The Great Outdoor Seasons Keep Growing in Halifax and Scarborough

Yorkshire’s outdoor music season keeps getting bigger, with another strong wave of artists announced for TK Maxx presents Live at The Piece Hall and TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre. Both venues have already unveiled a long list of headline names for 2026, but the latest additions push things even further and continue the momentum that’s been building over the past few months.

Among the most recent confirmations is Holly Johnson, who will headline Scarborough OAT on Friday 14 August before heading across to Halifax the following evening. He’s joined at both shows by ABC and Heaven 17 – a bill that plays directly into Yorkshire’s own musical heritage, with both special guests originally formed in Sheffield. Johnson’s set promises a journey through some of the defining hits of the 80s, from his Frankie Goes To Hollywood era to solo favourites, and with his recent Pleasuredome anniversary tour drawing big crowds, these new Yorkshire dates land at the perfect time.

“More variety”

Halifax has added even more variety with the arrival of Amy Macdonald, who plays The Piece Hall on Thursday 18 June as part of her 2026 European tour. She’s bringing The Coral and Nathan Evans & The Saint PHNX Band with her, making it a strong triple bill. With her debut album This Is The Life still holding its place as a modern classic and her later records reinforcing her staying power, Macdonald’s show adds a different energy to a summer already filled with big names.

The Piece Hall has also secured a genuinely special moment in the form of The Beach Boys, who will mark 60 years of Pet Sounds in Halifax on Wednesday 17 June. The chance to hear songs that have shaped generations – alongside a full set from art-rock greats 10cc – makes this one of next summer’s standout bookings, and a rare opportunity to see two hugely influential acts sharing the same stage.

Keeping things moving at pace, both venues have announced Scissor Sisters for early August, with Scarborough on Saturday 8 August and Halifax on Sunday 9 August. Fresh from their reunion and Glastonbury appearance, they remain one of the most colourful and high-energy live acts around, and their two Yorkshire dates are expected to draw fans from across the country. Both shows will also support PLUS1’s partnership with Not A Phase, with £1 from each ticket helping support trans+ adults across the UK.

Scarborough then added another major name with The Streets bringing A Grand Don’t Come For Free to the coast on Saturday 1 August. Performed in full for the first time, it’s a landmark moment for fans of Mike Skinner’s storytelling and one of the most important UK albums of the 2000s. With some tracks never played live before, it’s already looking like one of the real highlights of the OAT calendar.

“Tailor-made for the courtyard”

And rounding off the latest run of announcements is an inspired double bill for Halifax, as The Flaming Lips and the newly reformed The Beta Band team up for a joint headline show on Thursday 23 July. It’s a pairing that blends psychedelic spectacle with cult indie brilliance, and one that fits perfectly with The Piece Hall’s open-air atmosphere. With The Beta Band returning after more than 20 years and The Flaming Lips continuing to reinvent their live shows, it’s a night that feels tailor-made for the courtyard.

These latest additions – from pop icons and folk favourites to synth-pop pioneers, psychedelic trailblazers and full-album performances – show just how strong 2026 is becoming for both venues. Scarborough OAT continues to build a bill that mixes nostalgia, huge live productions and modern classics, while The Piece Hall has once again curated a line-up that covers decades, genres and completely different live experiences.

With more announcements expected and ticket sales already moving quickly, next summer across Halifax and the Yorkshire coast is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet.