What's On in Nottingham and the East Midlands 2026 & 2027: Live Music, Concerts & Events
Posted on Tuesday 8th September 2026 at 18:00
Written by
Will Rabjohns
What's On in Nottingham and the East Midlands 2026 & 2027: Live Music, Concerts & Events
Updated September 2026. Looking for the best live events happening across Nottingham and the East Midlands in 2026 and 2027? From major arena tours and city-centre gigs to festivals and one-off shows, this guide highlights the standout live experiences coming to the region and where to catch them.
Discover what’s on across Nottingham and the East Midlands, from huge arena concerts and outdoor festivals to grassroots gigs and unmissable live events.
In this guide, you’ll find:
- Major concerts and tours coming to Nottingham and the East Midlands
- Standout shows and limited-date runs to book early
- Regional highlights from Nottingham, Lincoln, Derby and Leicester
- A practical FAQ to help plan your live events calendar
Standout gigs & tours across Nottingham & the East Midlands
KNEECAP
FENIAN WORLD TOUR
When: Saturday 12th December 2026 (Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham)
Belfast rap trio Kneecap bring their Fenian World Tour to Motorpoint Arena this December for a huge Nottingham night.
CORY WONG
FRETBOARD ODYSSEY + SPECIAL GUESTS
When: Wednesday 2nd December 2026 (Rock City, Nottingham)
Grammy-nominated funk guitarist Cory Wong brings his Fretboard Odyssey to Rock City this December, with special guests.
RIZZLE KICKS
When: Monday 16th November 2026 (Rock City, Nottingham)
British pop-rap duo Rizzle Kicks bring their reunion tour and much-loved singalong hits to Rock City this November.
GRAVEYARD & BLUES PILLS
EUROPEAN TOUR 2026/27 + SPIDERS
When: Thursday 25th March 2027 (The Palais, Nottingham)
Swedish heavyweights Graveyard and Blues Pills join forces at The Palais next March, with support from Spiders.
ANDREW CUSHIN
When: Tuesday 8th December 2026 (Rescue Rooms, Nottingham)
Newcastle singer-songwriter Andrew Cushin brings his heartfelt, anthemic indie to Rescue Rooms this December for an intimate Nottingham show.
MIKE JOYCE & STEPHEN STREET
THE QUEEN IS DEAD 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
When: Thursday 22nd October 2026 (Y Theatre, Leicester)
Former Smiths drummer Mike Joyce and producer Stephen Street celebrate 40 years of the iconic album The Queen Is Dead in Leicester this October.
OVERPASS
When: Friday 30th April 2027 (Rock City, Nottingham)
Birmingham indie four-piece Overpass head to Rock City next April, bringing hook-heavy guitar anthems and a fast-rising live reputation.
ELECTRIC CALLBOY
TANZNEID WORLD TOUR + BLOODYWOOD
When: Sunday 24th January 2027 (Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham)
German electronicore party-starters Electric Callboy bring their Tanzneid World Tour to Motorpoint Arena, with support from Bloodywood.
YARD ACT
YOU'RE GONNA NEED A LITTLE MUSIC TOUR
When: Monday 16th & Tuesday 17th November 2026 (O2 Academy Leicester & Rock City, Nottingham)
Leeds favourites Yard Act bring their sharp, smart and unpredictable live show to Leicester and Nottingham this November.
FAT DOG
UK & EU TOUR 2026
When: Thursday 3rd December 2026 (Rock City, Nottingham)
Known for chaotic, high-octane live shows, Fat Dog bring their explosive sound to Rock City this December.
BELLE & SEBASTIAN
PERFORMING TIGERMILK FOLLOWED BY A SECOND SET OF FAVOURITES
When: Friday 11th December 2026 (Rock City, Nottingham)
Glasgow indie legends Belle & Sebastian perform debut album Tigermilk in full, then return for a second set of favourites.
THE SNUTS
JOY IN SHORT MOMENTS TOUR + THE KAIROS
When: Friday 27th November 2026 (Rock City, Nottingham)
Scottish indie chart-toppers The Snuts head to Rock City this November on their Joy In Short Moments tour, with The Kairos.
MEGADETH
BREAKOUT: HIBERNATION OF THE NATIONS TOUR 2027 + BLACK LABEL SOCIETY & TESTAMENT
When: Friday 12th March 2027 (Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham)
Thrash-metal titans Megadeth storm Motorpoint Arena this March on their Hibernation Of The Nations tour, with Black Label Society and Testament.
NOAHFINNCE
"MR OVERWHELM" THE TOUR
When: Monday 26th October 2026 (Rescue Rooms, Nottingham)
Pop-punk favourite NOAHFINNCE brings his "MR OVERWHELM" tour to Rescue Rooms this October for a high-energy Nottingham show.
More gigs, festivals & events across the East Midlands
From outdoor festivals and comedy tours to grassroots gigs, the East Midlands calendar is packed with reasons to get out and see something live.
LANG LANG
MOZART, BEETHOVEN, ALBÉNIZ, GRANADOS & LISZT
When: Tuesday 3rd August 2027 (Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham)
SIMON BRODKIN: UNLEASHED
STAND-UP TOUR 2026/27
When: Thursday 5th November 2026 – Friday 19th February 2027 (multiple East Midlands dates)
EYRE LLEW – BLOOM: THE HOMETOWN SHOW
PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS & UNDER THE RADAR DJS
When: Sunday 15th November 2026 (The Nest, Nottingham)
GARETH MALONE
SING-A-LONG-A-GARETH: AT THE MOVIES
When: Sunday 18th October 2026 (Nottingham Playhouse)
HOCKLEY HUSTLE 2026
EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
When: Sunday 25th October 2026 (various Nottingham venues)
TYBER & PETE FROM THE DUALERS
SIMMER DOWN TOUR 2026
When: Friday 9th October 2026 & Friday 30th April 2027 (Rescue Rooms, Nottingham & The Beachcomber Pub, Skegness)
NOTTINGHAM INDEPENDENTS’ CASTLE BEER FESTIVAL
EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
When: Friday 14th & Saturday 15th May 2027 (Nottingham Castle)
CALL OF THE WILD 2027
THESE WICKED RIVERS, ELECTRIC BOYS, WARRIOR SOUL & MORE
When: Thursday 27th – Sunday 30th May 2027 (Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln)
DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL NOTTINGHAM 2027
EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
When: Sunday 30th May 2027 (various Nottingham venues)
NOTTINGHAM CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL 2027
EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
When: Friday 18th & Saturday 19th June 2027 (Sneinton Market, Nottingham)
MANGATA FESTIVAL 2027
HYOM, WORN OUT, MILLION MOONS & MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
When: Saturday 4th September 2027 (Rescue Rooms, Nottingham)
Regional highlights — Where to go in the East Midlands
Each venue guide below covers everything you need to plan your visit — from transport tips and FAQs to upcoming gigs.
Nottingham
Nottingham combines arena-scale shows at Motorpoint Arena and major performances at Royal Concert Hall with a thriving mid-sized and grassroots scene across venues like Rock City, The Bodega and The Old Cold Store.
Lincoln
Historic Lincoln offers a mix of distinctive venues, from former church space Southside and community arts hub The Drill to major summer events at the stunning Lincoln Castle.
Derby
Derby’s live scene ranges from larger touring productions at Derby Arena to more intimate shows and tribute nights at established local venues such as The Flowerpot.
Leicester
Leicester combines grassroots venues such as The Soundhouse and The Black Horse with larger headline spaces, including O2 Academy Leicester and De Montfort Hall.
Browse events by town or city:
NOTTINGHAM | LINCOLN | DERBY | LEICESTER | NORTHAMPTON | SKEGNESS | BUXTON | MANSFIELD | CHESTERFIELD | NEWARK-ON-TRENT
Need to know — Nottingham & the East Midlands events
When do tickets usually go on sale?
Most tickets go on sale shortly after an announcement, often on Friday mornings. Popular concerts, comedy shows and festivals across the East Midlands can sell out quickly, so it's worth setting reminders and booking early.
What's the biggest concert venue in the East Midlands?
Motorpoint Arena Nottingham is the largest indoor concert venue in the East Midlands and hosts many of the world's biggest touring artists. Other major venues include Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall, Derby Arena and the iconic Rock City.
Which East Midlands venues are best for live music?
The East Midlands has a thriving live music scene, from major venues such as Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall Nottingham, Derby Arena and Rock City to respected grassroots venues including The Bodega (Nottingham), The Drill (Lincoln) and The Flowerpot (Derby).
What festivals take place near Nottingham?
Popular festivals near Nottingham include Splendour Festival, Dot To Dot Festival and Hockley Hustle. Elsewhere in the region, Call of the Wild Festival and Glastonbudget attract music fans from across the country each year.
Ready to explore more live events in the East Midlands?
Find all upcoming gigs, tours and festivals across Nottingham, Lincoln, and beyond.