Punk titans Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter have announced headline shows for summer 2026, marking 50 years of punk.
The original members of the Pistols Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock, will be joined by frontman Frank Carter for headline shows at The Piece Hall, Halifax (Saturday July 11); Castlefield Bowl, Manchester (Sunday July 12); Cardiff Castle (Saturday August 1) and Scarborough Open Air Theatre (Sunday August 2).
The punk movement in the UK was born in 1976 and led by the Sex Pistols, who kicked down conventions of music and style, shaking up and changing society forever.
The new Pistols once more emerged in 2025 as a force of chaos and celebration – and 2026 will see them celebrate 50 years since the band’s infamous show at Manchester’s The Lesser Free Trade Hall – a gig hailed by NME as “the most important concert of all time”, inspiring an audience packed with people who would become the next generation of artists.
From Australia to Japan, through European festivals and a legendary show at the Royal Albert Hall – where Carter conjured a giant circle pit – they have torn venues apart throughout 2025. A return to London’s 100 Club before an audience that included Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller and Bobby Gillespie, sealed the revival.
Formerly of Gallows and Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Carter joined the line up in 2024, to help save London’s iconic Bush Hall and soon received rave reviews for his energy and new life brought to Sex Pistols’ music.
In summer 1976, Sex Pistols played two gigs at The Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester – shows cited as responsible for the punk rock boom in Northern England, in turn inspiring Manchester’s alternative and the UK’s indie music scenes.
The shows played to audiences of fewer than 50 people, but among them were future members of Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, Buzzcocks and Simply Red, along with Factory Records’ founder Tony Wilson.
Sex Pistols feat Frank Carter UK 2026 shows
Saturday 11th July – TK Maxx Presents Live at The Piece Hall, Halifax, with The Undertones and Panic Shack. Tickets go on sale at 10am Friday 28th November via ticketmaster.co.uk
Sunday 12th July – Castlefield Bowl, Manchester with Dr John Cooper Clarke. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 28th November.
Saturday 1st August – TK Maxx Presents Depot Live at Cardiff Castle with The Stranglers, The Undertones and Panic Shack. Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Friday via www.depotlive.co.uk and www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Sunday 2nd August – TK Maxx Presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre with The Stranglers, The Undertones – Tickets go on sale at 10am this Friday via scarboroughopenairtheatre.com and ticketmaster.co.uk
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