Two of R&B and hip-hop’s most enduring hitmakers are teaming up for a major spring 2026 live run. Akon and Ne-Yo have revealed their co-headline Nights Like This tour, bringing a dynamic blend of nostalgia, club classics and era-defining R&B anthems to arenas across the UK and Europe this April and May.
Produced by Live Nation, the Nights Like This tour celebrates the music that shaped the 2000s and 2010s, with both artists sharing the stage and delivering back-to-back performances that highlight their biggest hits. Fans can expect sing-along favourites and club staples from both catalogues, from Ne-Yo’s “So Sick” and “Closer” to Akon’s “Smack That” and “Lonely.”
UK & European Tour Stops
The 2026 Nights Like This tour opens on Friday, 24 April in Dublin at 3Arena before arriving in the UK and mainland Europe with the following confirmed dates:
Mon 27 Apr – Utilita Arena Newcastle (UK)
Tue 28 Apr – OVO Hydro, Glasgow (UK)
Thu 30 Apr – First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds (UK)
Fri 1 May – Co-op Live, Manchester (UK)
Mon 4 May – Utilita Arena Birmingham (UK)
Fri 8 May – The O2 Arena, London (UK)
Tue 12 May – Accor Arena, Paris (FR)
Fri 15 May – Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam (NL)
Sun 17 May – AFAS Dome, Antwerp (BE)
Tue 19 May – Hallenstadion, Zurich (CH)
Wed 20 May – LANXESS arena, Cologne (DE)
Fri 22 May – Unity Arena, Oslo (NO)
Sat 23 May – Avicii Arena, Stockholm (SE)
Sun 24 May – Royal Arena, Copenhagen (DK)
Tue 26 May – Barclays Arena, Hamburg (DE)
Wed 27 May – O2 Arena, Prague (CZ)
Thu 28 May – Uber Arena, Berlin (DE)
Sat 30 May – Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna (AT)
Sun 31 May – Atlas Arena, Łódź (PL)
This broad continental routing makes Nights Like This one of the more extensive R&B co-headline tours of 2026, offering fans across Western and Central Europe multiple opportunities to catch two of the genre’s most beloved performers in one show.
The Show: Back-to-Back Hits and Throwback Vibes
The idea behind Nights Like This is straightforward: rewind to the 2000s and 2010s and pack one night with wall-to-wall hits. Ne-Yo will lean into his biggest crowd-pleasers, from slow-burning ballads to slick R&B floor-fillers, while Akon brings the club energy with the anthems that lit up dancefloors around the world.
Because both artists share the bill and swap time onstage, the tour feels less like a traditional headline/support setup and more like a night built purely for fans. It’s a throwback party that taps into nostalgia while reminding everyone why these songs still hit so hard today.
Ticketing & On-Sale Information
For fans ready to secure seats, the ticketing timeline is already shaping up:
Artist presales begin Wednesday, 28 January at 10 AM local time in many markets.
General sale launches Friday, 30 January at 10 AM local time via Live Nation and authorised ticketing partners.
VIP packages are expected across multiple dates, offering premium seats and enhanced experiences, such as meet-and-greet opportunities and exclusive merchandise — a popular add-on for fans looking for a memorable night out.
Why This Tour Is a Highlight of 2026
This co-headline run brings together two artists whose hits have soundtracked the 21st century. Ne-Yo’s smooth vocals and sharp songwriting helped shape modern R&B, while Akon’s mix of hip-hop, pop and electro-leaning melodies kept him at the top of charts around the world. The Nights Like This tour brings both of their catalogues together in a way that offers something for fans of slow jams, club bangers and everything in between.
For UK fans, the arena dates in cities like Newcastle, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and London mean there are plenty of chances to catch the show close to home. It’s a rare chance to see two major names in classic R&B and crossover pop on the same night, without having to travel far.
Smart Ticket Strategy
Sign up for presales: Getting in early during the artist or credit-card presales can improve your chances of snagging the best seats before general sale.
Be flexible on cities: With UK dates spread across multiple arenas, fans willing to travel even short distances may find surprisingly strong availability.
Consider VIP bundles: Enhanced experiences can include premium seating and extras that make the night even more special.
The Bottom Line
The Nights Like This tour brings Akon and Ne-Yo together for a co-headline run built around the songs fans know best. It’s a feel-good, throwback-heavy show aimed at both long-time listeners and newer fans. With UK arena dates in April and May 2026, a wide European stretch and both artists playing full, high-energy sets, it stands out as one of the biggest live announcements of the year so far. Fans who want the best choice of tickets should look to presales and plan ahead of the general on-sale.
