7 artists to see live before the year ends

We have said goodbye to summer, Halloween is around the corner, and before we know it, we'll be shopping for holiday presents. In the blink of an eye we'll be saying hello to 2027 with plenty of things to look forward to.

But not just yet. In the last quarter of 2026, there are still many opportunities to enjoy live music at scale and see living legends perform historic songs and celebrate milestones that changed how we experience music worldwide.

Mark your calendars; there is a little bit for everyone!

Shakira, Women don't cry anymore

In 2026 you can still catch the ultimate Latina superstar and her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran Tour (Women Don't Cry Anymore, in English).

Shakira's Madrid residency continues in October with six dates, a perfect calling for those who want to see the Colombian singer's production at full scale. For those who hunt the unusual, Shakira's November show in Egypt, at the Pyramids of Giza, promises to be anything but conventional and is drawing people from all over the world to one of the most recognisable sites on Earth.

And remember: hips don't lie!

Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life 50th Anniversary

Stevie Wonder has announced plenty of dates for The Songs in the Key of Life Performances 50th Anniversary Tour and is, without a doubt, the most history-heavy option of this list.

The tour arrives in Europe in October and covers key cities such as Birmingham, Paris, Hannover, Cologne and Amsterdam. The UK leg continues into November with shows in London and Manchester before concluding in Glasgow.

Needless to say, Stevie's catalogue has influenced several generations of artists and listeners, making this the kind of concert that you just have to go to if you are able to.

Céline Dion, Plenitude Arena in Paris

Céline Dion's Paris residency at Plenitude Arena began in September and continues in October with eight more performances in one of the most romantic cities in the world.

These shows represent Dion's return to the stage after a six-year absence, so for devoted fans there is a certain emotional significance about it. The opening in September, which was her first full concert after the hiatus, sold out to roughly 35,000 fans.

The production has been designed with an opera-inspired scenography and many details worthy of a pop superstar. The engagement also includes further dates in May 2027.

Duran Duran

For fans of new wave and '80s pop (especially those who lived the era in real time), seeing Duran Duran this autumn is a nostalgia trip. Their textured, cinematic pop provided the perfect soundtrack for many of us, and seeing them live also means seeing important moments in our past flash before our eyes.

The European section includes iconic venues in Hamburg, Cologne, Brussels and Paris, but the highlight, however, is Duran Duran's Halloween special at the O2 in London, where the band will perform covers, hits, unexpected versions and rarely played songs. The tour then continues to Lisbon and Madrid in November.

The Strokes, Reality Awaits

The Strokes' Reality Awaits tour arrives in the same year as the band's seventh studio album with the same name, giving the tour a touch of excitement around fresh music in addition to revisiting the band's already acclaimed catalogue.

The Reality Awaits European leg begins with two London shows in October and then moves through Amsterdam, Düsseldorf and Berlin before continuing to Bologna, Barcelona and Paris.

For both new and long-time followers, this is a great moment to enjoy that sound that made The Strokes unforgettable in the first place, alongside new material that reveals where the band is now headed.

Deep Purple, SPLAT! Europe Winter 2026

Deep Purple's place in rock history is difficult to overstate. Their combination of guitar riffs and visceral organ sounds became fundamental to the genre, and this is why Deep Purple's European run is the unmissable option of the list for rock fans.

The SPLAT! Europe Winter 2026 tour began in Sofia in September and reaches Athens in October before continuing through Switzerland, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium and Scandinavia.

Recent reviews underline the band's instrumental strengths in their performances, for example, Rolling Stone Germany noted the interplay between Ian Paice's drumming and Roger Glover's bass. If those reviews are any indication, the concerts will showcase plenty of musicianship.

Harry Styles, Together, Together

Harry Styles has a reputation for treating concerts as long residencies instead of just album presentations. Going to his shows means witnessing one of pop's biggest contemporary performers in a powerful setting.

In autumn 2026, he is midway through a residency with no fewer than 30 shows between August and October in New York's Madison Square Garden, making it the largest concentration of shows at a single venue on his tour. The final two nights are billed as Harryween, potentially adding a fun theme to the experience.

Harry Styles' global tour continues into November and December in Australia, taking his unmistakable style to yet another continent before the year ends.