The War On Drugs
Tour
The War on Drugs take the stage in...
Catch The War on Drugs Live on the 2026 Tour!
Philadelphia indie rock heroes The War on Drugs are back on the road in 2026, and frontman Adam Granduciel has confirmed the band is putting the finishing touches on their first new studio album in five years. The 2026 run is a tight schedule of fall theater dates, festival appearances, and a Bourbon and Beyond slot, with new material expected to weave into setlists alongside the catalog cuts that earned the band a Grammy and a generation of devoted fans. Browse the listings below and lock in your seats before the small theater rooms sell out.
The fall North American leg kicks off September 18 at The Queen in Wilmington, Delaware, followed by the Asheville Yards Amphitheater on September 21. From there the band hits Avondale Brewing Company in Birmingham on September 23 before joining the Bourbon and Beyond Festival in Louisville (September 24-27) alongside a stacked Americana and rock lineup. October brings a Twilight Concert Series date at The Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City on October 1, the Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on October 2, and both weekends of the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park (October 2-4 and October 9-11).
Granduciel has hinted that the new album leans back toward the rougher, more spontaneous sound of the band's early records like Slave Ambient and Lost in the Dream, with heavy use of vintage analog effects -- particularly the Bi-Phase phaser that became a signature texture on those records. Expect the live show to mix new tracks with longtime favorites: Red Eyes, Under the Pressure, An Ocean in Between the Waves, Pain, Thinking of a Place, I Don't Live Here Anymore, and the slow-build closer Eyes to the Wind. The full band -- two guitars, two keyboards, bass, drums, and saxophone -- will deliver the deep, hypnotic dynamic range the band is known for.
The War on Drugs have built one of the most consistent live reputations in modern indie rock. Songs that come in at five or six minutes on record routinely stretch into ten-minute jam workouts on stage, with Granduciel's reverb-soaked Stratocaster solos and the band's patient build-and-release dynamic delivering a feel closer to Crazy Horse-era Neil Young or Born to Run-era E Street Band than anything in their indie rock peer group. Crowds tend to skew older, attentive, and ready to ride the long instrumental passages.
BigStub has verified resale tickets for the entire 2026 run, with no hidden fees and a 100 percent buyer guarantee on every order. Backed by more than 20 years of trusted service and the highest Trustpilot rating in the industry, BigStub makes it easy to lock in a War on Drugs night worth traveling for. Browse the listings below and grab your seats on BigStub before the small clubs sell out.
Friday, September 18th, 2026
8:00 PMThe War On Drugs
The Queen - Wilmington
Wilmington, DEMonday, September 21st, 2026
7:00 PMThe War On Drugs
Asheville Yards Amphitheater
Asheville, NCThursday, October 1st, 2026
6:00 PMThe War On Drugs
The Gallivan Center
Salt Lake City, UTFriday, October 2nd, 2026
Austin City Limits Music Festival: Weekend One - 3 Day Pass
Zilker Park
Austin, TXFriday, October 2nd, 2026
8:00 PMThe War On Drugs
Pearl Concert Theater At Palms Casino Resort
Las Vegas, NVFriday, October 9th, 2026
Austin City Limits Music Festival: Weekend Two - 3 Day Pass
Zilker Park
Austin, TX
About The War on Drugs and the 2026 Tour
The War on Drugs is the Philadelphia rock band led by guitarist, vocalist, and primary songwriter Adam Granduciel. The project began in 2005 as a loose collaboration between Granduciel and Kurt Vile, and over the past two decades it has evolved into a six-piece touring band with a sound that pulls equally from classic FM radio rock, krautrock-style hypnotic repetition, and modern indie rock production. The current lineup also features David Hartley (bass), Robbie Bennett (keyboards), Charlie Hall (drums), Anthony LaMarca (guitar), and Jon Natchez (saxophone, keys).
The band's commercial breakthrough came with their third studio album, Lost in the Dream, released in 2014 on Secretly Canadian. The record was named one of the best albums of the decade by numerous publications and produced indie radio staples like Red Eyes, Under the Pressure, and An Ocean in Between the Waves. The follow-up, A Deeper Understanding (2017), won the Grammy for Best Rock Album, and the 2021 release I Don't Live Here Anymore earned widespread critical acclaim and another round of major touring.
Granduciel has confirmed in recent interviews that the band is putting the finishing touches on their first new studio album in roughly five years. He told Grammy.com and other outlets that the new record leans back toward the looser, more spontaneous feel of the band's early albums Slave Ambient and Lost in the Dream, with heavy use of vintage analog effects including the Mu-Tron Bi-Phase phaser that gave those records their signature texture. The album does not yet have a release date but is expected to follow the 2026 tour.
The 2026 tour is built around late September and October festival appearances and a handful of theater dates. It kicks off September 18 at The Queen in Wilmington, Delaware -- a 950-capacity theater in the historic Market Street district. From there the band hits the Asheville Yards Amphitheater on September 21, Avondale Brewing Company in Birmingham on September 23, and a slot at Bourbon and Beyond in Louisville, the four-day Americana and rock festival running September 24-27.
October dates include a Twilight Concert Series night at The Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City on October 1, the Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on October 2, and two weekends at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park (October 2-4 and October 9-11). The ACL slot reflects the band's consistent festival-headliner pull on the indie rock circuit, with shared bills alongside major touring acts.
What makes a War on Drugs show special is the way the band uses time. Studio recordings that come in at five or six minutes routinely stretch to ten or twelve minutes live, with Granduciel's reverb-soaked Fender Stratocaster solos riding extended outros while the rhythm section locks into a hypnotic, motorik-adjacent pulse. The dynamic range is huge -- whisper-quiet verses giving way to wall-of-sound payoffs that can hit Springsteen-at-Wembley levels. The closest reference points live are Crazy Horse-era Neil Young, late-period Bob Dylan, and Born to Run-era E Street Band, plus a healthy dose of krautrock structural patience.
The setlist on this run is expected to mix new material with deep catalog cuts. Beyond the radio staples, expect classics like Pain, Thinking of a Place, Strangest Thing, I Don't Wanna Wait, Burning, and the patient closer Eyes to the Wind. Tour merch is typically curated by city, with venue-specific shirts and posters available at most dates -- worth arriving early if you collect.
How to Buy The War on Drugs Tour Tickets
Where can I buy The War on Drugs 2026 tour tickets?
Tickets are available through venue box offices and authorized primary sellers like Ticketmaster, AXS, and Live Nation, as well as the band's official site. Verified resale tickets for sold-out and high-demand dates are available on BigStub, a trusted third-party marketplace with no hidden fees and a 100 percent buyer guarantee on every order.
When does the 2026 tour start?
The War on Drugs' 2026 fall run kicks off September 18 at The Queen in Wilmington, Delaware, with subsequent dates through September and October at theaters, breweries, casino theaters, and Austin City Limits across both festival weekends. Check the listings above for available dates.
What should I know about the ACL Festival dates?
The War on Drugs are playing both weekends of Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park, Austin, Texas -- Weekend One on October 2-4 and Weekend Two on October 9-11. ACL is a 75,000-fan-per-day three-day festival with a stacked headline lineup. Both weekends typically feature the same artist lineup. Check the listings above for current ticket availability.
What cities are on the 2026 War on Drugs tour?
The fall run visits Wilmington (DE), Asheville (NC), Birmingham (AL), Louisville (KY, Bourbon and Beyond Festival), Salt Lake City (UT), Las Vegas (NV), and both weekends of Austin City Limits in Austin (TX). Browse the listings above for the full schedule and current ticket availability.
Are resale tickets from BigStub legitimate?
Yes. BigStub has been a trusted secondary ticket marketplace for more than 20 years and holds the highest Trustpilot rating in the resale industry. Every order is backed by a 100 percent buyer guarantee that protects against fraudulent or undelivered tickets, and there are no hidden service fees added at checkout. If a show is canceled and not rescheduled, customers receive a full refund through the BigStub guarantee program.
What if I can no longer attend?
If your plans change after purchasing tickets through BigStub, you can list them for resale through the BigStub seller marketplace. Customer service can walk you through the process, and the resale fee structure is clearly listed on the site. Refunds for personal scheduling changes are not available, so list early if you need to recoup the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are The War on Drugs touring in 2026?
Yes. The War on Drugs are on a fall 2026 tour with dates in Wilmington (DE), Asheville, Birmingham, Louisville (Bourbon and Beyond Festival), Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and both weekends of Austin City Limits in Austin. The run is expected to feature new material from the band's upcoming studio album. Check the listings above for available shows.
What is The War on Drugs' new album?
Frontman Adam Granduciel has confirmed that the band is finishing up their first new studio album in roughly five years. He has hinted that the record returns to the looser, more spontaneous feel of earlier albums Slave Ambient and Lost in the Dream, with heavy use of vintage analog effects like the Mu-Tron Bi-Phase phaser. A release date has not been officially announced.
Who is in The War on Drugs?
The current lineup is led by Adam Granduciel (vocals, guitar, songwriting) and includes David Hartley (bass), Robbie Bennett (keyboards), Charlie Hall (drums), Anthony LaMarca (guitar), and Jon Natchez (saxophone, keys). The project began in 2005 as a collaboration between Granduciel and Kurt Vile, who later left to focus on his solo career.
What style of music does The War on Drugs play?
The War on Drugs play a style often called heartland rock or indie rock with strong influences from classic FM rock (Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen) and German krautrock (Neu, Kraftwerk). The band is known for hypnotic, build-and-release dynamics with extended instrumental passages and Granduciel's reverb-soaked Fender Stratocaster solos.
How much do The War on Drugs tickets cost?
Prices vary by venue, seat or standing-room location, and demand. Theater dates like The Queen and the Pearl Concert Theater trend toward mid-range prices, while festival passes for ACL and Bourbon and Beyond are priced as multi-day festival tickets. Check the listings above for current pricing on BigStub, where verified resale tickets are available with no hidden fees added at checkout.
What songs do The War on Drugs play live?
Setlists pull from across the band's catalog. Expect Red Eyes, Under the Pressure, An Ocean in Between the Waves, Pain, Thinking of a Place, I Don't Live Here Anymore, Strangest Thing, Burning, Eyes to the Wind, and new material from the upcoming album. Songs that come in at five or six minutes on record typically stretch to ten-plus minutes live.
Who is opening for The War on Drugs in 2026?
Supporting acts vary by date and have not been confirmed for every theater show. Festival dates feature a full multi-act lineup. Check individual show pages for the most current opener information.
How long is a War on Drugs concert?
A typical War on Drugs headlining set runs about two hours, sometimes longer with encores. Including the opening act, plan for roughly two and a half to three hours from doors to the end of the night, depending on the venue.
What is Bourbon and Beyond?
Bourbon and Beyond is a four-day Americana, rock, and bourbon-tasting festival held annually at the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. The 2026 edition runs September 24-27 and features The War on Drugs alongside a stacked lineup of major rock and Americana acts plus an extensive bourbon tasting program.
What is Austin City Limits Music Festival?
Austin City Limits Music Festival, or ACL, is one of the largest annual music festivals in the United States, held over two consecutive weekends at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. The 2026 edition runs Weekend One on October 2-4 and Weekend Two on October 9-11. The festival features approximately 130 acts across multiple stages each weekend.
Can I get a refund if a show is canceled?
Yes. BigStub's 100 percent buyer guarantee covers refunds for shows that are canceled and not rescheduled. If a show is postponed to a new date, your tickets typically remain valid for the rescheduled performance. Contact BigStub customer service for help with any specific situation.
Did The War on Drugs win a Grammy?
Yes. The War on Drugs won the Grammy for Best Rock Album in 2018 for their 2017 album A Deeper Understanding. The album also produced one of the band's biggest indie radio hits, Pain, and the slow-build masterpiece Thinking of a Place. Granduciel called the Grammy a meaningful recognition of the band's craft-focused approach to rock songwriting.
Are kids allowed at War on Drugs concerts?
Age policies vary by venue. Most theater dates like The Queen, Asheville Yards, and Pearl Concert Theater are all-ages, while a few smaller clubs may be 18-plus or 21-plus. Festival dates like ACL and Bourbon and Beyond are typically all-ages. Check the specific venue or festival policy before purchasing tickets for younger fans.
What is Lost in the Dream?
Lost in the Dream is the third studio album by The War on Drugs, released in 2014 on Secretly Canadian. The record was the band's commercial breakthrough, earning best-of-the-decade honors from numerous publications and producing songs including Red Eyes, Under the Pressure, An Ocean in Between the Waves, and Eyes to the Wind. It is widely considered one of the defining indie rock albums of the 2010s.
How early should I arrive at a War on Drugs show?
Doors typically open about an hour to ninety minutes before showtime. Plan to arrive thirty to forty-five minutes before the opener to allow time for security, parking or transit, and finding a good spot at standing-room venues. The Queen, Asheville Yards, and the Pearl Concert Theater are all general admission for portions of the venue, so early arrival pays off.