American country music icon Garth Brooks is set to perform his first UK concert in nearly three decades, as he was announced as the inaugural headliner for British Summer Time (BST) 2026 in London’s Hyde Park. The 63-year-old singer will take to the stage on June 27, 2026, marking a landmark return to the UK after his last performance there in 1998.
Jim King, chief executive of the festival’s operators AEG Presents UK and European Festivals, described the announcement as a "landmark moment." He praised Brooks as a "true global icon," highlighting both his enduring influence on the country music genre and his significance to the BST festival’s legacy. King noted that Brooks’ songs have resonated with audiences worldwide and that his return promises to be an unforgettable occasion in Hyde Park. Tickets for the event will go on sale from September 18, 2025, via the official BST website.
Brooks’ forthcoming performance will follow a long absence from the UK live scene. Historically, his last major UK tour was part of the Garth Brooks World Tour running from 1996 to 1998, which supported his albums Fresh Horses and Sevens and featured an extensive series of over 300 concerts across multiple continents. That era marked one of the highest-grossing tours of the decade, drawing record-breaking crowds before Brooks’ initial retirement in 2001. Although he returned to touring between 2014 and 2017, including the Man Against Machine and Gunslinger albums, his live appearances remained mostly North American.
Known for timeless hits such as “Friends in Low Places,” “The Dance,” and “The Thunder Rolls,” Brooks has sold more than 170 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists in US music history, second only to The Beatles in American record sales. His albums No Fences and Ropin’ the Wind, both released in 1991, were particularly groundbreaking for country music—No Fences was the first country album to go multi-platinum, and Ropin’ The Wind was the first to top the US pop charts. Despite his massive global popularity, his commercial success in the UK has been relatively modest, with a handful of top 40 singles and two top 10 albums.
Garth Brooks’ return to the UK stage follows continued activity in live performances elsewhere, such as his recent concerts at Dublin’s Croke Park in Ireland—his first there since 1997—where he surprised fans with a setlist that included a medley of Queen songs alongside his own hits, reflecting his versatility and broad musical appeal.
British Summer Time has a history of hosting notable artists across genres, including Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan in the country music realm. The 2025 BST lineup featured legendary performers like Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, and Olivia Rodrigo. The announcement of Brooks as the first headliner for 2026 reinforces the festival’s commitment to presenting iconic and diverse musicians.
Further details about BST 2026, including additional headliners and supporting acts, will be unveiled in due course as anticipation builds for one of the most significant UK music events in recent memory.
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Source: Noah Wire Services