A hugely popular 00s indie act who have just played the Utilita Arena in Newcastle will be back in the city in 2026
17:24, 08 Dec 2025Updated 17:44, 08 Dec 2025
The Wombats on stage(Image: Joshua Fairbrother)
They’ve just played to a huge crowd at the Utilita Arena and now 00s indie icons The Wombats have just been confirmed as the headliners for a massive outdoor gig in the city next summer. And they will take to the stage right in the heart of town, with two great support acts lined up to open for them.
While, with just two weeks to go until the big day, Christmas is at the forefront of many people’s minds, plenty of us have also got at least one eye on next year and the things we want to get in our 2026 calendar. There was huge news for the region in the middle of last month, when it was announced that Radio 1’s Big Weekend is coming back to Sunderland, 21 years on from the likes of Foo Fighters, Black Eyed Peas, Chemical Brothers and Gwen Stefani headlining at Herrington Park.
Rumours are still rife that Oasis will play St James’ Park next summer, after the stadium appeared on two lists of ‘leaked’ tour dates, with more fuel added to the fire when ChronicleLive reported that SJP ‘wasn’t available’ for Magic Weekend’s dates in early July 2026, as the ground missed out to Everton to host the huge event. And, with a new look Newcastle Pride also on the horizon for next summer, as Times Square is once again used as part of the celebrations, another big event has now been announced for the area in the city centre, with The Wombats set to headline on July 24.
The Wombats will play Newcastle next year(Image: Julia Godfrey)
Over the last decade the likes of the Manic Street Preachers, FatBoySlim and Becky Hill have all entertained in the TImes Square and, earlier this year, The Enemy drew a big crowd for their al fresco concert there.
The Wombats’ gig announcement comes nearly 20 years on from their chart breakthrough with hits like Moving to New York and Let’s Dance to Joy Division and weeks after they played to fans at the arena. The Liverpool band packed out the Radio 1 tent at the Reading Festival in 2024, two years after Fix Yourself, Not the World earned them their first number 1 albums.
Tickets for The Wombats in Newcastle are on sale, with support from Red Rum Club and Cherryholt. are available now, priced at £45 + £5.62 booking fee and, speaking ahead of the Times Square announcement, promoters Joe Gill, Caitlin Maddison and Chris Brearley from promoters Liift Live commented: “After delivering a number of great events at Times Square in recent years such as Scouting For Girls, The Enemy and Pale Waves, we are absolutely thrilled to be returning in 2026 and bringing The Wombats back to the city. Roll on next summer!”
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