Updated November 2026
Regional Guide – East Midlands
Discover the best live music, concerts and events in Nottingham and the East Midlands for 2026 and 2027. Browse upcoming live music tickets and find the biggest gigs, tours and festivals heading to venues across the region.
From arena nights at Motorpoint Arena and Leicester’s Mattioli Arena to Rock City, Royal Concert Hall, summer concerts at Lincoln Castle and Nottingham’s grassroots rooms, this guide rounds up the shows to book now.
Major concerts & live music events in Nottingham & the East Midlands
From Kneecap and Erasure at Motorpoint Arena to Orbital at Rock City and Jake Bugg’s hometown Royal Concert Hall show, these are the East Midlands gigs to book early.
genres
Genre
Hardcore hip-hop · Political hip-hop
FENIAN WORLD TOUR
Belfast trio Kneecap bring second album Fenian, a UK No. 2 and Irish No. 1 this year, to Motorpoint Arena this December, taking their Irish-language hip-hop to full arena volume.
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SATURDAY 12TH DECEMBER 2026
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MOTORPOINT ARENA, NOTTINGHAM
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genres
Genre
Electronic · Techno
THE OTHER TOUR
Kent brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll, the duo behind 1989 rave anthem “Chime” and “Halcyon”, bring The Other Tour to Rock City next April, for anyone who still has the glowsticks.
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FRIDAY 16TH APRIL 2027
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ROCK CITY, NOTTINGHAM
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genres
Genre
Synth-pop · Dance-pop
RADIO!! RADIO!! TOUR PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS LADYTRON
Erasure’s 20th album Radio!! Radio!! lands next March, and the tour follows to Motorpoint Arena in May, with Ladytron in support, for anyone who knows “A Little Respect” by heart.
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WEDNESDAY 5TH MAY 2027
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MOTORPOINT ARENA, NOTTINGHAM
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genres
Genre
Indie-rock · Indie-folk
ALAMO SOLO ACOUSTIC TOUR
Nottingham’s own Jake Bugg, whose self-titled debut went to No. 1 in 2012, launches seventh album Alamo at O2 Academy2 Leicester this November, then plays a hometown show at Royal Concert Hall in February.
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WEDNESDAY 18TH NOVEMBER 2026 & TUESDAY 23RD FEBRUARY 2027
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O2 ACADEMY2 LEICESTER & ROYAL CONCERT HALL, NOTTINGHAM
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genres
Genre
British hip-hop · Alternative hip-hop
PLUS RAFA AND MEELO
Brighton duo Rizzle Kicks, back with third album Competition Is for Losers, bring “Mama Do the Hump” and “Down with the Trumpets” to Rock City this November, with Rafa and Meelo in support.
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MONDAY 16TH NOVEMBER 2026
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ROCK CITY, NOTTINGHAM
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NO MARTI NO PARTY TOUR
Clydebank’s Marti Pellow, the voice behind Wet Wet Wet’s “Love Is All Around” and its 15 weeks at No. 1, brings the No Marti No Party Tour to Royal Concert Hall next August.
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SATURDAY 28TH AUGUST 2027
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ROYAL CONCERT HALL, NOTTINGHAM
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genres
Genre
Indie-rock · Space-rock
EMPIRE XX – 20 YEARS LIVE
Leicestershire-born Tom Meighan, Kasabian’s frontman from 1997 to 2020, marks 20 years of Empire at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena this December, for anyone who still shouts along to “Shoot the Runner”.
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SATURDAY 19TH DECEMBER 2026
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MATTIOLI ARENA, LEICESTER
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genres
Genre
Punk-rock · Garage-punk
HALF CUT UK AND EUROPEAN TOUR 2027
Sunshine Coast punks The Chats, whose no-budget “Smoko” video won over Dave Grohl and Iggy Pop, bring new album Half Cut to Rock City next October, for anyone who likes their punk short and sweaty.
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SUNDAY 17TH OCTOBER 2027
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ROCK CITY, NOTTINGHAM
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“CURSED SINCE BIRTH” TOUR PLUS FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, TO THE GRAVE & THE GLOOM IN THE CORNER
Californian deathcore band Suicide Silence, whose 2009 album No Time to Bleed reached No. 32 on the Billboard 200, bring the “Cursed Since Birth” Tour to The Palais next April, with Fleshgod Apocalypse in support.
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WEDNESDAY 28TH APRIL 2027
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THE PALAIS, NOTTINGHAM
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genres
Genre
Indie-rock · Britpop
END OF THE WORLD TOUR PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS TURIN BRAKES
Louise Wener’s Britpop favourites Sleeper, of “Inbetweener” and the Trainspotting soundtrack, bring sixth album End of the World, due in February, to Rock City next March with Turin Brakes in support.
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FRIDAY 12TH MARCH 2027
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ROCK CITY, NOTTINGHAM
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RITES OF SPRING EU/UK TOUR PLUS ZANDER HAWLEY & ROWAN MURPHY
Seattle singer-songwriter Noah Gundersen brings seventh album Rites of Spring, released this May, to Rescue Rooms next February, with Zander Hawley and Rowan Murphy in support, for fans of hushed indie-folk.
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SUNDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2027
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RESCUE ROOMS, NOTTINGHAM
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SPRING 2027 UK TOUR
London alt-rock band Palace, who debuted with 2016’s So Long Forever, bring fifth album Ox to Rock City next May on a spring UK tour, for fans of slow-burning, atmospheric guitar music.
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TUESDAY 11TH MAY 2027
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ROCK CITY, NOTTINGHAM
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More events & musical moments across the East Midlands
Beyond the headline tours, there’s plenty more to book, from Bananarama and Holly Johnson at Lincoln Castle to Love the 90s and Groovebox in the Park at Wollaton Hall and Dot To Dot across Nottingham.
POPSTARS: THE ORIGINALS
calendar_monthWEDNESDAY 21ST APRIL 2027location_onMOTORPOINT ARENA, NOTTINGHAM
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TOO HOT TO HANDLE GREATEST HITS SUMMER TOUR 2027
calendar_monthSATURDAY 19TH JUNE 2027location_onLINCOLN CASTLE
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LIVE AT LINCOLN CASTLE
calendar_monthSUNDAY 13TH JUNE 2027location_onLINCOLN CASTLE
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PLUS HAIRCUT 100 & TOYAH
calendar_monthSATURDAY 26TH JUNE 2027location_onLINCOLN CASTLE
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LINE-UP TBA
calendar_monthSUNDAY 30TH MAY 2027location_onVARIOUS NOTTINGHAM VENUES
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HEADLINER TBA, CLAIRE RICHARDS & MANY MORE
calendar_monthFRIDAY 4TH JUNE 2027location_onWOLLATON HALL, NOTTINGHAM
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HEDEX, JAMIE JONES, ANIL ARAS, BASSLAYERZ & MORE
calendar_monthSATURDAY 5TH JUNE 2027location_onWOLLATON HALL, NOTTINGHAM
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TOM A. SMITH, COSIGN, JEANIE AND THE WHITE BOYS, MIDNIGHT RODEO & MORE
calendar_monthSUNDAY 6TH DECEMBER 2026location_onTHE BODEGA, NOTTINGHAM
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NICKE BORG WITH BAND PLAYS BACKYARD BABIES, ERIK GRONWALL, SISTER, LIPZ, CRUZH, CORRODED & MORE
calendar_monthSATURDAY 15TH & SUNDAY 16TH MAY 2027location_onTHE NEST, NOTTINGHAM
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LIVE AND AT YOUR SERVICE
calendar_monthFRIDAY 4TH JUNE 2027location_onROCK CITY, NOTTINGHAM
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IT GETS BITTER – WORLD COMEDY TOUR
calendar_monthSATURDAY 3RD APRIL 2027location_onROYAL CONCERT HALL, NOTTINGHAM
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NEW FORMS 30TH ANNIVERSARY PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS FABIO & GROOVERIDER
calendar_monthFRIDAY 11TH JUNE 2027location_onROCK CITY, NOTTINGHAM
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106 more eventsLooking for even more events in the East Midlands?Explore even more concerts, tours and festivals happening across Nottingham, Lincoln, Leicester and the East Midlands.SEE MORE EVENTS ▾
Touring the East Midlands
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Nottingham
Lincoln
Leicester
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Where to go
Regional highlights — Where to go in the East Midlands
Venue guide
Metronome is where Nottingham hears its next big thing first — home to BBC Introducing artists, established touring acts and the city’s best comedy nights.
DISCOVER METRONOME
Venue guide
Reborn from a disused factory, The Nest’s modular space flexes from live gigs and street food festivals to sports screenings and corporate events.
DISCOVER THE NEST
Venue guide
One of Nottingham’s newest music spaces, The Grove champions independent talent and touring artists alike — a genuine launchpad for the UK’s next big names.
DISCOVER THE GROVE
Venue guide
Passionate crowds and unforgettable club nights have made Billy Bootleggers a firm favourite for Nottingham gigs, mixing local talent with rising touring artists.
DISCOVER BILLY BOOTLEGGERS
02
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.
Venue guide
A Grade II listed former drill hall in the heart of Lincoln, The Drill packs a 500-capacity punch across gigs, comedy and community events.
DISCOVER THE DRILL
Venue guide
Housed in a Grade II listed former church, not-for-profit Southside gives south Lincoln two flexible halls for up to 350 music and arts fans.
DISCOVER SOUTHSIDE
03
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.
Venue guide
Part real ale pub, part nationally recognised live music venue, The Flowerpot is one of Derby’s best spots for close-up gigs and rising talent.
DISCOVER THE FLOWERPOT
Venue guide
Derby’s loudest, proudest venue: a 500-capacity Becket Street stage spanning rock, punk, metal, indie and electronic for fans who like it loud.
DISCOVER THE HAIRY DOG
05
Northampton
Northampton’s live calendar centres on the historic Royal and Derngate theatres and the Roadmender, a long-running independent venue for touring bands and club nights.
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Good to know
East Midlands events FAQs
Q
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.
Q
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.
Q
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).
Q
What festivals take place near Nottingham?
Popular festivals in and around Nottingham include Dot To Dot Festival, Love the 90s and Groovebox in the Park at Wollaton Hall, and Gloworm Festival at Thoresby Park. 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, Leicester and beyond.
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