Monday 23rd March 2026: elbow opened the legendary Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall concert series with a debut performance at the venue, as curator Robert Smith arrived for London's 2026
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Monday 23rd March 2026: elbow opened the legendary Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall concert series with a debut performance at the venue, as curator Robert Smith arrived for London's 2026 cultural highlight.
From March 23-29, the headliners selected by The Cure legend also include Mogwai, Manic Street Preachers, my bloody valentine, Garbage and Wolf Alice, as well as a night of Robert Smith's Comedy Favourites. The headline set by the Manic Street Preachers on Thursday 26 March will be the 150th show.
Elbow roared into the hall with 'Things I've Been Telling Myself For Years' before the groove and horns of 'Lovers' Leap'.
Singer Guy Garvey told a rapturous crowd: "So this is elbow's first time playing the Albert Hall. There's been a few through the doors over the years... The Stones, the Beatles, Hendrix, Muhammad Ali was here! Churchill made a few speeches. Your Wagner, your Elgar...and it's a real honour.
"Teenage Cancer Trust has been inviting us to come for years, and this is the first time we could make it work, schedule wise. And what an honour to be invited by the great Robert Smith."
The elegant waltz of 'The Seldom Seen Kid' was dedicated to its subject - a friend Guy Garvey lost 20 years ago - it was followed by the unstoppable march of 'The Birds'.
Garvey dedicated the next song to some particular 'Lippy Kids' the band had met earlier.
"Isn't it wonderful when there's so much fear and division, and madness, let's face it...that people get together and do things like the Teenage Cancer Trust. And that everybody gives up their time and really gets behind it. It's an absolute pleasure to be a part of," said Garvey.
"We met some young people today who were very funny, engaged, and one in particular was incredibly sarcastic...There was quite a grilling for us at the Q&A downstairs. They had the measure of us: 'Look at these children in adult bodies.'
"It's a wonderful thing and we'd like to dedicate this song to everybody: Teenage Cancer Trust, particularly the young people downstairs earlier, and, of course, Robert Smith for inviting us along."
'Lippy Kids' itself saw a whistling call and response with the audience, while the show ended with 'Station Approach' and then the anthem that is 'One Day Like This'.
The show was opened by the soul refrains of MRCY, with a powerful set of songs including 'Lorelei', 'Better Days' and the closing 'Sierra' ringing through the epic Royal Albert Hall.
Singer Kojo Degraft-Johnson said: "It was surreal more than anything to play here - but also just a magical, beautiful experience. The Royal Albert Hall has been home to so many amazing musical moments and it's great to play a little part of that. It's also great to be supporting the charity. Teenage Cancer Trust is obviously very important and I think it's the cherry on top to help raise money and raise awareness for something that's so difficult and something that's affected all of us. That makes it extra special."
elbow's performance was streamed via Player+ and is available for 24 hours, with the performance by Manic Street Preachers also set to be available for £15.99, with all profits going to the charity. Fans can visit www.WatchTeenageCancerTrust.com now to book to watch the performances by these iconic bands.
It is a big year for Wednesday headliner, Glasgow post-rock titans Mogwai, who last month celebrated the 30th anniversary of their debut single, 'Tuner/Lower', which was released on their own Rock Action Records. Last year they released their 11th album, The Bad Fire, to great acclaim. Tickets are available here.
The final addition to the line-up was celebrated accordionist Nihad Hrustanbegovic, who is playing around the venue each night.
Cancer kills more teenagers and young adults in the UK than any other disease, yet cancer care wasn't made for young people. Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to providing specialised nursing care and support for young people with cancer, funding specialist nurses, youth workers and 28 hospital units within the NHS.
Its Royal Albert Hall fundraising concert series was launched and curated by Teenage Cancer Trust Honorary Patron Sir Roger Daltrey, who was knighted for services to charity and music earlier this year, from 2000 to 2025.
This year's curator Robert Smith is the first in a series of guest curators who will take on the mantle of raising money for this vital cause in future.
Robert Smith said: "I was 17 when I started the band that turned into The Cure. There was so much I wanted to do. It is hard to imagine the impact it would have had on my life if at that age had heard the words you have cancer. The money you help raise tonight will mean that Teenage Cancer Trust can be there for young people right from that first devastating moment of diagnosis, through every step of their treatment and beyond, to help them recover and hopefully live life to the full."
He said that as well as raising vital funds, the gigs are a celebration of what it means to be young - "and of young people's determination not to let cancer take that away from them".
He said: "I wanted to make this a truly unforgettable week, and am enormously grateful to all the artists who accepted my invitation to perform. Each of them is either legendary or at the top of their game - indeed, in most cases, they are both! I am sure it is going to be a fabulous week."
This year Teenage Cancer Trust has launched 'Good Energy', an art exhibition and print series at the Royal Albert Hall, running from March 18th to April 9th. The collection captures the visceral, shared experience of live music between artist and fan, positioning the "mosh pit" not as a place of chaos, but as a sanctuary of safety and community. The exhibition features 21 limited-edition silk screen prints, chosen by iconic acts including The 1975, Geese, Fontaines DC, Wolf Alice, Yungblud, Nick Cave, Nia Archives, Keane, Sex Pistols feat Frank Carter, The Big Moon, The Snuts, Courteeners, Bring Me The Horizon, Enter Shikari, Elbow and more. Buy online HERE.
James Ainscough OBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Albert Hall, said: "We're incredibly proud to have hosted Teenage Cancer Trust's annual shows for a quarter of a century, supporting this vital and groundbreaking work that improves the lives of young people with cancer every day."
Jules Worrall, Interim Chief Executive of Teenage Cancer Trust, said: "The Royal Albert Hall gigs are pivotal in helping Teenage Cancer Trust change the lives of young people with cancer.
"For more than 20 years, our Honorary Patron Sir Roger Daltrey curated star-studded lineups year after year. For 2026, that baton has passed to Robert Smith, and wow, what a job he has done.
"Once again, some of the biggest names from across the music and entertainment industry will be making us sing, dance and laugh – but more importantly they will be raising essential funds and shining the brightest spotlight on the needs of young people with cancer. We are so grateful for Robert's support, to every artist performing and everyone who buys a ticket.
"Here's to an astonishing week of legendary gigs, and getting young people with cancer the specialised care and support they need."
Rob Ballantine, Director of S.J.M Concerts, said: "SJM concerts have for over two decades been privileged to pull together the week of fund raising shows for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall.
"This year working with Cureator Robert Smith has been a real pleasure and we have seen first hand how hard and how diligently he has worked to bring together such a high calibre line up of artists. The respect he commands in the industry is obvious and we would like to add our name to that long list and thank him for such an amazing job. We know the fans will support these shows as they do every year and we hope to raise much needed funds for this amazing charity. Thank you to all the artists and their representatives who have made this happen, we look forward to an incredible week of shows at the Royal Albert Hall next March."
Jane Ashton, Head of Music and Entertainment at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: "Once again, the music and entertainment industry has come together for a fantastic cause. Money raised from the Royal Albert Hall shows changes lives by funding specialist care and support for young people with cancer. We can't thank the legend that is Robert Smith enough for all the time and energy he has given to curating this epic line-up.
"The 2025 series raised a wonderful record-breaking £2.05 million, but we'd love to beat it! The urgent need to support young people when they hear the devastating words 'its cancer' remains. Thanks to the unwavering support of artists, managers, agents, promoters, crew, and our generous audiences, Teenage Cancer Trust can help them get through cancer, rebuild their life and shape their own future."
Elbow setlist
THINGS I'VE BEEN TELLING MYSELF FOR YEARS
LOVERS' LEAP
THE BONES OF YOU (INC SUMMERTIME)
MIRRORBALL
EMPIRES
FLY BOY BLUE > LUNETTE
KINDLING
HER TO THE EARTH
BALU
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
THE SELDOM SEEN KID
THE BIRDS
LIPPY KIDS
MY SAD CAPTAINS
MAGNIFICENT
GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE
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STATION APPROACH
ONE DAY LIE THIS
MRCY setlist
FLOWERS IN MOURNING
R.L.M.
LORELAI
BETTER DAYS
MAN
SIERRA
Player Plus
Watch elbow and Manic Street Preachers headline sets, live on Player Plus
Platform: Player Plus (stage.playerplus.com)
Player Plus is a premium TV streaming platform bringing live events straight to audiences around the world, working with world-renowned bands including Duran Duran, Jamie Cullum, KALEO, and many more. Delighted to support Teenage Cancer Trust as the platform of choice as they bring select shows from a week of programming to audiences at home around the world.
Pricing: £15.99 / USD $19.99. All profits go to Teenage Cancer Trust.
Live stream links
The shows are also proudly supported by:
Aldi
Aldi is the headline sponsor for this year's Royal Albert Hall series. The supermarket giant has partnered with Teenage Cancer Trust since 2017 and has raised over £12 million for the charity to date.
Domino's:
Domino's has partnered with Teenage Cancer Trust for ten years, has raised £8 million for the charity, and is the official sponsor of the Ultimate Backstage Experience.
American Airlines
American Airlines has generously donated many millions of air miles to support our event series at the Royal Albert Hall.
Royal Albert Hall Show Dates:
Monday, March 23: Elbow and MRCY
Tuesday, March 24: Robert Smith's Comedy Favourites - Maisie Adam, Bridget Christie, Jack Dee, Andy Hamilton, Dom Joly, Miles Jupp, Athena Kugblenu, Stewart Lee and Dara Ó Briain
Wednesday, March 25: Mogwai, Craven Faults and Annika Kilkenny
Thursday, March 26: Manic Street Preachers and The Joy Formidable
Friday, March 27: my bloody valentine and Chvrches (stripped back performance)
Saturday, March 28: Garbage and Placebo (rare, stripped back performance)
Sunday, March 29: Wolf Alice and Nilüfer Yanya
Tickets:
For line-up and ticketing information please visit:
@teenagecancer
Exclusive Resale Partner:
Your ticket is not valid if offered for sale or resold unless it's through our official face value resale partner Twickets.
Please note that Viagogo are not official ticket partners and are in no way connected with these shows. Tickets purchased from Viagogo or any other seller not listed above will be cancelled and will not be valid for the shows. Teenage Cancer Trust supports the FanFair Alliance.
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