Country star Garth Brooks is to play his first UK show in almost 30 years after he was announced as the first headliner of the music festival British Summer Time (BST) 2026.
The 63-year-old American singer will take to the stage in London's Hyde Park on 27 June next year, having last played in the country in 1998.
Jim King, chief executive of the festival’s operators AEG Presents UK and European Festivals, said: "Announcing Garth Brooks as our first BST Hyde Park headliner for 2026 is a landmark moment.
"He joins the line of legendary artists who have defined BST over the years.
"A true global icon, Garth’s songs have connected with audiences everywhere, and his influence has paved the way for many of the country stars we celebrate today. His first UK performance in nearly three decades promises to be an unforgettable occasion at Hyde Park."
It comes after BST has previously hosted country artists such as Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan.
Brooks has sold more than 170 million records globally, and is second only to the Beatles for record sales in the US. His second album, No Fences (1991) was the first country album to go multi-platinum, with the follow-up, Ropin’ The Wind (1991), becoming the first country album to top the US pop charts.
Brooks is best known for songs such as Friends In Low Places, The Dance and The Thunder Rolls.
The country star last played in Ireland in 2022 when he played five nights at Dublin's Croke Park.
He was due to play five concerts at the stadium in 2014 but the gigs were cancelled following a licensing dispute with locals around the venue and the local authorities.
Dublin City Council said at the time that it would only grant licences for three of the concerts at the Dublin venue but the singer refused to perform unless all five went ahead.
Source: Press Association
