The legendary Teenage Cancer Trust concert series has made its triumphant return to the Royal Albert Hall for 2026. This year, the week-long residency has been curated by none other than The Cure frontman Robert Smith, taking over the mantle from longtime patron Sir Roger Daltrey to raise vital funds for young people facing cancer.
If you didn’t get a ticket, you can livestream each evening (the event runs through until Sunday) for £15.99 – all profits to Teenage Cancer Trust.
Opening the week on Monday night, elbow made their long-awaited debut at the iconic venue. Guy Garvey and the boys delivered a masterclass in atmospheric rock, opening with “Things I’ve Been Telling Myself For Years” before moving into the brass-heavy groove of “Lovers’ Leap”. Garvey, ever the charismatic frontman, shared his pride in finally making the schedules work for such a worthy cause, even dedicating the anthem “Lippy Kids” to a group of young people the band had met earlier that day.
The night was rounded off with the massive “One Day Like This”, leaving the crowd in fine voice. Support for the evening came from soulful newcomers MRCY, who proved they belonged on the big stage with a powerful set including “Lorelei” and “Sierra”.
Tuesday shifted the tone from soaring melodies to side-splitting laughs for “Robert Smith’s Comedy Favourites”. Hosted by Dom Joly – who admitted he was summoned by an email from the “Cureator” himself – the night featured a heavy-hitting lineup including Jack Dee, Dara Ó Briain, and Stewart Lee. From Miles Jupp’s tales of brain surgery prep to Bridget Christie’s rants about £7 Maltesers, the venue was in absolute raptures.
It’s a massive week ahead, with the 150th show in the series history set to take place on Thursday when Manic Street Preachers headline. Other acts still to come include Mogwai, my bloody valentine, Garbage, and Wolf Alice.
Alongside the music, fans can check out the “Good Energy” art exhibition at the Hall, featuring limited-edition prints from the likes of Bring Me The Horizon and Enter Shikari. If you can’t make it down to London, select sets (including elbow and the Manics) are being streamed via Player+ to help boost the charity’s coffers.
Remaining Teenage Cancer Trust 2026 show dates:
- Wednesday, March 25: Mogwai, Craven Faults and Annika Kilkenny
- Thursday, March 26: Manic Street Preachers and The Joy Formidable
- Friday, March 27: my bloody valentine and Chvrches (stripped back)
- Saturday, March 28: Garbage and Placebo (stripped back)
- Sunday, March 29: Wolf Alice and Nilüfer Yanya
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