Let’s Get Rocked! Def Leppard announce 2026 tour to include Sheffield homecoming
Yorkshire rock icons Def Leppard have today unveiled a huge 2026 UK and European tour – with a triumphant homecoming show in Sheffield at its heart.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legends will play 11 dates across Europe next summer, including London’s O2 Arena, Belfast, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Switzerland, Finland and Germany– but all eyes will be on Tuesday, June 30, when the band return to their hometown to headline Utilita Arena Sheffield.
BUY TICKETS: Tickets for these dates - full details below - go on general sale from 10am local time on Friday, September 5- see venue sites and visit www.defleppard.com.
The announcement comes days before the band play their only 2025 UK gig at Radio 2 In The Park, in Chelmsford, on Sunday, September 7.
Def Leppard will play a 12 date Las Vegas residency next year in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, from February 3 to 28.
British fans, who have waited three years since their last headline run, are promised a brand new show next year mixing surprises with timeless anthems like Animal, Photograph, Rock Of Ages and ultimate crowd-pleaser, Pour Some Sugar on Me.
Born in Sheffield, the band was formed in 1977 by Tapton School mates, who took Yorkshire glam metal global.
Only five bands in history have two Diamond-certified US albums – Def Leppard are one of them.
They established themselves as part of the new wave of British rock of the early 1980s and continue to be one of the most important forces in rock music.
Since 1992, the band has consisted of Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Rick Allen (drums), Phil Collen (guitar, backing vocals), and Vivian Campbell (guitar, backing vocals).
Frontman Joe said today:“We’re looking forward to playing Radio 2 in the Park in Chelmsford this week…our only UK date of 2025.
‘But we’re also very buzzed to announce our UK and Euro dates in 2026!"Playing to our home crowd and our fans in Europe is very important to us, and we’ll be bringing a brand new show that will feature some surprises as well as the classics! See you soon!!”
The 2026 trek will be the band’s first UK and European headline solo tour since their blockbuster 2023 stadium run with Mötley Crüe – a tour that saw over 2.1 million fans across five continents screaming for more.
This time, Def Leppard are bringing US rockers Extreme along for the ride, ensuring fans are in for an unforgettable night of high-voltage riffs, soaring vocals and stadium-sized singalongs.
Guitarist Phil added: “It’s a dream to be coming back to the UK and Europe in June and July next year. And to be coming back with our good friends, Extreme, is a bonus. It’s going to be an incredible night for all the fans!”
DEF LEPPARD UK & EU TOUR 2026:
Saturday 13th June 2026 Dalhalla, Rättvik SWEDEN
* Tuesday 16th June 2026 Veikkaus Arena, Helsinki FINLAND
Thursday 19th June 2026 Hallenstadion, Zurich SWITZERLAND
Tuesday 23rd June 2026 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund GERMANY
Friday 26th June 2026 Belsonic, Belfast UK
Sunday 28th June 2026 OVO Hydro, Glasgow UK
Tuesday 30th June 2026 Utilita Arena, Sheffield UK
Thursday 2nd July 2026 The O2, London UK
Saturday 4th July 2026 bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham UK
Monday 6th July 2026 Co-op Live, Manchester UK
** Thursday 30th July 2026 Wacken Open Air, Wacken GERMANY
* An Evening With
** Festival
Sunday 2nd August 2026 Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai UAE