After seven long years away from touring, Radiohead have finally returned — and the wait was worth it. The band kicked off their 2025 European tour in Madrid, performing an electrifying, career-spanning set that reminded everyone why they’re still one of the most innovative and emotionally powerful live acts on Earth.
A Long-Awaited Comeback
This tour marks Radiohead’s first since 2018, and their return has been nothing short of historic. Fans lined up for hours outside Movistar Arena in Madrid, where the band opened their four-night residency on November 4, 2025.
The stage design, featuring a circular setup surrounded by LED screens, placed the band right at the heart of the audience — a fitting metaphor for their renewed connection with fans after years of silence.
Frontman Thom Yorke, alongside Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, Colin Greenwood, and Philip Selway, delivered a flawless performance blending experimental soundscapes with emotional depth.
Radiohead 2025 European Tour Dates
After Madrid, Radiohead’s journey continues across Europe:
Nov 4–8, 2025 – Madrid, Spain – Movistar Arena
Nov 14–18, 2025 – Bologna, Italy – Unipol Arena
Nov 21–25, 2025 – London, UK – The O₂ Arena
Dec 1–5, 2025 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
Dec 8–12, 2025 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
That’s 20 shows in total, all of which sold out within hours — a testament to how much fans have missed them.
Madrid Setlist: A Dream for True Fans
The opening night in Madrid featured a breathtaking mix of classics, deep cuts, and long-unheard songs. Here’s the full setlist from the first show:
Main Set:
Let Down
2 + 2 = 5
Sit Down. Stand Up. (Snakes & Ladders)
Bloom
Lucky
Ful Stop
The Gloaming (Softly Open Our Mouths in the Cold)
Myxomatosis (Judge, Jury & Executioner)
No Surprises
Videotape
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Everything in Its Right Place
15 Step
The National Anthem
Daydreaming
A Wolf at the Door (It Girl. Rag Doll.)
Bodysnatchers
Idioteque
Encore:
19. Fake Plastic Trees
20. Subterranean Homesick Alien
21. Paranoid Android
22. How to Disappear Completely
23. You and Whose Army?
24. There There (The Boney King of Nowhere)
25. Karma Police
Highlights from the Night
The concert was a balance of atmospheric intensity and nostalgia.
“Let Down” opened the night with pure euphoria — the first time it’s been used as an opener since the late 1990s.
The return of “Sit Down. Stand Up.” thrilled long-time fans, marking its first live performance in over 20 years.
The emotional climax came with “How to Disappear Completely” and “Karma Police”, sung in unison by a crowd that filled every corner of the arena.
Yorke’s vocals were haunting, Jonny Greenwood’s guitar work soared, and the visual setup — soft lighting, abstract projections, and perfectly timed transitions — created a dreamlike experience.
Why Madrid Was Special
Madrid wasn’t just another stop — it was Radiohead’s only Spanish appearance in 2025. Fans from across Spain and Portugal flocked to the capital, turning the city into a pilgrimage site for lovers of alternative rock and experimental music.
As El País noted, “It wasn’t just a concert — it was a homecoming for a generation that grew up with OK Computer and In Rainbows.”
The performance captured the spirit of renewal: familiar yet unpredictable, structured yet chaotic — exactly what Radiohead do best.
What’s Next for Radiohead?
While no new album has been officially announced, insiders suggest that new material could surface during the tour. Thom Yorke hinted in a recent interview that the band had been “writing quietly and waiting for the right time to play again.”
If Madrid is any indication, that time has arrived.
Final Thoughts
Radiohead’s 2025 tour is more than a reunion — it’s a celebration of everything the band has stood for over three decades: artistry, risk, and emotion.
For fans heading to upcoming shows in Bologna, London, Copenhagen, or Berlin: expect surprises, deep cuts, and moments that will stay with you long after the lights go down.
This is the Radiohead era reborn — and Madrid was just the beginning.
