Event Calendar

Mrs. Brown returns to the first direct arena with brand new rib-tickling hit show, Good Mourning Mrs. Brown! Mrs. Brown is planning Grandad Brown’s funeral… one slight problem, he’s not dead! What happens next? Come to the first direct arena to find out!

Extra matinee show on sale now!

Pop-punk legends Blink-182 visit the first direct arena fresh from the success of their brilliant new UK and US #1 album, California. Bringing their incredible energy, classic hits and brand new tunes, the show promises to be a wall to wall pop-punk masterclass from true rock n roll legends. Book now to avoid missing out on a night of incredible tunes from the pop punk hitmakers. Joining Blink 182 on their visit to the first direct arena will be folk-punk legend Frank Turner with The Front Bottoms also added as an additional support.

Now in its fourth year, Leeds International Tattoo Expo, LITE, is an annual convention that brings together some of the best tattooists from the UK, Europe and beyond. 2017 sees LITE come to the   first direct arena to showcase around 160 top class tattoo artists alongside a carefully selected market of boutique traders, live music and exciting entertainment. Come down to see some incredible artwork and the best tattoo artists in the business. 

5 Star Wrestling Tournament show has been rescheduled to Wednesday 29th March 2018. 5 Star Wrestling said 'We have decided to completely reschedule the entire 5 Star Wrestling tournament. We know this will be disappointing to many fans as it means we will not be running any further shows in 2017 but we assure you, this is not a decision we have taken lightly and it is a move that will greatly improve the shows we host going forward. Your tickets are automatically valid for the new date but are welcome to a full refund at your point of purchase.' 

Céline Dion is coming to Leeds. The team have been working to find alternative dates for her scheduled gigs at Manchester Arena, which have had to be cancelled. Céline will now perform at the first direct arena on June 25th and August 2nd 2017. Tickets are on general sale now.

PAW Patrol Live! brings everybody’s favourite pups to the stage for an action-packed, high-energy, musical adventure to the first direct Arena. Based on the hit animated TV series on Nickelodeon produced by Spin Master and featuring a cast of everybody’s favourite PAW Patrol characters. Please note - Children Under 12 months do not require a ticket. Children 12 months and over require a ticket

The Nooran Sisters have announced they will be making their debut at the first direct arena on the 10th September 2017. The Nooran Sisters are far from ordinary and are destined for worldwide domination thanks to their rich family heritage in Sufi classical music. Already having headlined the prestigious Nakodar Mela in Panjab, in presence of the legendary Gurdas Mann - the sisters, Jyoti & Sultana are without a doubt the most amazing & exciting act to come out of Panjab in recent years. Tickets are available now

John Legend will return to the first direct arena as part of his biggest tour yet this September. Ohio-born John Legend is a critically acclaimed, multi-award winning, platinum-selling singer-songwriter.  His work has garnered him ten Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, the BET Award for Best New Artist and the special Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, among others. Tickets are on sale now

Grammy award winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Member, Neil Diamond will be extending his 50th anniversary tour to the first direct arena on the 5th October 2017,Neil Diamond is more than just a music icon. His singular artistry and talent has left an indelible mark on American culture and has helped shape the sound of popular music for five decades. Tickets on sale now

American comedy sensations, The Tenderloins, will bring their brand-new show to our shores this October. New York based comedy troupe The Tenderloins have built a huge live audience in the USA. After years of performing live improv and sketch comedy shows, The Tenderloins graduated to the web, captivating a new found audience of millions with their internet sketches before taking their hidden camera pranks to the small screen. 16+ Suggested (Parental Discretion Advised)

The Australian Pink Floyd return to the first direct arena with their stunning new tour, Best Side of The Moon. The Australian Pink Floyd boast having the biggest and most spectacular Pink Floyd show on the planet and they’re not wrong! Having sold over four million tickets across 35 countries, they are an act not to be missed! Come to the first direct arena to see the Pink Floyd tribute act that are so good that David Gilmour wanted to book them for his own birthday party!

Little Mix, the biggest girl band in the world, bring their brilliant new Glory Days Tour to the first direct arena. Touring in support of their amazing new album Glory Days, the Shout Out to My Ex pop Queens will provide an awesome nights entertainment at the first direct arena. Growing better and bolder with each new album, things are about to go properly interstellar, come join them at the first direct arena. Matinee and Evening shows available.

Legends Live is coming to the first direct arena this October with very special guests Suzi Quatro, David Essex, Hot Chocolate and Merrill, Jay and Jimmy in the Osmonds. Tickets for the Sunday 15th October concert are on sale now, priced £45.00 (booking & venue facility fees apply).

Multi-platinum-selling artist J. Cole announces today that he will hit the road for a 57-city world tour, visiting the first direct arena on October 22nd 2017 
The North Carolina-bred Cole is touring in support of his fourth album, the Platinum-certified 4 Your Eyez Only, which debuted at No. 1 on the BillboardTop 200 chart in December. Each of its ten tracks has notched a place on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Emeli Sandé, brings her brand new album Long Live the Angels, to the first direct arena as part of her Long Live The Angels tour.  With her phenomenal voice, transfixing stage presence and brilliant tunes it promises to be a special evening! Book now for an amazing evening with Emeli Sandé.  

Tickets on sale now! 

Comedy superstar John Bishop returns to the first direct arena next year for his long awaited return to stand-up comedy with his brand new live show Winging It. Performing in his own inimitable style, expect hilarity, side-splitting laughs and John’s trademark wry commentary. After having sellout tours in 2011, 2012 and his last tour, Supersonic, being watched by more than 500,000 people, this is an evening not to be missed with one of the UK’s best comedians. 

WWE Live returns to the first direct arena this November!

See your favourite WWE Superstars live in action including Randy Orton - Kevin Owens - AJ Styles - Dolph Ziggler - Shinsuke Nakamura - Sami Zayn - The New Day - Naomi - Becky Lynch - Charlotte Natalya -Baron Corbin*  *Lineup subject to change. Tickets on sale now!

Heavy metal legend, master of darkness and lord of the shadows, Alice Cooper, brings his brilliant new tour, Spend the Night With Alice Cooper, his first in five years, to the first direct arena. Promising “more gore, more fun”, all the hits and new tunes, it promises to be an evening of insanity with the heavy metal master. Book now to avoid missing out on a night with one of the most unique and theatrical recording artists ever. 

Little Mix, the biggest girl band in the world, bring their brilliant new Glory Days Tour to the first direct arena. Touring in support of their amazing new album Glory Days, the Shout Out to My Ex pop Queens will provide an awesome nights entertainment at the first direct arena. Growing better and bolder with each new album, things are about to go properly interstellar, come join them at the first direct arena.

It has been an extraordinary 6 months for James Arthur. After returning with his single Say You Won’t Let Go, James has gone on to achieve multiple #1s, a Platinum selling album, sold out tours and two BRIT’s Nominations. Now he returns with the announcement of his first arena tour, kicking off at Leeds first direct arena on the 16th November 2017.

Rock duo Royal Blood announce their biggest tour to date ahead of the release of their new album ‘How Did We Get So Dark?’, including a date at first direct Arena! Royal Blood are an English rock duo formed in Brighton in 2013. The band's sound is reminiscent of and rooted in modern blues rock, hard rock, garage rock and psychedelic rock. The on sale for this has been postponed due to recent events. We shall let you know when we go on sale.

Britain’s very own Twitter all-star is back… James Blunt will release his fifth studio album, ‘The Afterlove’ on March 24. The Afterlove Tour follows his extensive Moon Landing Tour, which saw him perform over 140 shows across the world over the course of twelve months. James Blunt brings the 'Afterlove' tour to first direct Arena Leeds, Saturday 18 November 2017

Steps return for 2017 with a huge first direct arena date, plus a brand-new single and album, marking their twentieth anniversary. The band have scored fourteen consecutive top 5 singles, sold over 20 million records and reached Number One with three albums and three singles. With special guests the Vengaboys this is a blast from the past not to miss! Tickets are on sale now!

Seminal indie rockers The Kooks announce a date at the first direct arena. Demand for The Kooks is higher than it’s ever been, with a whole new generation of music lovers discovering their music. During the live shows, fans will be given the chance to see performances of classic singles and b-sides, as well as brand new music that the band have been dedicating time to in the studio the past few months, teasing what’s to come in the next year. Tickets are on sale now!

Following the sellout British arena tour last year and a No.1 multi-platinum album, Elvis returns to the first direct arena for a live concert experience like no other. Featuring a very special personal appearance by Priscilla Presley, the shows will once again give fans a chance that many have never had before – to experience the man who changed the course of popular music. Up close live on screen, the biggest selling solo artist in history. 

Stone Sour have announced a date at the first direct arena this winter. Corey Taylor, Josh Rand, Roy Mayorga, Johny Chow and Christian Martucci will be supported by very special guests The Pretty Reckless on their visit to Leeds.

Cars fly, trees fight back, and monsters are on the loose in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! This concert features the film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in high-definition, on a giant screen, while a live orchestra performs John Williams’ unforgettable score. Relive every magical moment as the music brings life to a story that has bewitched the world. On sale now!

Queen + Adam Lambert return to Europe later this year for a date at the first direct arena, the tour will showcase a spectacular new stage production and a set list, which the band hints will provide some surprises. These shows will mark the band’s first appearance in Leeds in almost three years, having last performed here in January 2015 in front of a sold out crowd. I Want It All VIP: £295.  Ultimate On Stage Experience: £900.  More information on VIP packages can be found here

Following the stunning success of their Platinum selling album ‘Together’ and 29 sold out shows across the UK in 2016, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe are returning to the first direct arena on Friday 8th December 2017. Two of the greatest voices in the world, united once more on the stage of the first direct arena for a night of incredible entertainment and show-stopping tunes. Book now to avoid missing out on one of the most joyous nights of the year.

Birmingham’s world-famous reggae stars UB40 are coming to the first direct arena on the 10th of December! Featuring UB40’s five founding members Robin Campbell, Brian Travers, Jimmy Brown, Earl Falconer and Norman Hassan, and long-time members Duncan Campbell, Martin Meredith, Lawrence Parry and Tony Mullings, the ‘Cities and Towns Tour’ promises to be a night of unstoppable reggae rumble! Book now to bask in reggae brilliance.  

Pete Tong is bringing his unique union of classical music and iconic dance tracks to the first direct arena. With Ibiza classics performed and reimagined by the 65 piece heritage orchestra, conducted by Jules Buckley, it is a night of anthems not to be missed.

Tickets on Sale Now! 

International superstar André Rieu announces a return to the first direct arena in 2017.André Rieu is quite simply a musical phenomenon like no other,  Along with his 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra (the largest private orchestra in the world), André has created a global revival in waltz music, staging spectacular extravaganzas which are second to none. Having received over 500 Platinum Awards, three Classical Brit Awards for “Album of the Year” and billions of Youtube views, André is one of the biggest solo male touring artists in the world.

America's preeminent chart-topping hard rock band Five Finger Death Punch have announced a debut show at the first direct arena in Leeds. What promises to be the biggest and most exciting arena rock tour of 2017. Five Finger Death Punch will be joined on their tour by In Flames and Of Mice & Men. Tickets will go on sale this Friday 16th June at 10 am
 

Musical virtuoso Jools Holland and his well-renowned Rhythm & Blues Orchestra have announced a date at the first direct arena for their upcoming 2017 Autumn/Winter UK tour. With a huge collection of boogie-woogie tracks from multiple decades, a night at one of the UK’s most popular tours is for sure a memorable one! With Special Guests - Jose Feliciano, Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and Beth Rowley.

Grammy and Emmy Award-winning comedian, actor, director, writer and producer, Chris Rock, announced a visit to the first direct arena as part of The Total Blackout Tour 2018 and marks the acclimated comedian’s first U.K. tour in ten years visiting Leeds on Sunday 14th January 2017. Tickets are on sale now!

The greatest story ever told comes spectacularly to life in this brand new musical. Join us on an epic and inspirational journey and experience state of the art digital technology, innovative staging, and stunning choreography, with a cast of more than 30 in this greatly anticipated event directed by one of the UK’s finest directors.Telling the story of Adam and Eve, Heaven on Earth comes to the first direct arena next February. 

Paul Weller returns to first direct arena next year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his first album release ‘In The City’ and for his 13th album release ‘A Kind Revolution’. 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of Paul Weller’s first album, 'In The City', which he released with The Jam in May 1977.For most artists such a landmark would be greeted with extensive retrospective celebrations: lavish reissues and all that jazz. But Paul Weller is not like most artists, instead releasing a new studio album, because releasing new albums is what Paul Weller does. 

Britain’s biggest comedian Michael McIntyre is set to return to the first direct arena with his eagerly awaited new tour. After two sold out shows here in 2015 tickets for Michael McIntyre's return are going to be in some demand. Michael currently presents his own television show Michael McIntyre's Big Show on BBC1. The last series averaged over 6.5 million viewers and recently received two BAFTA nominations.

The world famous Harlem Globetrotters, featuring some of the most electrifying athletes on the planet, will bring their spectacular show to the first direct arena during their 2018 World Tour. As the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters look toward the 92nd season of entertaining fans 2017 is not over yet.  Proving once again to be a busy year for the Globetrotters their 2017 World Tour sees them play in over 250 North American markets and 30 countries worldwide, and has the iconic team putting smiles on people’s faces across the world. 

Bill Bailey returns to the first direct arena after a triumphant 2016 performance. Larks in Transit is a compendium of travelers’ tales and the general shenanigans of twenty years as a travelling comedian. With musical virtuosity, surreal tangents and trademark intelligence, Bill Bailey tackles politics, philosophy and the pursuit of happiness. Plus, he fashions a symphony from a ringtone, tells the real story of Old McDonald, and a re-imagines the Stars and Stripes. Two decades of touring larks from a comic described by the Daily Telegraph as ‘the brainiest comic of his generation’.