Radiohead tour dates announced amid boycott calls

Activists urge fans to skip Radiohead gigs until the band distances itself from a Tel Aviv performance during the Gaza war.

Radiohead to play first shows since 2018 amid boycott calls

Radiohead has confirmed four night residencies in each country, with dates in London, Copenhagen, Madrid, Berlin and Bologna. The European leg will run in November and December, and tickets will be sold through pre registration to curb bots and touts. Most tickets will be allocated to fans living near the venues, with options to travel within Europe or from outside Europe. A UK ticket levy of £1 will support the Live Trust charity, and European tickets will include a €1 donation to Médecins Sans Frontières, matched by Radiohead.

The announcements come amid continued debate over the band’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Pro-Palestine campaigners have urged fans to boycott the tour until guitarist Jonny Greenwood distances himself from a Tel Aviv performance during the Gaza war. Radiohead’s members have long pursued side projects and political commentary, including prior protests and public statements on the conflict. The group has faced past show cancellations and security concerns tied to political tensions, underscoring the challenges of balancing artistic activity with activism.

Radiohead’s return to the stage is being read as more than a tour announcement; it is a test of how a legacy band negotiates politics in public life. The mix of charitable levies and a ticketing system designed to be fair signals a governance mindset aimed at transparency and accessibility. Yet the decision to proceed amid boycott calls shows how art and politics are inseparable in today’s culture, where fans expect artists to take a stance even as they seek to preserve a neutral space for performance.

The episode also highlights the economics of modern touring. Releasing tickets through pre registration to curb scalpers speaks to a practical need to protect fans and venues, while the charitable components reflect a trend toward social responsibility in live events. How fans, venues and promoters respond will influence future tours and the political calculus for other aging bands facing similar scrutiny.

Highlights

The road ahead will show whether culture can hold music and conscience in balance.