Radiohead to play “20 shows each year” on a different continent from 2027, reveals Ed O’Brien

Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien has revealed plans for the band to hit the road again in 2027 and beyond.

The Oxford band returned to the stage in the UK and Europe last year, marking their first live shows in over seven years. They played a run of 20 arena concerts across five cities, including four nights at London’s O2.

READ MORE: Radiohead live in London review: a generous and visceral hit parade (of sorts)

For the residencies, Radiohead took a “busking approach” to their setlist by performing “any order” of tracks they wished, whittling down their huge catalogue to “about 70 songs”. The group also played in the round in the centre of the venue throughout the tour. See all the setlists here.

Thom Yorke and co. had previously said: “For now, it will just be these [dates] but who knows where this will all lead.”

Now, in a new interview with Rolling Stone, O’Brien has confirmed that Radiohead will play more shows in the near future. “It’s definitely happening,” he said, before giving some details about how the band would go about touring.

“What we’re going to do is, every year we’re going to do a different continent, and we’re going to do 20 shows each year. No more, no less,” the musician continued.

He then said Radiohead would be out of action in 2026, though they are looking to perform again together in 2027. “We won’t do anything this year, but we’ll do something next year,” O’Brien added.

Radiohead, live in Madrid, 2025. Credit: Alex Lake

Elaborating on the reasoning behind limiting the tour to 20 concerts on one continent, the guitarist explained: “We want to give absolutely everything each night.

“We do not ever want it to be like we’re going through the motions or we’re having to run on empty. We’ve got to be able to do it. And you know what? We’re not spring chickens anymore.”

The musician recalled how he “was done with Radiohead” after they wrapped up touring in 2018:” It had got to a place where I just wasn’t enjoying it. I just didn’t resonate with it anymore, and I wanted to do my own thing… I think we’d run out of road. We’d run out of inspiration.

“The others said they wanted to tour. I didn’t really want to tour, and they knew that. But I did it and I’m glad I did. I saw it through to the end.”

However, he changed his mind in 2024 when the band got together to rehearse following their long hiatus. “And the chemistry was there from the very beginning,” he said. “I think we always knew that if we got the love between us right, then it all flows from there.”

Radiohead, live in Madrid, 2025. Credit: Alex Lake

O’Brien will be busy this year promoting his new solo album, ‘Blue Morpho’, which arrives on May 22. His bandmate Jonny Greenwood, meanwhile, recently announced a project with composer Shye Ben Tzur and The Rajasthan Express titled ‘Ranjha’.

All five members of Radiohead formed a new private limited company last month, suggesting that the band were planning something in the near future. Their latest full-length record, ‘A Moon Shaped Pool’, was released in 2016.

Elsewhere, Greenwood explained in February that he was “surprised” the band enjoyed their comeback tour so much – but said he had “no idea” whether Radiohead might release new material.

“To do another [tour] would have to decide now, and even then it wouldn’t happen for 18 months,” he added.

In a glowing, five-star review of one of Radiohead’s gigs in London last November, NME wrote: “What a show: a visceral energy, a tasteful spectacle, all delivered with a generosity of spirit, Yorke in full rockstar mode as the band trade places to tend to each corner of the venue.

“For a band once embarrassed by the notion of ‘arena rock’, nobody does it better. A new album and another night like this can’t come soon enough.”

The reunion shows saw Radiohead break the attendance record for London’s O2, surpassing Metallica, who had held the title since 2017.

In the capital, the band’s dates raised money for the LIVE Trust, which represents the UK’s live music and entertainment sector, along with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) for their European shows.

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