Robert Smith curates this year’s Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall
The events take place in March to raise money for the charity, with The Cure frontman curating a phenomenal line-up for their 24th edition.
Last year’s events saw the likes of The Who and Sex Pistols take to the stage to help raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust and, this year, The Cure’s frontman Robert Smith has stepped in to curate an unmissable line-up.
Opening the series, alt-rockers and icons Elbow will be bring their classic tracks to the Royal Albert Hall stage, with fans guaranteed to leave pleased after hearing hits like One Day Like This, Grounds For Divorce and Lippy Kids, plus tracks from the band’s most recent album, Audio Vertigo.
On the second night, fans of comedy will feel at home with a huge line-up for one night, including Maisie Adam, Bridget Christie, Jack Dee, Andy Hamilton, Dom Joly, Miles Jupp, Athena Kugblenu, Stewart Lee and Mock The Week host Dara Ó Briain. Personally selected by Robert himself, this line-up is one you can’t miss.
Wednesday, March 25th, will welcome Mogwai, the Scottish post-rock band formed in 1995, famed for critically revered albums Young Team (1997), Come On Die Young (1999) and Rock Action (2001). On performing, Mogwai’s Stuart Braithwaite said: “We are extremely excited and privileged to be playing at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. It’s 20 years since we last played there and to be asked by Robert Smith is an honour as The Cure have always been a huge influence on our music.”
The band will be supported by electronic act Craven Faults, whose music utilises vintage tape machines and modular synthesisers to evoke journeys through the post-industrial Yorkshire landscape. Completing the line-up for Wednesday is Ireland’s latest talent, Annika Kilkenny, who will bring her gentle piano and cosy, inviting melodies to London.
Thursday will see Manic Street Preachers headline, and it will be a monumental moment for the charity, as it’ll be their 150th show at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust. In 2025, Manic Street Preachers reminded everyone they’re here to stay by releasing their fifteenth album, Critical Thinking, and publishing their biography, 168 Seconds of Hatred and Failure, which swiftly became a Sunday Times bestseller.
Manic Street Preachers’ singer James Dean Bradfield said: “We were lucky enough to play one of Robert Smith’s Meltdown shows in 2018, and now we’re honoured to have been asked by the great man to join the 2026 Teenage Cancer Trust shows he’s overseeing, which raises money for such a great cause. It’s our first time playing Teenage Cancer Trust as a band, a return to one of our favourite London venues, and we’ve got a couple of surprises up our sleeves for the night. So, no excuses. See you there.”
The band will be joined by Welsh trio The Joy Formidable, who have been carving quite a name for themselves since forming in 2007, and subsequently released their debut album, The Big Roar, in 2011, after signing to Atlantic Records’ subsidiary Canvasback Records.
After returning to the stage for the first time in seven years last autumn, my bloody valentine have well and truly blown the dust off and will be headlining on Friday, March 27th, with support coming from Glasgow’s synth-pop duo CHVRCHES, who made quite the name for themselves with hit single The Mother We Share. The band will be playing a stripped-back show, and it’ll be their first show in nearly three years.
Scottish-American band Garbage will be bringing their blend of industrial rock, electronic beats, grunge and pop to the Royal Albert Hall on the Saturday (28th), for what will be an unforgettable performance, with legends Placebo billed to open for them with a rare stripped-back performance.
Last but absolutely not least, London indie rockers Wolf Alice will be bringing their chameleon-like performance to the stage, having just toured their last album, The Clearing, in the autumn of last year. The band are undeniably great at what they do — one minute, frontwoman Ellie Rowsell is harmonising with her bandmates on tracks like Safe From Heartbreak (if I never fall in love), the next she’s shouting the lyrics to Yuk Foo into a megaphone while lights flash red and blue.
Joining the North London quartet is Nilüfer Yanya, known for combining aspects of jazz, indie rock, psychedelia and electronica, and is an unbelievably talented force in the industry.
Money raised from these gigs will help young cancer survivors receive the support they need from specialist nurses and youth workers. To date, since the series began in 2000, they have raised more than £36m.
As well as raising money to support young people affected by cancer, the charity offer the ‘Ultimate Backstage Experience’, which means young people from across the country who are being supported by Teenage Cancer Trust will visit the Royal Albert Hall to enjoy the shows, and will be given some of the best seats in the house to watch the shows how they truly deserve.
Rob Ballantine, Director of S.J.M Concerts, said: “SJM concerts have, for over two decades, been privileged to pull together the week of fundraising shows for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall.
“This year, working with Cureator Robert Smith has been a real pleasure and we have seen first-hand how hard and how diligently he has worked to bring together such a high calibre line-up of artists. The respect he commands in the industry is obvious and we would like to add our name to that long list and thank him for such an amazing job. We know the fans will support these shows as they do every year and we hope to raise much-needed funds for this amazing charity. Thank you to all the artists and their representatives who have made this happen. We look forward to an incredible week of shows at the Royal Albert Hall next March.”
Jane Ashton, Head of Music and Entertainment at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “Once again, the music and entertainment industry has come together for a fantastic cause. Money raised from the Royal Albert Hall shows change lives by funding specialist care and support for young people with cancer. We can’t thank the legend that is Robert Smith enough for all the time and energy he has given to curating this epic line-up.
“The 2025 series raised a wonderful record-breaking £2.05 million, but we'd love to beat it! The urgent need to support young people when they hear the devastating words ‘it’s cancer’ remains. Thanks to the unwavering support of artists, managers, agents, promoters, crew, and our generous audiences, Teenage Cancer Trust can help them get through cancer, rebuild their life and shape their own future.”
Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall presents:
Monday, March 23rd: Elbow and MRCY
Tuesday, March 24th: Robert Smith’s Comedy Favourites - Maisie Adam, Bridget Christie, Jack Dee, Andy Hamilton, Dom Joly, Miles Jupp, Athena Kugblenu, Stewart Lee and Dara Ó Briain
Wednesday, March 25th: Mogwai, Craven Faults and Annika Kilkenny
Thursday, March 26th: Manic Street Preachers and The Joy Formidable
Friday, March 27th: my bloody valentine and Chvrches (stripped back performance)
Saturday, March 28th: Garbage and Placebo (rare, stripped back performance)
Sunday, March 29th: Wolf Alice and Nilüfer Yanya
For line-up and ticketing information, please visit:
Resale tickets can be purchased here from the charity’s official partner, Twickets.
