What’s On in Norwich & the East of England 2026: Live Music & Events
Posted on Tuesday 12th May 2026 at 15:50
Written by
Will Rabjohns
What's On in Norwich & the East of England 2026
Looking for the best live events happening across Norwich & the East of England in 2026? From major arena tours and city-centre gigs to festivals and one-off shows, this guide highlights the standout experiences coming to the region, and where to catch them!
In this guide, you’ll find:
- Major concerts and tours coming to Norwich & the East of England
- Standout shows and limited-date runs to book early
- Regional highlights from Cambridge and Colchester to Ipswich and Norwich
- A practical FAQ to help plan your live events calendar
Biggest gigs & tours coming to Norwich & the East of England
IRON MAIDEN - EDDFEST
SUPPORT FROM THE DARKNESS + THE HU + AIRBOURNE + THE ALMIGHTY
When: Saturday 11th July 2026 (Knebworth Park, Stevenage)
Heavy metal legends Iron Maiden bring EDDFEST to Knebworth Park for a huge one-day outdoor event with a stacked rock line-up.
ERIC CLAPTON
PLUS RONNIE WOOD & HIS BAND, ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW + WILL WILDE
When: Sunday 23rd August 2026 (Royal Sandringham Estate, King's Lynn)
Eric Clapton, one of the most influential guitarists in the history of popular music, performs a huge show against the picturesque backdrop of Royal Sandringham Estate.
THE STREETS
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER PERFORMING: A GRAND DON'T COME FOR FREE IN FULL
When: Friday 21st August 2026 (Earlham Park, Norwich)
British legends The Streets join the line-up for Rock n Roll Circus to perform their second studio album, A Grand Don't Come For Free, in full.
HERITAGE LIVE FESTIVAL 2026 - LIONEL RICHIE
PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS
When: Thursday 20th August 2026 (Royal Sandringham Estate, King's Lynn)
Lionel Richie brings a night of timeless soul-pop classics to Royal Sandringham Estate for a huge Heritage Live summer show.
THE WONDER STUFF + INSPIRAL CARPETS
40 YEAR ANNIVERSARY TOUR
When: Saturday 24th October 2026 (The Nick Rayns LCR, UEA, Norwich)
The Wonder Stuff and Inspiral Carpets team up for a landmark anniversary tour, bringing indie favourites and classic singalongs to Norwich.
NICK HEYWARD
THE 12 DATES OF CHRISTMAS
When: Monday 16th November 2026 (Peterborough Cathedral)
Nick Heyward brings his sparkling pop songwriting and festive live show to Cathedral Peterborough for a special winter date.
More events & musical moments across Norwich & the East of England
Beyond the headline tours, Norwich & the East of England's calendar is packed with festivals, special events, comedy and grassroots shows across the region.
TK Maxx presents Bedford Summer Sessions
WITH DEACON BLUE, UB40 FEAT. ALI CAMPBELL PAUL WELLER & MORE
When: Thursday 2nd - Sunday 5th July 2026 (Bedford Park)
Simon Brodkin
UNLEASHED - STAND-UP TOUR 2026/27
When: Sunday 22nd November 2026 - Sunday 17th January 2027 (Multiple Locations)
Colchester Castle Summer Series
WITH BILLY OCEAN, HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES, BECKY HILL, BASTILLE, RICHARD ASHCROFT & FATBOY SLIM
When: Thursday 20th - Saturday 29th August 2026 (Colchester Castle)
Rock N Roll Circus
THE STREETS, THE KOOKS, MADNESS & MORE
When: Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd August 2026 (Earlham Park, Norwich)
Halo Festival
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB, THE VACCINES, NATASHA BEDINGFIELD & LOADS MORE
When: Saturday 4th July 2026 (Trinity Park, Ipswich)
Folk By The Oak
BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD, SEASICK STEVE, VALTOS & LOADS MORE
When: Sunday 19th July 2026 (Hatfield Park)
Heritage Live at Audley End
WITH SCISSOR SISTERS, PETE TONG IBIZA CLASSICS & FAITHLESS
When: Thursday 6th - Sunday 9th August 2026 (Audley End, Essex)
JEFF WAYNE'S MUSICAL VERSION OF THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
LIVE! THE CONCERT EXPERIENCE!
When: Wednesday 4th November 2026 (Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea)
Looking for even more upcoming dates? Browse a wider selection of events across the region below.
See more events in Norwich & the East of England
Festivals
- SOULTASIA PRESENTS 'GROOVE IS IN THE PARK' - Sunday 24th May 2026 (Harlow Rugby Club, Essex)
- Latitude Festival - Thursday 23rd - Sunday 26th July 2026 (Henham Park, Southwold)
- South East Dance Festival — Saturday 29th August 2026 (Garon Park, Southend-on-Sea)
Live shows, tours & events
- BeMused, a tribute to Muse - Sunday 24th May 2026 (The Six Six Bar, Cambridge)
- Doom Gong — Friday 3rd July 2026 (The Castle, Luton)
- Free Throw — Sunday 5th July 2026 (The Adrian Flux Waterfront, Norwich)
- Stiff Little Fingers — Friday 10th July 2026 (Epic Studios, Norwich)
- Battle Proms Picnic Concert — Saturday 18th July 2026 (Hatfield Park)
- Katherine Priddy — Friday 31st July 2026 (Great St Mary's, Cambridge)
- Nik Kershaw — Thursday 20th August 2026 (Cambridge Junction)
- Becky Hill — Saturday 22nd August 2026 (Colchester Castle)
- Freya Beer — Saturday 22nd August 2026 (The Castle, Luton)
- Fatboy Slim — Saturday 29th August 2026 (Colchester Castle)
- Altered Images — Thursday 3rd September 2026 (The Adrian Flux Waterfront, Norwich)
- Goldie Lookin Chain — Thursday 3rd - Saturday 5th September 2026 (Multiple Locations)
- The Dualers — Friday 29th May 2026 - Saturday 6th March 2027 (Multiple Locations)
- The Class — Friday 18th September 2026 (Fidel Gastro's Social Club, Luton)
- Marillion — Thursday 24th September 2026 (Cambridge Corn Exchange)
- Steve Hackett — Friday 2nd October 2026 (Cambridge Corn Exchange)
- Reef — Friday 9th October 2026 (Cambridge Junction)
- The Undertones — Thursday 15th October 2026 (Epic Studios, Norwich)
- Huey Morgan, The Fun Lovin’ Criminal — Saturday 24th - Tuesday 27th October 2026 (Multiple Locations)
- The Wedding Present — Thursday 29th October 2026 (Cambridge Junction)
- Tony Hadley — Monday 9th - Sunday 15th November 2026 (Multiple Locations)
- Ash — Saturday 5th December 2026 (The Nick Rayns LCR, UEA, Norwich)
Regional highlights — Where to go in Norwich & East England
Norwich
Head to The Nick Rayns LCR, UEA, for mid-sized shows hosted by the Union of University of East Anglia students, or try Epic Studios. The Adrian Flux Waterfront is located right on the bank of the River Wensum, and is home to plenty of gigs.
Cambridge
Cambridge Junction or the smaller Cambridge Junction 2 might be your first stop in historic Cambridge, and try Corn Exchange for bigger shows at this 1,400-capacity venue.
Colchester
Colchester is home to Colchester Castle, where you will find outdoor shows, and check out the converted church venue Colchester Arts Centre.
Other
Try Luton's The Castle for a bustling live music pub, the Regent Theatre in Ipswich for shows in a listed building, or Cliffs Pavilion in Southend-on-Sea, which has been entertaining the city since the 1960s.
Browse events by town or city:
NORWICH | CAMBRIDGE | COLCHESTER | LUTON | IPSWICH | SOUTHEND-ON-SEA | STEVENAGE | ST ALBANS | BEDFORD | PETERBOROUGH | KING'S LYNN | ESSEX
Need to know — Norwich & the East of England events
When do tickets usually go on sale?
Most tickets go on sale shortly after an announcement, often on Friday mornings. Popular shows can sell out quickly, especially in smaller venues.
Which venues should I keep an eye on?
Cambridge Junction, The Nick Ryans LCR, UEA and Corn Exchange for headline shows, and a wide range of other venues, theatres and clubs across the region.
Are there festivals in Norwich & the East of England this year?
Yes, Norwich & the East of England hosts a mix of city-based festivals and outdoor summer events featuring both touring and emerging artists.
Ready to explore more live events in Norwich & the East of England?
Find all upcoming gigs, tours and festivals across Norwich, Cambridge, Colchester and beyond.