Elvis Costello has announced a new UK tour for summer 2026 that places a spotlight squarely on the earliest chapters of his songwriting career. Titled Radio Soul!: The Early Songs of Elvis Costello Tour, the run reunites Costello with The Imposters and guitarist Charlie Sexton, who previously toured with him during the 2021 Hello Again shows and has continued performing as part of the ensemble.
The tour will dive deep into Costello’s formative period, drawing extensively from his 1977 debut My Aim Is True through the 1986 album Blood & Chocolate. Fans can expect performances of foundational tracks that shaped Costello’s rise as one of the most inventive and influential songwriters of his era.
The initial UK routing begins June 13, 2026, at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, followed by London’s Royal Albert Hall on June 15 and Portsmouth’s Guildhall on June 26. The first leg wraps up July 6 at O2 City Hall in Newcastle. This series of shows allows fans across multiple regions to hear Costello revisit the songs that launched his career, supported by a lineup that includes three musicians who originally helped bring that early catalog to life, strengthened by two newer collaborators offering renewed texture and perspective.
Costello explained that the tour’s concept is about honoring the longevity of his material. For him, the continued interest in songs written decades ago is both humbling and creatively energizing. He emphasized that audiences should “expect the unexpected and the faithful in equal measure,” noting that The Imposters — Steve Nieve, Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher — are not recreating the past, but reinterpreting it with the urgency and spirit of a modern rock ’n’ roll group. Sexton’s guitar work adds further dimension, continuing the musical chemistry formed on recent tours.
Tickets go on general sale at 10 a.m. GMT on December 12, 2025, with pre-sales opening December 10. Beyond the headline dates, Costello, The Imposters and Sexton will also appear on select shows supporting Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts during their UK and European tour in late June and July 2026. These appearances complement Costello’s own run with a separate slate of festival and outdoor performances.
The announcement arrives during an exceptionally active period for Costello, who has maintained a consistent touring schedule throughout 2025. By returning to his earliest material, the Radio Soul! tour promises not only a retrospective of where his career began, but a reinvigorated celebration of the songs that shaped his artistry — delivered by a seasoned, tight-knit band that continues to evolve alongside him.
