The Time Out London blog team

2026 is already shaping up to be a huge year for big-ticket pop gigs in the UK, with the likes of the Weeknd, RAYE, Bad Bunny and Lily Allen all lined up to play British arenas and stadiums. Today (January 8), however, we can add another massive tour to that list, as none other than Bruno Mars has confirmed dates in the UK this summer. Mars’ The Romantic Tour is the singer’s first string of headline dates in nearly a decade – since 2017’s 24K Magic World Tour –  and it’ll see him play more than 40 shows across Europe and North America. The tour announcement follows the news that Mars will be releasing his long-awaited fourth studio album The Romantic in February. Can’t wait to experience hits like ‘Grenade’, ‘That’s What I Like’ and ‘Locked Out of Heaven’ in the IRL? Here’s how to make sure you get Bruno Mars tickets for his shows this summer. RECOMMENDED: The 20 best major music tours coming to the UK in 2026. When is Bruno Mars going on tour in 2026? The Romantic Tour kicks off this coming April and will last all the way through to October. In that time Mars will play stadiums across the USA, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.   What London tour dates have been announced so far? Mars has initially announced two London dates, which are both at Wembley Stadium in July. Saturday July 18 2026 Sunday July 19 2026 When do Bruno Mars tickets go on sale? General sale starts next week, at 12pm GMT on Thursday January 15. You’ll be able to get tickets on...

Sometimes Red Bull events feature world-class athletes achieving daring, nearly superhuman feats. Other times they’re just an excuse to watch regular folk fail in beautifully creative ways. The Alexandra Palace soapbox race is very much an example of the latter. In case you’ve somehow missed it, London’s Red Bull Soapbox Race sees groups of wannabe inventors and mechanics get together to create DIY vehicles out of stuff they found in their sheds. They then hop inside of their creations and attempt to ride them all the way down the hill at Ally Pally. On their way, they’ll have to overcome a series of obstacles which will inevitably defeat most competitors. London Red Bull Soapbox Race 2026 date This year’s race will take place on Saturday June 20. The last one was back in 2024, which means the teams have had two full years to create their masterpieces. In the past we’ve seen minivans made of plywood, go-karts designed to look like food, and even a bathtub with wheels rattle down the hill. Expect this year to be no different. Tickets and prices Tickets for the iconic race are already on sale, and you can bag yours here. They cost £23.50 for under 25s and £34.50 for those who’re 26+, while specific wheelchair accessible passes are available. In 2024 tickets sold out, so make sure to get in early to avoid disappointment. Children are welcome, but anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. As well as being able to watch the chaos of the race, Red Bull promises that the...

The Ministry of Sound is entering a brand new era in 2026. Ahead of its 35th year of existence, the legendary club is getting its most significant transformation to date.  The venue’s main room, the Box, will be closed over the next few weeks as it undergoes a huge refurb. It’ll say goodbye to its legendary Martin Audio system and replace it with a sparkling new KV2 sound system, promising a ‘more powerful, immersive and detailed listening experience’.  The makeover will also include rebuilding and lowering the DJ booth into the crowd to allow for more stage formats, such as a 360-degree setup. The booth will be surrounding by an elevated backstage area, which will be able to fit 200 people.  There’s more. The Box is also getting a huge ‘state-of-the-art’ overhead light installation and new video and lighting design by studio Lucid Creates, which has previously created stages and installations for the likes of Glastonbury and Boomtown. Chris Carr, the agency’s founder said that it has ‘leant heavily into industrial textures and forms to inform the overall look of the space - steering away from an overly clean, overly manicured aesthetic’. The outcome, he said, is ‘something that will still feel distinctively “The Box” but in a really interesting and imaginative way’.  Work will be complete by the end of the month, and the Box will be back up and running on January 30 (the venue’s other rooms are still hosting smaller events). Tickets for the reopening weekend, which will...