Radiohead Announce First Tour Since 2018, Face Boycott Calls from Pro-Palestine Activists
LONDON — After seven years away from the road, Radiohead have officially announced their first live shows since 2018. The long-anticipated return will take the band to London, Madrid, Bologna, Copenhagen, and Berlin for four-night residencies this winter.
A Long-Awaited Reunion
Drummer Philip Selway explained that the band reunited for rehearsals last year:
“After a seven-year pause, it felt really good to play the songs again and reconnect with a musical identity that has become lodged deep inside all five of us. It also made us want to play some shows together.”
Fans will need to pre-register through Radiohead’s website for a chance at tickets, part of an effort to curb scalpers. Ticket allocations will prioritize fans near each venue, with some reserved for international travelers. The band also announced that £1 from each UK ticket will support the Live Trust initiative for grassroots venues, while €1 from European tickets will benefit Médecins Sans Frontières — with the band pledging to match donations.
Activist Backlash and Boycott Calls
The announcement, however, comes with controversy. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has urged fans to avoid the tour, citing guitarist Jonny Greenwood’s 2024 performance in Tel Aviv during the Gaza war.
In its statement, PACBI accused the band of silence while one member “repeatedly crosses our picket line … performing a short drive away from a livestreamed genocide.” Activists are calling for a boycott of Radiohead concerts “until the group convincingly distances itself, at a minimum, from Jonny Greenwood’s crossing of our peaceful picket line”.
This follows ongoing criticism tied to Radiohead’s 2017 Tel Aviv performance, which frontman Thom Yorke defended by saying, “Playing in a country isn’t the same as endorsing its government.”
Tensions Around Israel and Gaza
The debate over Radiohead’s position has intensified since the 2023 Israel-Gaza war. Greenwood had collaborated with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa on the album Jarak Qaribak and later joined protests in Israel calling for the removal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Meanwhile, Yorke faced backlash after walking off stage in Melbourne in 2024 when heckled over Gaza.
In a later statement, Yorke said he was stunned that his silence at the show had been interpreted as complicity, adding:
“It should be self-evident from my music that I could not possibly support any form of extremism or dehumanisation of others.”
Tour Dates Confirmed
Radiohead’s newly announced dates are:
- Madrid, Spain – Nov. 4, 5, 7, 8
- Bologna, Italy – Nov. 14, 15, 17, 18
- London, UK – Nov. 21, 22, 24, 25
- Copenhagen, Denmark – Dec. 1, 2, 4, 5
- Berlin, Germany – Dec. 8, 9, 11, 12
Do you think Radiohead should respond more directly to calls for a boycott, or should the music stand apart from politics? Share your thoughts and whether you plan to attend any of the European shows.