Duran Duran brought their “Free to Love” tour to Leeds, delivering a spectacular, hits-packed performance at the first direct arena. Taking the stage on Saturday, 24 October 2026, the legendary New Romantic icons proved exactly why they remain one of the most enduring forces in British pop-rock. Supported by special guests Pigeon, the band played to a packed, highly energetic crowd.
The evening’s setlist seamlessly bridged decades of music, demonstrating the band’s vast catalog and tight musicianship. Opening with a symphonic instrumental version of “Free to Love,” the group quickly escalated the energy with early classic “Is There Something I Should Know?” followed immediately by the driving rhythms of “The Wild Boys”.
A major highlight of the night was the band’s cinematic segment, featuring their iconic James Bond theme “A View to a Kill,” which had the arena singing along to every word. The main set was a masterclass in building momentum, combining massive global chart-toppers like “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “The Reflex” with beloved atmospheric album cuts such as “Winter Marches On”. Fans of their 1990s resurgence were also treated to powerful, emotionally resonant renditions of “Ordinary World” and “Come Undone”.
True to their reputation for keeping live shows dynamic, Duran Duran mixed several unexpected mashups and covers into the performance. They paired “Lonely in Your Nightmare” with Rick James’s “Super Freak,” and later blended their classic debut single “Girls on Film” with Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer”. The band also threw in energetic covers of ELO’s “Evil Woman” and Grandmaster Melle Mel’s “White Lines”.
As the night drew to a close, the energy in Leeds reached its peak. Following the full full-band introductions during “Planet Earth,” the group closed out the main set with “(Reach Up for the) Sunrise”. Returning to the stage for a highly anticipated encore, they sent the crowd home with a massive double-punch of nostalgia, playing the anthemic “Save a Prayer” and a soaring finale of “Rio”. It was a masterful, entirely live performance that cemented their status as true music legends.
Photo Copyright Graham Finney
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