What’s On in London in October 2026? The Best Gigs & Live Music

Looking for the best gigs in London in October 2026? It's a ridiculously busy month for live music in the capital, with huge arena shows, indie favourites and some long-awaited returns all on the calendar.

Here are some of the gigs worth having on your radar this October.

Cake – Roundhouse

Thursday 1 October 2026

American alternative favourites Cake kick off October with a night at Camden's Roundhouse.

With their brilliantly odd mixture of alternative rock, funk and deadpan songwriting, this should be one of the more unusual gigs on London's October calendar.

Venue: Roundhouse
Date: 1 October

The Lemonheads – Troxy

Friday 2 October 2026

Evan Dando and The Lemonheads arrive at the Troxy for a huge London date, with Willy Mason also joining the bill.

Expect a night firmly rooted in alternative rock and one of the most recognisable catalogues to emerge from the '90s US indie scene.

Venue: Troxy
Date: 2 October

The Strokes – The O2

Tuesday 6 & Wednesday 7 October 2026

This is comfortably one of London's biggest rock events of October.

The Strokes take over The O2 for two nights, bringing one of the defining guitar catalogues of the 21st century to Greenwich.

Last Nite, Someday, Reptilia, The Adults Are Talking... they've got plenty to choose from.

Venue: The O2
Dates: 6 & 7 October

Band of Horses – O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Wednesday 7 October 2026

Band of Horses celebrate 20 years of Everything All the Time with a London show at Shepherd's Bush Empire.

The band's debut remains one of the standout American indie-rock records of the 2000s, making this a particularly good one for anyone after something slightly less enormous than The O2.

Venue: O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Date: 7 October

Gene – Roundhouse

Friday 9 & Saturday 10 October 2026

One of the most interesting gigs of the month for BritRockHeaven readers.

Following their return after more than two decades away, Gene play two nights at London's Roundhouse with their classic line-up.

Their comeback shows sold out rapidly, and these Camden dates give fans another chance to see one of the most underrated names from Britain's '90s guitar scene.

Venue: Roundhouse
Dates: 9 & 10 October

Brandon Flowers – Royal Albert Hall

Thursday 15 October 2026

Brandon Flowers heads to one of London's most famous venues for a huge solo show.

The Killers frontman has built an impressive catalogue away from the band, although we'd be surprised if a few familiar Killers favourites didn't make their presence felt too.

Venue: Royal Albert Hall
Date: 15 October

Arlo Parks – O2 Academy Brixton

Tuesday 20 October 2026

Mercury Prize winner Arlo Parks brings the Desire Tour to Brixton.

She's become one of Britain's most acclaimed alternative artists over the last few years, and an O2 Academy Brixton headline show feels like another sizeable step up.

Venue: O2 Academy Brixton
Date: 20 October

Lime Garden – Electric Brixton

Wednesday 21 October 2026

One for the newer end of the BRH spectrum.

Brighton's Lime Garden arrive at Electric Brixton with their increasingly difficult-to-ignore brand of British indie.

If you're looking for something beyond the established names this month, stick this one on the list.

Venue: Electric Brixton
Date: 21 October

The Reytons – Alexandra Palace

Saturday 24 October 2026

Now this could be enormous.

South Yorkshire indie favourites The Reytons take over Alexandra Palace for one of the biggest headline shows of their career.

Their rise from grassroots venues to chart-topping records and enormous outdoor gigs has been ridiculous to watch, and Ally Pally feels like another major moment.

Venue: Alexandra Palace
Date: 24 October

Fat Dog – O2 Academy Brixton

Saturday 24 October 2026

Another rapidly rising British band gets a huge London stage.

Fat Dog headline O2 Academy Brixton on the same night The Reytons take over Ally Pally, giving London indie fans a slightly cruel decision to make.

Venue: O2 Academy Brixton
Date: 24 October

The Wedding Present – O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Friday 30 October 2026

British indie veterans The Wedding Present round off the month with a headline show at Shepherd's Bush Empire.

Four decades after forming, David Gedge and company remain one of British indie's great survivors.

Venue: O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Date: 30 October

Duran Duran – The O2

Saturday 31 October 2026

London finishes October with something massive.

Duran Duran headline The O2 on Halloween, bringing more than four decades of British pop and rock history to the capital.

Not a particularly quiet way to finish the month.

Venue: The O2
Date: 31 October

More London gigs in October 2026

There's plenty more happening throughout the month, including Marillion at Eventim Apollo on 1 and 2 October, Sixpence None the Richer at Islington Assembly Hall on 1 October, Swim Deep at MOTH Club on 2 and 3 October, The Beat at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on 2 October, Red Rum Club on 8 October, The Hoosiers at Islington Assembly Hall on 13 October, Chameleons at KOKO on 23 October and The Mary Wallopers at O2 Academy Brixton on 30 October.

And that's barely scratching the surface.

We'll keep this guide updated as October gets closer and more London gigs are announced.

James Waddingham
Collaborator, BritRockHeaven