After a seven-year hiatus, Radiohead is set to return to the stage this November with their highly anticipated European tour, "The Lifetimes Tour." Spanning five cities—Madrid, Bolonia, London, Copenhagen, and Berlin—the tour promises to be a landmark event. However, the ticketing process has been marred by controversy, technical issues, and widespread fan frustration.
Official Tour Dates and Locations:
Madrid, Spain – Movistar Arena
November 4, 2025
November 5, 2025
November 7, 2025
November 8, 2025
Bologna, Italy – Unipol Arena
November 14, 2025
November 15, 2025
November 17, 2025
November 18, 2025
London, UK – The O2 Arena
November 21, 2025
November 22, 2025
November 24, 2025
November 25, 2025
Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
December 1, 2025
December 2, 2025
December 4, 2025
December 5, 2025
Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
December 8, 2025
December 9, 2025
December 11, 2025
December 12, 2025
A Flawed Ticketing System Sparks Outcry
To ensure tickets reached genuine fans rather than scalpers, Radiohead implemented a strict pre-registration system. Fans were required to sign up on the band’s official website, with priority given to those living near the venues. Successful registrants received an "unlock code," allowing them to purchase up to four tickets for a single show during the general sale on September 12.
Despite these measures, tickets sold out within minutes, leaving countless fans empty-handed. In response, the band took to Instagram to warn against purchasing from unauthorized resale platforms. "Please don’t be tempted to buy from third-party ticketing platforms," they wrote. "Those tickets are not real."
Chaos During the Sale
The ticket-buying process was fraught with difficulties. Platforms experienced crashes during the initial hours of the sale, while others reported issues with geolocation verification and confusing instructions. Many fans expressed frustration online, calling the system "unfair" and "stressful."
One user vented on social media: "I followed all the steps, got the code, and still couldn’t get a ticket. It feels rigged." Others criticized the geographic restrictions, arguing that international fans were unfairly penalized.
Adding to the chaos, over 1,000 potentially fraudulent tickets appeared on secondary marketplaces before the official sale even began. Industry experts suspect these listings represent speculative practices, where sellers advertise non-existent tickets hoping to source them later.
New Hope for Disappointed Fans
In an effort to address the backlash, Radiohead announced an official resale date on October 13, 2025, offering hope to those who missed out initially. "Some additional tickets may be released to registered fans at a later date," the band stated.
Drummer Philip Selway expressed his excitement about the reunion, saying, "Last year, we got together to rehearse, just for the hell of it. After a seven-year pause, it felt really good to reconnect with our musical identity."
A Landmark Return
With performances spanning 20 nights across Europe, Radiohead’s 2025 tour marks a significant moment in music history. From classic hits to potential surprises in the setlist, the band seeks to reconnect with its loyal fanbase while addressing the challenges of modern ticketing systems.
As governments and industry leaders consider reforms to combat scalping and speculative sales, Radiohead’s experiment serves as both a cautionary tale and a blueprint for future events. For now, fans eagerly await the October resale date, hoping for another chance to witness one of the most iconic bands of our time.
Radiohead’s first tour in seven years has sparked both excitement and chaos, with all tickets selling out almost instantly due to a new anti-bot system. The band urges fans to avoid third-party resale sites, warning that many listed tickets are fraudulent.