'The Best of Tubular Bells I, II & III' Sets 2026 UK Tour

Following on from the hugely successful extended 50th anniversary celebrations of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells, which toured throughout the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand in 2023 and 2024, The Best of Tubular Bells I, II & III, which celebrates the brilliance of these iconic and seminal musical pieces, will tour across the UK throughout February and March 2026.

One of the most pioneering and influential musicians of all time, Mike Oldfield’s visionary Tubular Bells series spans three albums and 17 years, with Tubular Bells created in 1971 and released in 1973, Tubular Bells II released in 1992,  (the filming of the premier from Edinburgh Castle is one of the most viewed and streamed musical events ever)  and Tubular Bells III released in 1998, (with the excerpt of Far above the Clouds featured in the 2012 London Olympic Opening Ceremony) . With each album, Oldfield expands on the incredible themes and theatrical variations he first composed at 17 years old, continually innovating and pushing boundaries. 

The Best of Tubular Bells I, II & lll 26-date UK tour will feature an expansive live group, led and arranged by Oldfield’s long-term collaborator Robin Smith, which will see extended sections of each iconic Tubular Bells album performed, as well as worldwide hit single Moonlight Shadow. 

Tubular Bells, created in 1971 and released in 1973, was the debut studio album by English multi-instrumentalist, composer, and songwriter Mike Oldfield. At just 17 years old when he started composing the music, Oldfield recorded and played almost all the instruments on the album, gained worldwide recognition when the opening theme was used for the soundtrack of the horror film, The Exorcist and went on to become the highest selling instrumental album of all time.

A bold and progressive fusion, Tubular Bells is a journey through classical, jazz, folk, progressive rock, and electronica and went on to win a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition in 1974. Tubular Bells II was released in 1992 and, like its predecessor, charted at No.1 in the UK Albums Chart. Featuring the top 10 single ‘Sentinel’, Tubular Bells went 2x Platinum in the UK. The third instalment in the Tubular Bells series was released in 1998 and draws on inspiration from the electronic music popular in bars and clubs in Ibiza, where Oldfield moved to in 1996.

Since the Premier of Tubular Bells 50th celebration it has been obvious the huge love that there has been for Mike’s music. Smith says, “In The Best of concert we get to perform excerpts from all 3 masterpieces and highlight the musical brilliance and technical advancements that have occurred between the first and the third albums. It will be an unforgettable evening and a great challenge for the wonderful musicians.”

Robin A. Smith, the Grammy-nominated Musical Director of the tour show, was completely mesmerised by Tubular Bells the moment he heard it. He studied Composition at the Royal College of Music, spent several years touring the world as a piano player and was the principal pianist of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, before meeting Mike Oldfield over 30 years ago.

Smith has collaborated with Oldfield for more than three decades, with performances of various Tubular Bells albums at iconic locations such as Edinburgh Castle, Horse Guards Parade and the 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

Tour Dates:

7th February                Oxford New Theatre

8th February                Birmingham The Alexandra

10th February              Edinburgh Usher Hall

11th February               Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

12th February              Perth Concert Hall

13th February              Gateshead Glasshouse

15th February              York Barbican

16th February              Liverpool Philharmonic

17th February              Manchester Bridgewater Hall

19th February              Bradford St Georges Hall

20th February              Sheffield City Hall

22nd February              Warwick Arts Centre *On-sale 13th June

23rd February              Cardiff New Theatre

24th February              Leicester De Monfort Hall

25th February              Dartford Orchard West Theatre

26th February              Croydon Fairfield Halls

27th February              Basingstoke The Anvil

1st March                     Ipswich Regent Theatre

2nd March                    Wycombe The Swan

3rd March                     Truro Hall For Cornwall *On-sale 14th July

6th March                     Poole Lighthouse

7th March                     Guildford G Live

8th March                     Milton Keynes Theatre

9th March                     Cambridge Corn Exchange

10th March                   Bath Forum

12th March                   Portsmouth Guildhall 

Photo Credit: Bodo Kubatzki