Public Image Ltd

John Lydon’s iconoclastic band Public Image Ltd (PiL) has announced a major tour of Europe for early summer 2026.

 

The 23-date tour billed as ‘This Is Not…The Final PiL Tour’ will kick off in Brussels on May 3^rd and conclude in Cologne on June 8th.  PiL will perform in major cities across the continent, including Amsterdam (7^th May), Berlin (11^th May), Warsaw (15^th May), Zagreb (19^th May), Prague (22^nd May), Vienna (23^rd May), Milan (26^th May), and Paris (4^th June). For the first time, the band will play in Hungary (Budapest, 20^th May) and Luxembourg (7^th June).

 

PiL’s European tour dates for 2026 follow the momentum gained in 2025 when they played a string of shows and festival appearances in the UK and Europe. Following the passing of his wife, Nora, and lifelong friend and manager, John Rambo Stevens, both in 2023, Lydon thought he might retire from touring. However, he was overwhelmed by the response, love and support of fans and 2026 is set to be an important year for the band. 

 

There will be a new live album, recorded on the 2025 tour and set for Spring release, and the band will go into the studio early in the year to record an album of new material for Autumn release.

 

Looking forward to the 2026 shows in Europe, Lydon said: “After losing Nora, and Rambo, I couldn’t see a way through. The thing is, people were so overwhelmingly positive, they really showed me a lot of love, and they asked me to tour PiL again. With so many people asking and with the band meaning so much to them, I couldn’t just stay on my sofa and not tour – tempting though that obviously is.

 

“Every time we play in South America it is an amazing response and a very generous reception. Salute! You are my friends and my family. When you come to see PiL live, we’ll eat the hair off your head, we’re so good!”

 

After fronting the Sex Pistols, John Lydon formed post-punk originators Public Image Ltd (PiL). Widely regarded as one of the most innovative bands of all time, their music and vision earned them 5 UK Top 20 Singles and 5 UK Top 20 Albums.

 

With a shifting line-up and unique sound – fusing rock, dance, folk, pop and dub – Lydon guided the band from their debut album ‘First Issue’ in 1978 through to 1992’s ‘That What Is Not’, before a 17 year hiatus.

 

Lydon reactivated PiL in 2009, touring extensively and releasing three critically acclaimed albums, ‘This is PiL’ (2012), ‘What The World Needs Now…’ (2015) and ‘End of World’ (2023). 

 

Following the departure of long serving drummer - Bruce Smith - at the end of 2023, his replacement  - Mark Roberts - joins John Lydon (vocals), Lu Edmonds (guitar) and Scott Firth (bass).

 

28.11.2025