Sparks Set for Major UK Return This Summer

27-01-26

Sparks return to the UK this summer with a run of headline shows in June 2026, bringing their career-spanning live set back to British stages following a rapturously received world tour.

For Matinee listeners, Sparks remain a true constant. From the angular pop brilliance of their 1970s breakthrough to their bold, cinematic later work, including the much-loved Annette soundtrack, Ron and Russell Mael’s music continues to feel singular, adventurous and utterly unmistakable. It is little wonder they remain one of the most-played cult favourites on Matinee Radio.

The June dates will see Sparks perform across England and Scotland, including outdoor settings, major concert halls and a stadium appearance alongside Gorillaz. Audiences can expect a show that draws from across the duo’s extraordinary catalogue, blending sharp wit, emotional heft and the kind of theatricality that has long set Sparks apart from any of their peers.

The announcement follows the release of Sparks’ 28th studio album, MAD! in 2024, alongside its companion EP MADDER!. The subsequent tour was met with widespread acclaim, with Louder Than War praising “a hundred minutes of energetic, thrilling pop songs”, The Spectator calling the show “an unadulterated triumph”, and The Scotsman declaring that the Mael brothers “take fans to heaven and back”.

Alongside their headline dates, Sparks will appear as special guests to Gorillaz at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday 20 June. The collaboration comes hot on the heels of Gorillaz’s forthcoming album The Mountain, released on 27 February, which features Sparks on the track The Happy Dictator.

Since first exploding into the UK charts in 1974 with This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both of Us, Ron and Russell Mael have remained at the cutting edge of pop. Over five decades, they have continuously reinvented themselves, influencing artists across genres and generations. Their legacy was celebrated in Edgar Wright’s acclaimed documentary The Sparks Brothers, while producer Jack Antonoff summed up their impact succinctly when he said: “All pop music is re-arranged Sparks.”

For fans of Annette, their daring, operatic collaboration with director Leos Carax, these live dates offer a chance to reconnect with a band whose relationship with cinematic storytelling and bold musical ideas has only deepened with time. Sparks’ ability to bridge pop, performance and theatrical scale makes their return especially welcome.

Tickets for most dates go on general sale at 10am on Friday 30 January, with some shows already on sale.

Get tickets from the official site HERE