Radiohead Shatters O2 Arena Attendance Records Previously Held by Metallica
LONDON – Radiohead has broken attendance records at London’s O2 Arena, surpassing the previous mark set by Metallica in 2017. The British rock band played four sold-out shows at the venue from November 21st to 25th, drawing crowds of at least 22,200 fans each night, culminating in a peak attendance of 22,355 on the final performance.
This achievement underscores Radiohead’s enduring popularity and draws a line under a hugely triumphant return to touring after a seven-year hiatus.The record-breaking run coincides with the 30th anniversary of their critically acclaimed album, The Bends, and marks a notable moment in the history of the O2 Arena. For fans, the shows offered a chance to experience unpredictable setlists featuring rarely-played tracks, while for the venue, it solidifies its position as a premier destination for global music icons.
“These past four record-breaking nights will go down in the venue’s history, with Radiohead breaking the attendance records each night,” stated Christian D’Acuna, the O2’s senior programming director, in a press release. “We knew how special these exclusive shows would be and we’re so grateful to the band for bringing them to The O2. it’s been a true honor to host them, and each night they played different set lists spanning their incredible back catalog. These shows will be remembered for years to come.”
Radiohead launched their U.K. and European tour earlier this month in Madrid. The band notably revived songs like “Like Spinning Plates” from their amnesiac album during the London dates, delighting long-time fans. The tour continues next month with four performances in Copenhagen followed by four in Berlin. As of now, the band has not announced any plans for touring in 2026 or a return to North america.
