After a seven-year hiatus from live performances, Radiohead has officially announced a series of European tour dates, confirming months of fan speculation ignited by cryptic flyers that appeared across the continent. The news was made official via the band’s social media, with drummer Philip Selway sharing an update that has sent a jolt of excitement through the music world.
The long-awaited live return follows a private rehearsal last year, which Selway said was done “just for the hell of it.” He explained that after such a long time apart, it felt “really good to play the songs again and reconnect with a musical identity that has become lodged deep inside all five of us.” The positive experience led the band to book a limited run of shows. Selway stated: “It also made us want to play some shows together, so we hope you can make it to one of the upcoming dates.”
This tour marks a significant change in direction from comments made by frontman Thom Yorke last year, who had previously indicated that a live return was not imminent, saying the band had “earned the right to do what makes sense to us without having to explain ourselves.” The about-face suggests the band’s internal momentum and renewed creative energy were too strong to ignore.
While there has been no official mention of new music, fans have been on high alert for clues. Earlier this year, the band registered a new limited liability partnership, RHEUK25, with all five members listed. This legal move, along with a donation of “Radiohead concert of your choice” tickets to a fire relief auction, fueled speculation and indicated that a return was on the horizon.
During their time away from the stage, the band members have been far from idle. Thom Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood have been actively recording and touring with their side project The Smile. Their work, however, was recently paused when Jonny Greenwood was hospitalized with a serious infection that required intensive care. Other members have also pursued solo endeavors: guitarist Ed O’Brien released his debut solo album, Earth, in 2020, while bassist Colin Greenwood has been performing with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
The band’s enduring relevance was recently underscored when their 1997 track “Let Down” from the album OK Computer unexpectedly entered the US Billboard chart 28 years after its release, thanks to a viral moment on TikTok.
Tickets for the highly anticipated tour will be available via registration on the band’s official website, Radiohead.com, starting Friday, September 5 at 10:00 AM BST.
Radiohead European Tour Dates 2025:
- November 4, 5, 7, & 8 – Movistar Arena, Madrid, Spain
- November 14, 15, 17, & 18 – Unipol Arena, Bologna, Italy
- November 21, 22, 24, & 25 – The O2, London, UK
- December 1, 2, 4, & 5 – Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark
- December 8, 9, 11, & 12 – Uber Arena, Berlin, Germany
