2026 is shaping up to be one of the most entertaining years for live music lovers in Europe and the UK, especially with legendary bands like Metallica, Linkin Park, Hollywood Vampires, and the global South Korean K-pop icons BTS returning to the live stage.

These bands will bring different sounds, different audiences, and different adventures, designed to send chills down the spines of their European and UK audiences across stadiums, arenas, and historic grounds.

One other thing they’ll be bringing along with them is a shared reality between everyone in Europe and the UK, with plans to see them. That is, a massive demand for tickets, considering that some of them already have sold-out venues in Europe and the UK.

From heavy metal to K-pop, and then nostalgia-driven rock to cinematic live experiences that are somewhat difficult to differentiate from reality, fans of all bands are asking the same questions: Where are they performing? What will the shows look like, and most importantly, how hard will it be to get tickets now?

Without wasting much time, let’s break it all down for your understanding.

Why Europe And The UK Reign As Global Hubs For Live Music

Before we go into discussing these tours, we found something important while researching for this article: the explanation of why Europe and the UK are both global hubs for live music.

You see, Europe, led prominently by the UK, has undoubtedly become a central hub for live musical entertainment because of the consistent high volume of tourism, economic performance, and a globally attractive music ecosystem.

Based on credible data from ThecreativeindustriesUK, the UK alone was able to draw over 23.5 million music tourists in 2024, indicating a 23% increase from 2023. The most interesting thing about this percentage is the fact that 1.6 million of these visitors arrived from overseas. A perfect reflection of Europe’s strong international pull for major tours and festivals.

Additionally, Europe’s ability to convert cultural interest into economic value can be seen in tourists generating over £10 billion in total music-event spending, recording a 26% year-on-year increase according to Lyricandempirical.

Before we wrap this section up, it’s important to add that the UK’s live sector exceeded £6 billion in economic contribution back in 2023. This was supported by more than 230k jobs. It further demonstrated the scale and professionalism of Europe’s live music workforce, to say the least.

Next time, when the thought of why Europe and the UK are the home of live musical events crosses your mind, this should do some justice to that thought.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s look into the best Europe and the UK concert tours in 2026.

Metallica: “M72 World Tour”

The “M72 World Tour” is Metallica’s current career tour in support of their eleventh studio album, “72 Seasons.” The band became active in the music industry in 1981 and has successfully headlined some of the most amazing heavy metal live shows that Europe has ever seen.

The “M72 World Tour” started in 2023 and is set to wrap up this year. But not until the tour has visited major venues in the UK and Europe. Here’s everything you should know.

“M72 World Tour:” The UK And Europe Dates

Tip: Explore Metallica’s “M72 World Tour” 2026 Europe and the UK concert tickets.

BTS: “Arirang World Tour”

BTS’s “Arirang World Tour” is set to hit Europe on the 26th of June 2026, before moving to the UK on the 6th and 7th of July 2026. This tour is marked as BTS’s eighth career tour and at the same time, their reunion tour in the music industry.

The South Korean K-pop sensation once went silent to face other aspects of life. This break created a demand that could only be met by a live show. No wonder the “Arirang World Tour” was met with an unprecedented demand after the announcement.

“Arirang World Tour:” The UK And Europe Dates

Tip: Explore BTS’s “Arirang World Tour” 2026 Europe and the UK concert tickets.

Linkin Park: “From Zero World Tour”

The “From Zero World Tour” is Linkin Park’s twelfth career tour, which they began headlining in 2024. They had their first European and UK shows in 2024 and came back for a second leg in 2025. 2026 will be the third time they visit Europe and the UK in the same tour.

In 2026, Linkin Park will be headlining a total of seventeen shows in both the UK and Europe. Here’s everything we know about the 2026 leg of “From Zero World Tour.”

“From Zero World Tour:” The UK And Europe Dates

Tip: Explore Linkin Park’s “From Zero World Tour” 2026 Europe and the UK concert tickets.

Hollywood Vampires: “Hollywood Vampires 2026 Tour”

The Hollywood Vampires are expected to begin their very much anticipated career tour in the third quarter of 2026, with fourteen shows planned in the UK and Europe. The one thing about this tour is its affordability.

While most of the tickets in this article are reaching hundreds of Euros, Hollywood Vampire tickets are still listed below €100 – making it one of the most affordable live music shows you can attend in the UK or Europe this year. Here are their UK and Europe fixtures.

“Hollywood Vampires 2026 Tour:” The UK And Europe Dates

Tip: Explore Hollywood Vampires 2026 Tour Europe and the UK concert tickets.