May is when London gig plans start getting a little out of hand. One minute you’re casually buying a ticket for something small, the next you’ve committed to three weeknight shows with various Hinge dates, a festival you simply aren’t prepared for, and you’re spending half your rent at the bar of the O2. But honestly, with this month’s selection of gigs, it feels justified.
Whether you want to scream-sing through heartbreak anthems with RAYE, gawp at the full theatrical drama of Rosalía, dance like you don’t give a fuck at Fcukers or spin kick in the Angel Du$t moshpit, May’s gig scene is stacked.
These are the best London gigs and concerts happening this month that you can still (at the time of writing) get tickets for.
The best London gigs and music concerts in May 2026
1. RAYE
Been belting out ‘WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!’ every day since it came out? Really, it’s hard not to. If you want to experience the kind of catharsis you’d only get if you really let loose on an ex that frankly deserves it, then book yourself one of the last spots at this O2 show. Expect an artist with a huge voice, sharp writing, and a sense she’s fully in control of her narrative after years behind the scenes.
Good for: Queens looking to leave it all on the dancefloor
Date: Various, Feb 26 – May 20, 6.30pm
Venue: O2 Arena, SE10 0DX
Tickets: Buy now
2. PinkPantheress
One of Coachella’s standout performers, PinkPantheress, has made strides from her anonymous TikTok days. Despite her revealing the face behind the screen, the music remains heavily ingrained in internet culture. Equal parts hyperactive and nostalgic, PinkPantheress is redefining what it means to be a pop girlie, and I’m here for it.
Good for: Anyone who owns a Motorola Razr. Ironically or otherwise
Date: Fri May 29, 6.30pm
Venue: Alexandra Palace, N22 7AY
Tickets: Buy now
3. Rosalía
Rosalía kicked off her Lux Tour in March with a blistering spectacle that represented a clear artistic shift toward orchestral, spiritual and experimental pop. Opening dramatically with the signer emerging from a box in a ballerina outfit, it set a surreal tone for ballet and classical elements, religious imagery and raucous club energy to all collide. It sounds like a mesmerising, immersive art piece, and a must for any culture fan.
Good for: Tabi girls
Date: Tue May 5 and Wed May 6, 6.30pm
Venue: O2 Arena, SE10 0DX
Tickets: Buy now
4. Olivia Dean
Olivia Dean is having the kind of year most artists can only moodboard. Her sophomore opus The Art Of Loving took over the charts, she cleaned up at the Brits, picked up a Grammy, and has kicked off a stunning O2 residency. Somehow, she manages to maintain her natural warmth live, performing her joyful pop tunes like she’s talking directly to you, despite being in a bloody big arena.
Good for: Anyone who’s recently fallen in love
Date: Fri May 1 and Sat May 2, 6.30pm
Venue: O2 Arena, SE10 0DX
Tickets: Buy now (how to get last minute tickets)
5. Tame Impala
I’ve been seeing clips of Tame Impala’s latest shows all over Instagram. If you liked the low-key aesthetic of Bieber’s Coachella headline set, then you’ll probably buy into this too. Kevin Parker brought his kid on stage, had a camera follow him as he popped to the loo, and has been performing with the kind of charming nonchalance only achievable by just being an Aussie. Seems like a nice setting to see him perform ‘Dracula’ irl.
Good for: Cool north London parents
Date: Thur May 7, 6.30pm
Venue: O2 Arena, SE10 0DX
Tickets: Buy now
6. Doja Cat
If there’s one thing you can guarantee from a Doja Cat show, it’s a sense of humour. She’s got the kind of grit possessed by many great rappers, but the control, pacing and sharp transitions of a bona fide pop star. Tying in with her most recent album Ma Vie, which marked a return to her slightly sweeter sound, this is sure to keep you on your toes.
Good for: Silly rap kiddos
Date: Fri May 29, 6.30pm
Venue: O2 Arena, SE10 0DX
Tickets: Buy now
7. Mitski
Mitski’s live shows are so carefully put together that even the smallest movement feels loaded with meaning. A hand gesture, the way she crosses the stage, the exact second she holds a note for just a little longer – it all feels deliberate. Her latest album, Nothing’s About to Happen to Me, has been praised for being both huge in feeling and incredibly restrained, which is sure to come to fruition at this Royal Albert Hall show.
Good for: Wistful indie-heads
Date: Thur May 21, 6.30pm
Venue: Royal Albert Hall, SW7 2AP
Tickets: Buy now
8. Chase and Status
Drum and bass duo Chase and Status teased an all-new concept, ‘Section 63’, with a vague social media post reading, ‘This section applies to a gathering at which amplified music is played and which, by reason of its loudness, is likely to cause serious distress.’ Anyone who’s listened to them over the past two decades will know to expect a thrilling, building set that escalates as the night goes on, so who knows what they’ve got up their sleeve.
Good for: Anyone whose gun fingers have been in a holster for too long
Date: Thur May 15 and Fri May 16, 7pm
Venue: Magazine, SE10 0JH
Tickets: Buy now
9. Pixies
Tying into their 40th anniversary, Pixies are embarking on a headline worldwide tour with founding members Black Francis, Joey Santiago and David Lovering, together with bassist Emma Richardson. The group started in Boston back in ‘86 and quickly became one of alternative music’s greatest and most pioneering bands, with hits such as ‘Here Comes Your Man’, ‘All I Care About Now’ and ‘Debaser’ – all sure to sound incredible live at the Hall.
Good for: Rock music mainstays
Date: Thur May 28 and Fri May 29, 6.30pm
Venue: Royal Albert Hall, SW7 2AP
Tickets: Buy now
10. Aldous Harding
Three years after her last album, Aldous Harding is heading to the Barbican with music from her new record Train on the Island. Her sound is a little off-kilter, with songwriting that often defies convention or typical indie-pop tropes. On stage, we’re promised an engrossing live performer with delicate guitars and soft percussion and a theatrical presence.
Good for: Radio 6 Music regulars
Date: Fri May 29, Sat May 30 and Sun May 31, 7.30pm
Venue: Barbican, EC2Y 8DS
Tickets: Buy now
11. Maisie Peters
Singer-songwriter Maisie Peters has earned a reputation for directness – her no-frills approach to pop songwriting means the audience feels like an active viewer in the cinematic universe she’s conjuring up. Big-hitters like 2023’s ‘History of Man’ sum up how love can sometimes feel like a trap, while ‘There It Goes’ acts as a breath of fresh air post-toxic breakup. And you know what, I think that’s something we can all relate to.
Good for: Pop ladies ready to move on from a bad boyfriend
Date: Sun May 17, 5pm
Venue: Union Chapel, N1 2UN
Tickets: Buy now
12. MUNA
MUNA teased their first song in four years back in February, and honestly, I couldn’t be happier to hear from them again. Dancing on the Wall, the trio’s fourth LP, arrives this month following 2022’s fabulous self-titled album, which included songs like Phoebe Bridgers-assisted ‘Silk Chiffon’ and buoyant pop bop ‘Number One Fan’. If it’s anything like their past work, expect proudly, outwardly queer music that just puts a smile on your face.
Good for: Sapphic alt-pop stans
Date: Thur May 28, 7pm
Venue: Heaven, WC2N 6NG
Tickets: Buy now
13. Ne-Yo and Akon
A one-two punch of Grammy winners here. Noughties legends Ne-Yo and Akon are bringing their ‘Nights Like This’ tour to The O2 across four dates this May. The two generational artists dominated the charts in their heyday, and promise a dynamic back-and-forth set throughout the show, stacked with sing-along anthems, like ‘Closer’ and ‘Miss Independent’ alongside ‘Smack That’ and ‘Right Now (Na Na Na)’.
Good for: Suckers for a throwback party
Date: May 8, 9, 10 and 14, 6.30pm
Venue: O2 Arena, SE10 0DX
Tickets: Buy now
14. Cobrah
Emerging from Stockholm’s electronic underground, Cobrah has become synonymous with her dark, futuristic take on pop and club music. Heavy bass, industrial textures and hyper-modern hooks come smothered with ultra-sexual imagery – making her shows a whole lotta fun. This night at O2 Forum Kentish Town will be part sweaty warehouse raving and part high-fashion runway show. What’s not to love about that?
Good for: Sexy dancefloor demons
Date: Wed May 27, 7pm
Venue: O2 Forum Kentish Town, NW5 1JY
Tickets: Buy now
15. Rose Gray
East London singer Rose Gray blends ’90s dance, ’00s indie-pop and club culture to create heady tracks that echo the dancefloor of Fabric nightclub, where she worked in her ‘struggling artist’ years. Across floor-filling anthems and introspective tracks, her 2025 album Louder, Please celebrates friendship, love, escapism and self-discovery, making a night out with Gray a truly unforgettable experience.
Good for: Unbridled party people
Date: Thu May 14, 7pm
Venue: KOKO, NW1 7JE
Tickets: Buy now
16. Fakemink
Fakemink’s 2025 breakout ‘Easter Pink’ pushed him from cult favourite to underground star, with his chaotic and effortless sound being praised by everyone from Timothée Chalamet to Frank Ocean. Live, that same energy comes through in his famously nonchalant performances – it’s all deadpan delivery and low-key swagger, while letting the beats speak for themselves.
Good for: Fans of genre chaos and after-hours energy
Date: Sat May 30 and Sun May 31, 6pm
Venue: Electric Brixton, SW2 1RJ
Tickets: Buy now
17. Florence Road
Irish four-piece Florence Road mix sharp indie-pop hooks with coming-of-age lyrics and an easy confidence that feels beyond their years. They’ve quickly built a reputation as one of the most exciting new bands around, with live shows that take heartbreak and somehow turn it into something loud, euphoric and genuinely fun.
Good for: Indie-pop romantics
Date: Thu May 21, 7pm
Venue: KOKO, NW1 7JE
Tickets: Buy now
18. Fcukers
New York duo Fcukers make sleek, seductive club music reminiscent of noughties indie sleaze but with a modern afterparty cool. Their songs are full of pulsing basslines, IDGAF vocals and clubrat attitude, with hits like ‘If You Wanna Party, Come Over To My House’ instantly becoming a cool girl classic.
Good for: Nonchalant dancefloor lurkers
Date: Fri May 15, 7pm
Venue: Electric Brixton, SW2 1RJ
Tickets: Buy now
19. Angel Du$t
Baltimore hardcore favourites Angel Du$t fuse the speed of punk with classic rock vocals and heavy breakdowns. Frontman Justice Tripp has described the band as needing to ‘incite movement,’ and their live shows do exactly that – all stage dives and circle pits. Catch them in an almost impossibly small venue before they tear up the stage at Slam Dunk the following day.
Good for: Mosh pitters with rhythm
Date: Fri May 22, 6pm
Venue: 100 Club, W1D 1LL
Tickets: Buy now
20. Texas Is the Reason
Post-hardcore legends Texas Is the Reason were key in shaping the emo, melodic side of ’90s rock. Their classic album Do You Know Who You Are? has become a cornerstone of the genre and is often cited as one of emo’s most influential releases for its jagged guitars and deeply personal songwriting. This 30th anniversary show is a very rare chance to catch the songs performed live.
Good for: Emo purists and post-hardcore lifers
Date: Sat May 30, 7pm
Venue: Islington Assembly Hall, N1 2UD
Tickets: Buy now
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