Fresh from a rapturously received world tour and the acclaim surrounding MAD! and MADDER!, Ron and Russell Mael have announced additional UK, Netherlands and Belgium shows after overwhelming fan demand. And for UK fans, there’s a delicious slice of history baked into the announcement: Sparks are returning to York and Southend-on-Sea for the first time since 1974 - That’s right, 51 years since they last played those cities!
The newly added dates slot into an already packed run that spans Japan, New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Europe. With Bristol and Glasgow already sold out — and more tickets released for Blackpool, Sparks’ 2025–26 live campaign is shaping up to be one of their most in‑demand tours in decades.
The following are the new dates.
Nijmegen, Netherlands — Thu 20 Aug, Openluchttheater De Goffert
York, UK — Tue 25 Aug, York Barbican
Southend-on-Sea, UK — Wed 26 Aug, Cliffs Pavilion
Antwerp, Belgium — Sat 29 Aug, De Roma
Tickets are on sale NOW, full details at www.allsparks.com
The reviews speak for themselves:
“Joy unbridled… a unique and glorious spectacle” — Mojo
“A magnificent night” ★★★★★ — The Times
“A hugely thrilling injection of joy and power” — Classic Rock
Their 2025 world tour drew similar praise, with Louder Than War calling it “a hundred minutes of energetic, thrilling pop songs” and The Spectator hailing it as “an unadulterated triumph”. Sparks also continue to reach new audiences through their collaboration with Gorillaz, performing The Happy Dictator on Jimmy Kimmel Live and joining the virtual icons at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.
Since exploding into UK consciousness in 1974 with This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both of Us, Sparks have remained one of pop’s most inventive, influential and mischievous forces. Their fingerprints are everywhere — from Joy Division and Depeche Mode to Björk, Beck and The Last Dinner Party.
As producer Jack Antonoff put it: “All pop music is re‑arranged Sparks.”
For full list of global dates, including Japan, New Zealand, Australia, France, the UK and festival appearances, head to www.allsparks.com.
The return to York and Southend after half a century is a moment loaded with nostalgia, symmetry and a sense of artistic longevity few bands ever achieve. This is a tour that feels like a victory lap, a love letter, and a fresh chapter all at once.