Tuesday 24th March 2026: Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall entered its second day with the traditional night of comedy. Superstar comedians left the legendary venue in raptures
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- 12 min read
Tuesday 24th March 2026:
Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall entered its second day with the traditional night of comedy. Superstar comedians left the legendary venue in raptures, as some of the UK's greatest talent entertained fans for Robert Smith's Comedy Favourites.
On Monday, elbow had opened the legendary concert series with a triumphant debut performance at the venue, as 'Cureator' Robert Smith arrived for London's 2026 cultural highlight. 5 star reviews resulted as the band perfectly captured the emotional notes of the night.
From March 23-29, the headliners selected by The Cure legend also include Mogwai, Manic Street Preachers, my bloody valentine, Garbage and Wolf Alice. The headline set by Manic Street Preachers on Thursday 26 March will be the 150th show.
Asked what makes him laugh, Robert Smith said, "Maisie Adam, Bridget Christie, Jack Dee, Andy Hamilton, Dom Joly, Miles Jupp, Athena Kugblenu, Stewart Lee and Dara Ó Briain make me laugh! And Laurel & Hardy and Peter Sellers and Father Ted and South Park and Peter Cook and ... the list is way too long, and most of those on it were sadly unavailable."
Tuesday night was helmed by Dom Joly. The comedian and travel writer became a global phenomenon as the creator and star of the groundbreaking hidden-camera series Trigger Happy TV and he supplied the unexpected throughout the night, popping up to create havoc and introduce the stars. "You look as surprised to see me as I am to be here. This is insane," he said as he shared that Robert Smith had emailed 3 weeks ago to ask him to do the show. "As an ex goth, well you're never really an ex goth, I was kicked out at 22 for being slightly too cheerful. But you're still a goth basically. And when he commands you to the Royal Albert Hall, you do it."
He later recreated his 'shouty phone guy' from a Royal Albert Hall box to introduce Jack Dee.
The versatile actor and comedian from London, Miles Jupp, who transitioned from the stand-up circuit to children's TV fame in Balamory to becoming a leading voice in British satire was up first and regaled the audience with the tale of his preparation for brain surgery with a hair-raising story about a swab... and how far it should go. Closer to home, he plays "where in the house has my wife hidden something" after she swore his phone charge was by the kettle "maybe a week ago" and regretting that the law forbids us all from witnessing his post show bath, "that's Keir Starmer's Britain for you".
Bridget Christie, the BAFTA-nominated stand-up and writer from Gloucester, had the audience in stitches with stories from her menopausal WhatsApp group, with a friend who could remember none of her trip to the Royal Albert Hall - what band they had seen, what the venue was and who she had gone with. But she could definitely recall that the "Maltesers were £7". And she sought to set the world to rights by urging us to take little boys down a peg or two, lest they end up the narcissistic men with "brittle egos" who start all the wars.
Sharp-witted Londoner Athena Kugblenu began with some sad news: "I don't want to bring the mood down but I want to talk about something that's happening personally to me. It's an indication of the downward trajectory of society. People, who are not black, have stopped acting surprised when I tell them my age." Athena also has no time for 30-year-olds who she believes are only able to use the internet because of the sacrifice of over 40s. "It's our internet, you only have it because we put up with it when it was sh*t."
Comedy legend Jack Dee has been a household name since the early '90s with The Jack Dee Show and has since defined British "grumpy" comedy as the host of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. He was on typically sparkling form. "You can clap all you like," he said as the audience welcomed him on stage. "I just found out I'm not getting paid for this." He was surprised the Hall was sold out on a Tuesday - "one of the 7 worst days of the week. The Hindenburg went down on a Tuesday." And he finished on a song about paracetamol, a drug he feels is sadly neglected by the rock n roll canon.
Irish powerhouse Dara Ó Briain, host of Mock the Week, proved his own iconic credentials with the audience in the palm of his hand for stories of charity gigs in front of a difficult, wealthy crowd: "Homeless? none of you have ever even been second homeless...that got nothing," and revealed he is working on his first movie - "I got the lead role in the new Gregg Wallace biopic."
The veteran comedy writer and performer Andy Hamilton, who co-created the hit sitcom Outnumbered needed cheering up after watching the news, "A full house, what a lovely surprise. I thought you'd all be out queuing for petrol.....President Trump says he intends to build a wall between America and reality. Too many facts still sneaking into the country. You know I first did that joke 12 years ago. He went and bloody did it."
He did warn that he likes to "keep my sets experimental. If you hear anything that isn't funny, it's just there as part of the control. Last week I did a show that was 90% placebo."
The 32-year-old from North Yorkshire Maisie Adam has had to move back in with her parents, with her husband, while they renovate a new house. "I'm in the shower, I'm naked. But suddenly, I hear the clip-clop of a 60-year-old woman in kitten heels," she says with horror while trying to reset boundaries set when she was a child. She related the perils of reading out bad puns as the voiceover for supermarket adverts: "It's phenomenal what you'll say when you want a new kitchen." She is often told in the voiceover booth that she needs to make it sound warmer. "I've worked out it means 'can you make it more northern'....?"
Stewart Lee is the "comedian's comedian", widely regarded as one of the finest living stand-ups. Tonight he topped the bill and lived up to that. He expertly deconstructs stand up, preparing "5 jokes about the news" and even makes himself laugh. "It doesn't really work me laughing at my own jokes. The idea of my act is I hate doing this and I don't like you. There I was clearly enjoying myself, laughing at my own jokes. Do you know I realised for a minute there what it's like to be Kevin Bridges." He finished on a joke from "September 1989", asking his grandad about what was the worst thing about growing old, "he said 'all the friends I grew up with slowly dying off, one by one. I said, well Grandad, you fed them those berries....."
It is a big year for the 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".
"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."
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
Good Energy
Teenage Cancer Trust is proud to announce "Good Energy," a new art exhibition and print series launching at the Royal Albert Hall. Running from March 18th – April 9th, 2026, alongside the charity's legendary gig series, this 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.
Drawing on the legendary legacy of the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall shows, the campaign reclaims the term "Good Energy" - a code used by fans to look out for one another in the crowd. The project explores the emotional core of live music, visually documenting the unique connection between performer and audience.
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.
Photographers featured include....Niall Lea, Jez Pennington, Tom Pallant, Peter Neill, Jordan Curtis Hughes, Tanya Hanley, Andrew Whitton, Aaron Parsons, Harriet T K Bols, Caroline Safran, Sacha Lecca, Christian Sarkine, Sterling Chandler, Cameron Brisbane, Charlie Barclay Harris, Jon Stone, Andy Paradise, Emily Chase, India Fleming, Andy Ford, Megan Cullen and Andy Vella.
These pieces are music history. Each image utilises a unique 5-6 layer screen processpioneered by White Duck Editions, who have developed a one-of-a-kind printing technique, which creates depth and detail unlike anything else in photographic printing. This separates black-and-white photography to create architectural depth and texture, effectively capturing the feeling of the gig, not just a snapshot.
While the art captures the high-octane energy of the stage, the project is grounded in the "foundational love" of Teenage Cancer Trust founders, Adrian Whiteson OBE and wife Myrna Whiteson MBE. A candid black-and-white image shows them watching from a box at the Royal Albert Hall, a quiet moment in the Good Energy chaos, bridging the gap between the adrenaline of the pit and the charity's enduring mission.
Frank Carter says of the title image, taken when he performed with Sex Pistols at 2025 Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Ball, "The picture was taken in the legendary Royal Albert Hall. I honestly never thought I would have a chance to play such an iconic venue and to play there with the Sex Pistols was a dream come true. Seeing a mosh pit inside such a prestigious venue felt like the definition of Good Punk Energy and before I had time to reconsider I dived in.
"There is so much misery and suffering in the modern world, people want a chance to escape. When the crowd comes with the same energy as the band on stage and everyone moves as one... that's where the best energy is born and it moves everyone present. It's a gift to be part of that and is the reason why we do what we do."
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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