U2 announce surprise intimate London gig for the BBC

U2 have confirmed a surprise intimate gig taking place in London next week in collaboration with the BBC.

• READ MORE: ‘Bono: Stories of Surrender’ review: U2 frontman’s stunning stage show becomes unmissable film

The one-off show will be held and recorded at an indoor central London venue in front of a select audience of fans, taking place on Tuesday (November 3). It will see the rock icons perform songs from across their catalogue, as well as new tracks from upcoming album ‘Carnaval De Luz’.

A limited number of tickets are available now on the BBC Audiences ballot, which is open until midnight tomorrow (Thursday October 29), and the location of the performance will be revealed to ticket holders on the day of the performance.

Jo Whiley confirmed the show on her BBC Radio 2 show last night (Tuesday October 27), and said: “Every time I see U2 perform, they’re always incredible, giving 100 per cent to each and every show. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us, and to share what I know will be a fantastic concert with listeners.”

WATCH

U2 will record an exclusive BBC Music concert in London on Nov. 3, with songs from across their catalogue and new tracks from Carnaval De Luz.

Watch on BBC Two later in November. The Radio 2 and BBC Sounds broadcast is Nov. 30.https://t.co/xnN7MMZKIg #U2 #U2CDL pic.twitter.com/GEQg4cw4RB

— U2 ZOO Station Radio (@U2eXit) October 27, 2026

The recording will be broadcast on BBC Two in late November, as part of a night of programming on the channel dedicated to U2. It will also be aired on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds on Monday November 30 between 7pm and 9pm, and come with new interviews with the band members.

After the initial broadcasts, the programmes will also be available on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, and U2 will also join Vernon Kay on his Radio 2 Show for ‘Tracks of My Years’ – choosing 10 songs that have soundtracked their lives and careers.

Visit here to register for your chance to get tickets.

U2 are dropping their 16th studio album, ‘Carnaval De Luz’ on November 13 – their first full-length collection of new material since 2017’s ‘Songs Of Experience’.

The band have also shared the single ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’ and announced the first dates of their 2027 world tour, with shows confirmed in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, but not Chile. The tour will mark their first full-scale live performances since their Las Vegas Sphere residency ended in 2024, and will see drummer Larry Mullen Jr. return following surgery.

View this post on Instagram

U2 celebrated their 50th anniversary in September with surprise performances in Dublin, including a return to Mount Temple Comprehensive School, where the four members originally met in 1976. They have also been confirmed for a Thanksgiving Eve halftime show at the NFL game between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams.