Davido,the Grammy-nominated Nigerian Afrobeats superstar, has announced his inaugural UK festival, "Davido & Friends," set to take place at the iconic Crystal Palace Bowl in South London on Friday, August 14, 2026.
The event, described by Davido as a "milestone," was revealed via his official social media channels on Monday. The announcement marks a significant expansion of the artist's global footprint and the Afrobeats genre's presence in major international live music venues.
Davido Curates First-Ever UK Festival
The festival forms part of the newly launched "Palace Bowl Presents" series at the historic Crystal Palace Bowl, which runs from July 31 to August 16, 2026. Davido will headline a full-day event on August 14, taking on curatorial duties for the lineup. While the specific supporting acts, referred to as "friends," have not yet been officially unveiled, industry expectations are high that the roster will feature prominent Afrobeats collaborators and international guests.
The Crystal Palace Bowl, an open-air amphitheatre with a capacity of approximately 15,000, has hosted legendary performances since the 1960s. Recent upgrades aim to restore its status as a premier live music destination in London. Other headline performances confirmed for the "Palace Bowl Presents" series include Grace Jones, Tom Jones, Gary Numan, and Bastille.
Event Details and Ticket Sales
Tickets for the Davido & Friends festival are expected to go on sale later this week. Presale access will open on Thursday, March 26, followed by general sales on Friday, March 27. The announcement follows months after Davido concluded his extensive 2025IVE tour, which spanned multiple cities across Africa and Europe, including Nigeria.
Davido's London festival represents a major moment for Afrobeats, solidifying its continued global export and expansion within key UK live music venues. Further details, including the full lineup, are anticipated in the coming weeks.
Davido said in his announcement: "Yo, my people of London, it’s your boy Davido. I know you guys have been feeling left out, but guess what? For the first time ever, I present to you Davido and Friends. This will be my only outdoor show I’m performing at this summer in London. We’ll be taking over the Crystal Palace Bowl on the 14th of August, so make sure you get your friends down, as I’ll be doing the same. London, I’ll see you guys soon."
