Robert Smith Curates 2026 Teenage Cancer Trust Concerts With Garbage, My Bloody Valentine, and Chvrches
Robert Smith, frontman of The Cure, will lead the curation of the 2026 Teenage Cancer Trust concert series, assuming the responsibilities previously handled by the charity’s co-founder, Roger Daltrey. Daltrey announced his departure last year after stewarding the event for 24 years, making Smith the first outside curator to design the lineup since the charity launched its annual concert week.
The shows will return to London’s Royal Albert Hall in late March, featuring a combination of musical performances and comedy programs aimed at raising funds and awareness for the organization. Smith’s involvement marks a new era for the series, pairing long-established alternative acts with artists from a newer generation of indie music.
The concert week begins on March 23, with Elbow and Mrcy setting the tone for the fundraising run. The schedule continues on March 24 with Manic Street Preachers and The Joy Formidable, followed by a comedy evening that same night showcasing well-known British comedians, including Maisie Adam, Bridget Christie, Jack Dee, Andy Hamilton, Dom Joly, Miles Jupp, Athena Kugblenu, Stewart Lee, and Dara Ó Briain.
On March 25, fans will see Mogwai, Craven Faults, and a special guest appearance from Annika Kilkenny. The week then shifts toward two particularly anticipated shows: My Bloody Valentine and Chvrches will perform on March 27, with both offering stripped-down sets, a format that often highlights acoustic arrangements and expanded vocal focus.
The following evening, March 28, will feature Garbage and Placebo, who will also take the stripped-back approach, signaling a more intimate interpretation of their catalogues. The concluding event, on March 29, pairs Wolf Alice and Nilüfer Yanya, closing the week with two of the U.K.’s most acclaimed modern indie-rock performers.
Tickets and Access
Tickets for all concerts will be available beginning December 12 at 9 a.m. local time. Full event information, including pricing, access, and the opportunity to donate directly, is available through the Teenage Cancer Trust’s official site.
Teenage Cancer Trust provides ongoing support for specialized nurses, youth workers, and dedicated hospital environments designed for young people navigating cancer diagnoses. As Daltrey told Rolling Stone in 2013, the organization was founded on a belief that emotional comfort plays a crucial role in treatment outcomes. Though the charity supports clinical care, he emphasized that its central purpose is bringing young patients together, allowing them to maintain relationships with peers who understand similar struggles.
Daltrey noted that this level of psychological support is often overlooked in traditional medical approaches, despite its impact on recovery and well-being. Since 2000, his work with the organization has raised more than $40 million, with the Royal Albert Hall concert week serving as its most public-facing annual initiative.
The Teenage Cancer Trust concerts have hosted some of the most recognizable names in British music over the past two decades. Among the acts who have participated are The Who, Oasis, Coldplay, Madness, the Cure, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Squeeze, Chemical Brothers, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Eric Clapton, and the Stereophonics. The consistency of high-caliber performers has made the event not only a reliable fundraiser but also a fixture in the U.K. live music calendar.
