Hampton Court Palace Festival 2026 has opened in style, with David Gray delivering a sold-out performance in the historic grounds of the Tudor Palace on Wednesday 10 June. The folk-pop icon treated the crowd to a hit-filled set featuring fan favourites ‘Babylon’, ‘This Year’s Love’, and ‘Sail Away’, setting the tone for what promises to be one of the summer’s most memorable concert series.
Gray’s second sold-out show takes place tonight (Thursday 11 June), following which the 31st edition of the festival continues through to Saturday 20 June with a line-up spanning synth-pop, dance, punk, disco and orchestral pop. Last remaining tickets for several shows — including The Stranglers, Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and 80s Classical — are on sale now at hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com, with limited availability also remaining for David Gray, OMD, Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics, and Nile Rodgers & CHIC.
Tomorrow night (Friday 12 June), OMD make their Hampton Court Palace debut, with Andy McClusky and Paul Humphreys bringing their iconic synth-pop catalogue to Base Court for the first time. Formed in 1978, the band amassed 18 Top 40 UK hits with anthems including ‘Enola Gay’, ‘Souvenir’, and ‘Joan of Arc’, and recently scored their highest-charting album to date with Bauhaus Staircase, which reached number two in the UK charts.
On Saturday 13 June, dance music legend Pete Tong arrives with his acclaimed Ibiza Classics show, joining forces with The Essential Orchestra for a breathtaking audio-visual celebration that blends club culture with the power of a live orchestra. The euphoric reimagining of Ibiza’s most beloved anthems promises to be one of the weekend’s standout moments.
The second week opens with punk-rock trailblazers The Stranglers on Tuesday 16 June. Having celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2024, the band remain one of the most distinctive acts to emerge from the UK punk era, renowned for blending raw aggression with sharp melodic songwriting. Last remaining tickets are on sale now from £59.
Nile Rodgers & CHIC return to Hampton Court Palace on Wednesday 17 June following a sensational sell-out concert at the festival in 2024. Rodgers’ legacy as songwriter, producer, and guitarist is unmatched — he is credited with pioneering hits such as ‘Le Freak’ and ‘Good Times’, and has sold more than 750 million albums globally through his collaborations with some of the biggest names in music.
Thursday 18 June sees Elvis Costello perform with long-term band The Imposters, joined by acclaimed guitarist Charlie Sexton. Spanning a career that has shaped modern songwriting, Costello’s live shows are renowned for their energy and dynamic musicianship, and the addition of Sexton’s masterful guitar work promises an electrifying evening of classics and fan favourites.
For the ultimate pop celebration, Sophie Ellis-Bextor brings her Palace Disco to the courtyard on Friday 19 June. With five Top 10 albums and eight Top 10 singles to her name, Sophie’s iconic hits include ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ — which enjoyed a global resurgence after featuring in Saltburn and now boasts over 11 billion streams — alongside ‘Take Me Home’ and ‘Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)’. Her latest album Perimenopop entered straight into the UK Top 5. Tickets from £55.
The festival closes on Saturday 20 June with 80s Classical, a feel-good orchestral celebration featuring some of the decade’s most iconic voices. Kim Wilde, Go West, Nik Kershaw, and Roland Gift will perform stunning orchestral versions of their biggest hits, backed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra in what promises to be a joyful and nostalgic finale.
Now in its 31st year, Hampton Court Palace Festival is produced in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces and takes place in the intimate 3,000-capacity Base Court, set against the backdrop of Henry VIII’s grand Tudor Palace. Throughout the festival, gates open early for audiences to explore the beautiful East Front Gardens before each concert, and luxury picnic hampers can be pre-ordered ahead of the show. Tickets are available now at hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com.
Image credits: Hampton Court Palace Festival
In this article: Hampton Court Palace Festival, David Gray, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Paul Humphreys, Pete Tong, The Stranglers, Nile Rodgers, Chic, Elvis Costello, The Imposters, Charlie Sexton, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Kim Wilde, Go West, Nik Kershaw, Roland Gift, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Historic Royal Palaces, Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, Henry VIII of England, Saltburn, Perimenopop, Bauhaus Staircase. Generated by Wikidata Schema Link Builder.
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