News
Eric Clapton Launches 2026 Tour In Guildford
20 Apr 26
Eric Clapton’s 2026 Tour got underway on Monday, April 20, with the first of two special warm-up shows at G Live. The Guildford, England venue has a seated capacity of just 1,031, making it the most intimate setting of the year. With no support act, the evening offered fans a rare chance to experience his music up close—more like witnessing a tour rehearsal than attending a full-scale arena concert.
Eric grew up less than seven miles away in the small rural village of Ripley, giving his Guildford appearances a genuine hometown feel. He first performed in the town at the now-demolished Civic Hall with The Yardbirds on December 15, 1963. More than a dozen shows between 1963 and 1966 followed at the various Ricky Tick Club locations with The Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, and Cream. Even his first package tour—with Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas topping the bill—stopped at Guildford’s Odeon Theatre on October 11, 1964.
Fifteen years passed before Eric returned to the Civic Hall for the closing night of his Backless Tour on December 7, 1978. Over the next decade, the venue became a regular stop on his tours, often hosting closing-night performances. On January 4, 2004, he was the special guest at One Last Fling, a farewell concert for the Civic Hall. G Live now stands on the site. Since it opened, Eric has also appeared there as a guest with Paul Jones & Friends in 2018 and with Hawkwind during their 50th anniversary tour in 2019.
The set list was:
01. Badge
02. Key To The Highway
03. Hoochie Coochie Man
04. Old Love
05. White Room
06. Kindhearted Woman
07. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
08. Back Home
09. Layla
10. Tears In Heaven
11. Tearing Us Apart
12. Wonderful Tonight
13. Crossroads
14. Little Queen Of Spades
15. Cocaine
16. Before You Accuse Me
Eric is joined on all dates this year by his longtime band: Nathan East (bass/vocals), Doyle Bramhall II (guitar/vocals), Sonny Emory (drums), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Tim Carmon (Hammond organ/keyboards), and backing vocalists Sharon White and Katie Kissoon.
Eric returns to G Live on April 21 for a second warm-up performance. The European leg of his 2026 Tour officially begins Friday, April 24 at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, where Jett Rebel will be support. Andy Fairweather Low and The Low Riders will appear as special guests for the remaining April and May performances.
UPCOMING CONCERTS
UK & Europe
April 21 – Guildford, G Live – SOLD OUT
April 24 – Amsterdam, Ziggo Dome – Get Tickets
April 26 – Antwerp, AFAS Dome – Get Tickets
April 29 – Kraków, Tauron Arena Kraków – Get Tickets
May 2 – Budapest, MVM Dome – Get Tickets
May 4 – Prague, O2 Arena – Get Tickets
May 7 – Madrid, Movistar Arena – Get Tickets
May 10 – Barcelona, Palau Sant Jordi – Get Tickets
May 13 – Mannheim, SAP Arena – Get Tickets
May 15 – Cologne, Lanxess Arena – Get Tickets
May 17 – Munich, Olympiahalle – Get Tickets
August 23 – Sandringham, Royal Estate – Get Tickets
United States
September 6 – Detroit, Little Caesars Arena – Get Tickets
September 8 – Cincinnati, Heritage Bank Center – Get Tickets
September 11 – Chicago, United Center – Get Tickets
September 13 – Milwaukee, Fiserv Forum – Get Tickets
September 16 – St. Paul, Grand Casino Arena – Get Tickets
September 19 – Kansas City, T-Mobile Center – Get Tickets
Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival:
September 26 – Austin, Moody Center – Get Tickets
September 27 – Austin, Moody Center – Get Tickets
Every era, every show: Browse the Eric Clapton Tour Archive
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