Credit: Supplied
Following on from their announcement of relaunching Kong Studios as an online video game, the virtual band Gorillaz has announced a 2026 tour performing at arenas across the UK and Ireland – including a show in Manchester. The news comes as Gorillaz is set to release their ninth studio album titled The Mountain on March 20, 2026, which will be the first album on the band’s own new label, KONG.
Gorillaz was created by musician Damon Albarn of Blur and Massive Attack and artist Jamie Hewlett back in 1998. The band mainly consists of four fictional members: 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, and Russel Hobbs, and is best known for songs Feel Good Inc, DARE, Dirty Harry and Clint Eastwood.
The Gorillaz 2026 arena tour, with support from Trueno, will kick off on March 21 at Co-op Live in Manchester before heading to cities such as Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Cardiff, Nottingham, Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin. Plus, they will perform a one-off headline show at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20, with support from Sparks and Trueno.
Credit: Supplied
Circumstances now find Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs, 2D and Noodle in India, having made their way to Mumbai with the help of four fake passports courtesy of a New York business acquaintance of Murdoc. The band has turned its back on international pop stardom, with the heroes now immersed in the rhythms of mystical music-making, as they navigate the mountainous terrain of this thing called life.
This week, fans around the world celebrated the long-awaited return of Kong Studios – the home of Gorillaz. The band’s HQ since early 2000 (before falling into disrepair and eventually being burnt to the ground by Murdoc in 2008), the original Kong Studios was a ground-breaking virtual gathering place for fans, allowing them to connect and explore the band’s living quarters and recording studio, listen to music, play games, fight zombies, and much more. Now faithfully restored to its former glory, Kong Studios is back with a fresh lick of paint as a gamified, online fan experience.
Gorillaz UK and Ireland 2026 arena tour dates
March 21 – Co-op Live, Manchester
March 22 – bp pulse Live, Birmingham
March 24 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow*
March 25 – First Direct Bank Arena*, Leeds
March 27 – Utilita Arena*, Cardiff
March 28 – Motorpoint Arena*, Nottingham
March 29 – M&S Bank Arena*, Liverpool
March 31 – SSE Arena*, Belfast
April 1 – 3Arena*, Dublin
June 20 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (with support from Sparks and Trueno)
*support from Trueno
How to get tickets for Gorillaz in Manchester
Gorillaz mailing list presale begins 11am BST on Wednesday 17th September, but is only accessible to those who register in advance here before 5pm BST on Tuesday 16th September.
The Co-op member ticket pre-sale for the Gorillaz show in Manchester will begin on Wednesday 17th September at 11am, followed by general on-sale on Friday 19th September at 11am.