- James Blake just announced his 2026 European tour dates, headlining O2 Academy Brixton in London in September, alongside his brand new album, Trying Times, out now via his own Good Boy Records label
- The European run is sandwiched between a North American leg that already includes two sold-out nights at Brooklyn Paramount in New York and a sold-out show at Toronto’s History
- Presales for the European dates open Tuesday, March 17, with general sale tickets going live Friday, March 20, at 10 a.m. local time
James Blake dropped a new album and a European tour announcement on the same day. If you have been waiting for a reason to pay attention, this is it.
The James Blake European tour dates arrive alongside the release of his brand new record, Trying Times, out now via Good Boy Records, his own independent label. This is his seventh studio album and his first full-length release since leaving the major label system, which makes this tour feel like more than just a run of shows. It feels like a statement.
The newly announced headlining London show at O2 Academy Brixton in September sits between two legs of a much bigger North American run, including two sold-out nights at Brooklyn Paramount in New York and a sold-out show at Toronto’s History. Presales open Tuesday, March 17, and general sale tickets go live Friday, March 20, at 10 a.m. local time. Set a reminder now, because the North American dates are already proving that this one sells fast.
What the Trying Times Tour Actually Looks Like
This is not the same live show you saw the last time Blake came around. “I’m very happy to announce the Trying Times North America Tour,” Blake said. “It’s my favourite record I’ve ever made, and we have a brand new set-up. It really is the most excited I’ve been to play shows in a long time.” A brand new live setup from one of the most technically precise performers in the game right now. That is worth showing up for.
On this run, James Blake performs solo with a brand-new live setup, showcasing his evolution as an independent artist under his own Good Boy Records. The North American leg kicks off May 27 in Atlanta and runs through June 12 in Los Angeles, hitting Atlanta, Brooklyn, Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Toronto, Chicago, Berkeley, and Los Angeles along the way. The European stretch follows in the autumn, with Berlin on March 16 already just days away as the first taste of what this new setup sounds like live.
The Album Behind All of This
Trying Times features recently released singles “Death Of Love” and “I Had A Dream She Took My Hand,” showcasing the full range of Blake’s artistic voice and a rare emotional candour. Throughout the album, Blake navigates the fragile space between closeness and solitude in an uncertain era, tracing the fault lines of contemporary life.
Blake’s singular blend of soul, electronica, hip-hop and alt-R&B has shaped the sound of modern music across six seminal studio albums, amassing over 2.2 billion streams. His 2019 album Assume Form featured Rosalía and Travis Scott, and his 2021 album Friends That Break Your Heart marked his highest chart debut to date. Most recently, he collaborated with UK rapper Dave on the critically acclaimed album The Boy Who Played The Harp, and crafted “Séance” alongside Ludwig Göransson for the soundtrack to Ryan Coogler’s Sinners.
The man has been everywhere and in everything for the past year. Now he is bringing it all to a stage near you. European presales open on Tuesday. You know what to do.
