What’s On in the North East 2026 & 2027: Live Music, Concerts & Events
Posted on Tuesday 13th October 2026 at 12:00
Written by
Will Rabjohns
What’s On in the North East 2026 & 2027: Live Music, Concerts & Events
Updated October 2026. Looking for the best concerts, gigs and live events happening across the North East in 2026 and 2027? From major arena tours and city-centre venues to festivals and one-off performances, this guide highlights the biggest shows coming to the region and where to see them.
Whether you’re planning a night out in Newcastle, heading to an arena show at Utilita Arena or discovering live music in Sunderland, Gateshead and Stockton-on-Tees, you’ll find plenty to add to your calendar. Browse upcoming events and book tickets for some of the North East’s biggest live experiences.
In this guide, you’ll find:
- Major concerts and tours coming to the North East
- Standout shows and limited-date runs worth booking early
- Regional highlights from Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead, Stockton-on-Tees and Tynemouth
- A practical FAQ to help plan your live events calendar
Standout gigs & tours across the North East
PASSENGER
When: Tuesday 14th September 2027 (O2 City Hall Newcastle)
Singer-songwriter Passenger brings the Wild Love Tour and his heartfelt, folk-tinged storytelling to O2 City Hall Newcastle next September.
CHESNEY HAWKES
When: Thursday 22nd April 2027 (Queen’s Hall, Hexham)
Nineties pop star Chesney Hawkes brings chart-topper "The One and Only" and plenty more to Hexham’s Queen’s Hall next April.
HEAR’SAY / LIBERTY X
When: Tuesday 4th May 2027 (Utilita Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne)
Popstars graduates Hear’Say and Liberty X share the Utilita Arena stage next May for a night of noughties pop.
RONI SIZE & REPRAZENT
NEW FORMS 30TH ANNIVERSARY + FABIO & GROOVERIDER
When: Saturday 12th June 2027 (NX, Newcastle upon Tyne)
Mercury-winning drum and bass pioneers Roni Size & Reprazent celebrate 30 years of New Forms at NX next June.
BIANCA DEL RIO
IT GETS BITTER - WORLD COMEDY TOUR
When: Thursday 8th April 2027 (O2 City Hall Newcastle)
Drag Race champion Bianca Del Rio brings her razor-sharp, take-no-prisoners stand-up to O2 City Hall Newcastle next April.
SLEEPER
END OF THE WORLD TOUR + TURIN BRAKES
When: Friday 19th March 2027 (Digital, Newcastle upon Tyne)
Britpop favourites Sleeper bring the End Of The World Tour to Newcastle’s Digital next March, with support from Turin Brakes.
SEASICK STEVE
20 YEARS OUT OF THE DOG HOUSE TOUR
When: Thursday 18th March 2027 (The Glasshouse International Centre for Music - Sage One, Gateshead)
Blues troubadour Seasick Steve brings his raw, stomping boogie and homemade guitars to The Glasshouse, Gateshead, next March.
BILLY LOCKETT
When: Tuesday 9th February 2027 (The Cluny 2, Newcastle upon Tyne)
Piano-led singer-songwriter Billy Lockett brings his heartfelt, soaring songs to The Cluny 2 next February for an intimate Newcastle show.
SAMMY RAE & THE FRIENDS
THE GET DOWN CONTINUES... WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
When: Saturday 24th April 2027 (Northumbria University Students’ Union, Newcastle upon Tyne)
Genre-hopping collective Sammy Rae & The Friends bring their joyful, jazz-flecked pop and big-band energy to Newcastle next April.
TIGERCUB
When: Friday 23rd October 2026 (The Grove, Newcastle upon Tyne)
Brighton trio Tigercub bring their heavy, hook-laden alt-rock and colossal riffs to The Grove for a standout Newcastle night.
More gigs, festivals & events across the North East
From one-off spectaculars to comedy tours and grassroots gigs, the North East calendar is packed with reasons to get out and see something live.
TOBY LEE
When: Saturday 1st May 2027 (The Glasshouse International Centre for Music - Sage Two, Gateshead)
SOUTH ARCADE
WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD TOUR + MOUTH CULTURE
When: Saturday 13th February 2027 (NX, Newcastle upon Tyne)
SAXON
GODS OF THUNDER - CASTLES + EAGLES PRODUCTION
When: Saturday 20th February 2027 (O2 City Hall Newcastle)
GLADIATORS LIVE TOUR
When: Sunday 22nd November 2026 (Utilita Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne)
XMAS ON THE DANCEFLOOR
STARRING STRICTLY’S GORKA MÁRQUEZ
When: Monday 7th December 2026 (The Glasshouse, Gateshead)
STOP MAKING SENSE LIVE
A LIVE RECREATION OF THE GREATEST CONCERT MOVIE OF ALL TIME
When: Friday 11th December 2026 (Digital, Newcastle upon Tyne)
AN EVENING WITH EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER
When: Sunday 7th February 2027 (The Glasshouse International Centre for Music - Sage One, Gateshead)
DONNY OSMOND
When: Thursday 21st January 2027 (Utilita Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne)
THE DUBLINERS ENCORE
When: Thursday 11th November 2027 (Tyne Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne)
Regional highlights — Where to go in the North East
Newcastle upon Tyne
A powerhouse of the North East’s music scene, Newcastle upon Tyne hosts major concerts at Utilita Arena, O2 City Hall and NX, alongside a thriving grassroots circuit across Boiler Shop, The Cluny and Zerox.
The Grove
Set inside a huge former industrial building where Byker meets the Ouseburn Valley, The Grove is a 350-capacity music venue, bar and cultural hub all in one — already home to the likes of AJ Tracey, KNEECAP and Dry Cleaning.
Our venue guide covers everything you need to plan your visit — from upcoming gigs to getting there.
Discover The GroveSunderland
With a proud musical heritage and a growing live scene, Sunderland pairs major shows at The Fire Station with local and touring gigs at Independent, alongside seasonal outdoor events across the city.
Gateshead
Home to some of the region’s most iconic venues, Gateshead offers world-class performances at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, plus grassroots gigs at The Central and The Black Bull, on the banks of the Tyne.
Stockton-on-Tees
Known for its strong ties to the UK music scene, Stockton-on-Tees hosts intimate gigs and major performances at Georgian Theatre and Stockton Globe throughout the year.
Tynemouth
On the coast just east of Newcastle, Tynemouth offers a more intimate side of the North East’s live scene, with close-up gigs from touring artists at Three Tanners Bank and King Street Social Club.
Browse events by town or city:
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE | SUNDERLAND | GATESHEAD | DARLINGTON | MIDDLESBROUGH | STOCKTON-ON-TEES | TYNEMOUTH
Need to know — North East 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 North East can sell out quickly, so it’s worth setting reminders and booking early.
What’s the biggest concert venue in the North East?
Utilita Arena, Newcastle, is one of the largest indoor concert venues in the region and hosts many of the world’s biggest touring artists. Other major venues include Newcastle’s O2 City Hall and NX Newcastle, Gateshead’s The Glasshouse International Centre for Music and Sunderland’s The Fire Station.
Which North East venues are best for live music?
The region has a thriving live music scene, from major venues such as Utilita Arena Newcastle, O2 City Hall and The Glasshouse International Centre for Music (Gateshead), to respected grassroots venues including The Cluny, The Grove and Zerox (Newcastle), Independent (Sunderland) and The Georgian Theatre (Stockton-on-Tees).
What festivals take place in the North East?
The region hosts festival-style events year-round, including New Horizons Festival, alongside a variety of independent and grassroots events across the calendar.
Ready to explore more live events across the North East?
Find all upcoming gigs, tours and festivals across Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland and beyond.