Wolf Alice brought the 2026 Teenage Cancer Trust concert series to a close at London’s Royal Albert Hall, delivering a heartfelt show that featured new material, first time performances, and rare tracks. Find videos, images, the full setlist, and more details below.
This year’s concerts were organised by The Cure’s Robert Smith and included an impressive lineup of performers. Elbow opened the week, followed by major performances from artists such as Mogwai and My Bloody Valentine. Manic Street Preachers paid tribute by performing The Cure’s Close To Me, while Chvrches introduced their new track Conman. The second to last evening featured Placebo returning with a selection of fan favourites for their first show in two years, and Garbage delivered a powerful and emotional performance that included a cover of The Cure’s Lovesong.
The concerts were held to raise funds for young people living with cancer, and the 2025 edition set a new milestone after bringing in £2.05million.
Following an opening performance from Nilüfer Yanya, several young people supported by Teenage Cancer Trust were invited onto the stage. Among them was 26 year old Verity Barker, who was diagnosed with a rare cancer at 17 and was originally told she had only weeks to live. During the moment, she celebrated turning 26 on March 26, often called a golden birthday, while the audience joined together to sing Happy Birthday.
That touching moment shaped the atmosphere for the rest of the evening as Wolf Alice delivered a deeply emotional set inside the famous venue. Near the end of the performance, bassist Theo Ellis admitted to the audience “how much I want to cry during this gig”. He then joked, “It must be this gaff. It’s very nice.”
Wolf Alice filled their set with uncommon songs and unreleased material, opening with Heavenward, which had not been played live from the Visions Of A Life album since 2020. After Midnight Song, which featured violinist James Gavin, singer Ellie Rowsell told the audience: “We wanted to try something a bit different tonight, so I hope you will be patient with us.”
Three additional folk musicians later joined them on stage to introduce two new songs and perform a traditional Irish piece. At different points, Rowsell, who grew up learning traditional Irish music, played both the flute and tin whistle. The first new track Hit The Sky featured a steady rhythm while Rowsell sang: “If the world serves you lemons, you just twist ‘em”. Soon after, the gentler and emotional Gospel Oak was performed, with Rowsell becoming visibly emotional partway through the song.
Later in the show, drummer Joel Amey stepped forward for a lead vocal moment again after White Horses, a track from The Clearing, and performed Swallowtail live for the first time since 2016. As the encore began, Rowsell returned with pianist Ryan Malcolm to perform The Last Man On Earth, using the Royal Albert Hall Grand Organ to create a more intimate arrangement of the song.
Throughout the concert, Wolf Alice also performed standout songs from The Clearing and their 2021 album Blue Weekend, including Leaning Against The Wall and How Can I Make It OK?. During The Sofa, Rowsell stepped down from the stage and sang part of the track from the audience seating area, even resting her feet on the chairs in front of her.
“Thank you so much for buying a ticket,” Rowsell told the crowd as Ellis, Amey, and guitarist Joff Oddie returned for the closing number. “It means so much to us that we had the chance to play this show, to stand on this stage, and to help raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust. Thank you to Robert Smith and thank you for letting us perform songs we have not played for a long time and some we have never played before.”
The band finished the night with Don’t Delete The Kisses, with the lights reflecting from the large disco ball above the audience as the crowd sang along together.
Wolf Alice credit: John Stead
‘Heavenward’
‘White Horses’
‘Just Two Girls’
‘Leaning Against The Wall’
‘How Can I Make It OK?’
‘The Sofa’
‘Midnight Song’
‘Hit The Sky’
Trad song
‘Gospel Oak’
Trad outro
‘Delicious Things’
‘Lipstick On The Glass’
‘Bread Butter Tea Sugar’
‘Bros’
‘Swallowtail’
‘Bloom Baby Bloom’
‘The Last Man On Earth’
‘Don’t Delete The Kisses’
Visit here to donate to Teenage Cancer Trust, or text “RAH10” to 70085 to donate £10.
Wolf Alice’s appearance in the concert series came just one day after they performed as the musical guest on SNL UK. They became the second act to appear on the new British version of the long running American sketch show, performing White Horses and Leaning Against The Wall during the broadcast.
Recently, the group also received nominations at this year’s Ivor Novello Awards. The Clearing has been nominated for Best Album, while The Sofa is nominated in the Best Song Musically and Lyrically category at the ceremony, which recognises excellence in songwriting. The 2026 awards will be held at London’s Grosvenor House on May 21.
The band have already had a strong start to 2026, winning Best Group at the BRIT Awards in February and performing at the Trans Mission concert at OVO Arena Wembley earlier this month. Before the year ends, they are set to play their largest headline show so far at London’s Finsbury Park and will also headline this year’s Green Man Festival in Wales.
