicks off on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and includes major stops at Manchester’s Co-op Live, Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, Birmingham’s bp pulse LIVE, and, of course, two consecutive nights at London’s O2 Arena on Wednesday, February 26 and Thursday, February 27, 2026.
Fans eager to secure tickets for Raye’s tour have several opportunities. The first presale begins on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 10am for those who preorder her upcoming album from her official website. A second presale, exclusive to My Live Nation newsletter subscribers, launches on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, also at 10am. General onsale tickets open to everyone on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 10am, through Ticketmaster, Live Nation, and Seat Unique. VIP and hospitality options, which include perks like complimentary food and drink, are also available for those looking to make the occasion extra special.
This tour marks a significant milestone for Raye, as it’s her first major headline arena run. The anticipation is palpable, with fans and critics alike eager to see how she’ll translate her chart-topping hits and soulful new material to the grand stage. As Express highlights, the O2 Arena shows are expected to be among the hottest tickets in town, cementing Raye’s status as one of the UK’s brightest contemporary stars.
Amid the flurry of upcoming concerts, the legacy of progressive rock is also being celebrated in grand fashion. Steve Hackett, legendary guitarist and former member of Genesis, has just released ‘The Lamb Stands Up Live At The Royal Albert Hall,’ an audio/visual document of his October 2024 concert at the iconic London venue. According to Louder Sound, this release captures Hackett and his accomplished band as they honor the 50th anniversary of Genesis’ landmark concept album ‘The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway.’
The live set, expertly mixed by Grammy-winning engineer Chris Lord-Alge and mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, features a selection of Hackett’s favorite tracks from the Genesis album, including a show-stopping rendition of ‘Fly On A Windshield’ with guest guitarist Steve Rothery of Marillion. The concert also includes other Genesis and solo classics, with special appearances by Ray Wilson, Amanda Lehmann, and John Hackett. Hackett himself commented, “I’m excited about the upcoming Steve Hackett: Lamb Stands Up Live At The Royal Albert Hall release, and pleased to launch this live clip of Fly on a Windshield, one of my favourite moments on the album. I very much enjoyed creating my guitar contribution for this track, and on this release is also Steve Rothery’s fabulous contribution, as we exchange licks.”
For fans eager to experience the magic at home, the release is available as a Special Edition 2CD+Blu-ray Digipak with 5.1 Surround Sound and bonus interview content, as well as a deluxe 4LP 180g vinyl boxset featuring a 12-page booklet with photos from the evening. Hackett and his band aren’t slowing down, either—they’re continuing their Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlight & Solo tour around Europe, with upcoming dates in Japan (July 2025), Italy (September 2025), and North America (October and November 2025).
London’s music venues, from the sprawling Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to the storied Royal Albert Hall and the O2 Arena, are preparing to host a diverse array of artists and audiences. Whether your taste leans toward the seismic riffs of System of a Down, the genre-defying rock of Queens Of The Stone Age, the soulful pop of Raye, or the intricate prog-rock of Steve Hackett, the city’s 2025-2026 concert calendar offers something for everyone. With tickets selling fast and anticipation building, music lovers would do well to mark their calendars and act quickly—these are shows that promise to linger in memory long after the final encore.
