British indie icons The Kooks have announced a run of mammoth outdoor summer gigs for 2026 which will mark 20 years since their breakthrough debut album, ‘Inside In/Inside Out’, which featured hits like ‘Naïve’, ‘She Moves In Her Own Way’ and ‘Seaside’.
Next year, The Kooks will take to the stage at Delamere Forest in Northwich on June 17, Scarborough Open Air Theatre on June 18, Live at The Piece Hall in Halifax on June 19, and Canons Marsh Amphitheatre for Bristol Sounds on June 23.
‘Inside In/Inside’ catapulted the band into fame, selling more than 2 million copies and helping
define an era of music. Two decades since their debut, The Kooks are resonating with a whole
new generation. With sold-out tours and epic returns to festival main stages, the band has firmly
cemented their place in the hearts of Gen Z fans.
News of the concerts comes shortly after the band wrapped up a run of their biggest ever headline shows, which included a sold-out show at Manchester’s Co-op Live, described by The Guardian as a “triumphant and touching mass singalong”, and culminated in a career-defining performance at London’s O2 Arena.
In May, the band released their seventh studio album, ‘Never/Know’. Their highest charting body of work since 2008, ‘Never/Know’ landed at number 5 in the UK album charts. The album’s first single was selected as Radio X’s ‘Record of the Week’. NME referred to single welcoming in a “The new era of The Kooks”.
Speaking about the album, 1883 said, “The Kooks have cemented themselves as a key part of the UK musical landscape”.
The infectious, ‘Sunny Baby’ garnered support from The Times, who included the single in their ‘Best new songs’ round up, referring to the track as “Hook perfect”.
The Kooks stole the show at Reading Festival this Summer with a signature mainstage set, including the standout moment Hollywood star Rebel Wilson joined the band onstage for a performance of Coolio’s 1995 hit ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ featuring L.V.
Tickets to The Kooks summer concerts will be available via artist pre-sale on Wednesday October 29, 2025 at 10AM, with venue pre-sale taking place on Thursday October 30, 10AM.
Tickets will be on general sale Friday October 31 at 10AM and will be available at thekooks.com/#live
The Kooks, whose 2006 debut sold over 2 million copies, have unexpectedly found themselves
beloved by a new generation.
While their original fans remain, they’ve layered on a fervent Gen Z following, headlining festivals and selling out shows worldwide. Social media has made them a generations’ new favourite band again, introducing their unmistakable Brit-pop joy to fresh ears.
Their debut was a defining moment for indie music in the 2000s, their first releases set the sound of a moment in time. There are few songs as defining of the 2000s as ‘Naïve’, but the band were never a one-hit wonder – their follow-up record, Konk, hit number one as one of four top 10 albums. The Kooks never stopped evolving, transitioning from indie rock to synthpop and krautrock influences. Over time, they’ve integrated wide-ranging inspirations—Harris’ love of soul and opera, alongside Pritchard’s classic influences like Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones.
In May 2025, the band released Never/Know, their highest-charting album since 2008, reaching number 5 on the UK Albums Chart. As part of their 2025 arena tour, The Kooks delivered career-defining performances at Manchester’s Co-op Live and London’s O2 Arena.
Next year, the band will hit the road once again for a series of massive outdoor shows.
Follow The Kooks
