The 2025 Teenage Cancer Trust gigs at the Royal Albert Hall have raised a record-breaking £2.05 million to fund specialist care and support for young people with cancer.
This year’s event marked 25 years since the flagship concerts were founded by Teenage Cancer Trust’s Honorary Patron and lead singer of The Who, Roger Daltrey CBE.
It takes the total raised by the gigs to date to over £36 million, which has helped Teenage Cancer Trust fund specialist nurses, hospital units and support services right across the UK that help get young people through some unimaginably hard times.
Jamie Johnson, head of music and entertainment at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “This year, Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall has raised a phenomenal £2.05 million helping us provide the specialist care and support young people need at one of the toughest times in their lives.
“For a young person hearing the words ‘you have cancer,’ everything changes. The money raised through these shows helps make sure they have the right support around them – people who understand what they’re going through and are there every step of the way.
This year’s line-up included Frank Carter with Paul Cook, Steve Jones and Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols, James Arthur, The Who, The Corrs (pictured) and a special night curated by independent label Erased Tapes.
Johnson added: “We’re deeply grateful to the artists who gave their time and talent, the managers and agents who support them, the production teams who work tirelessly to deliver a world-class week of shows, our partners at SJM Concerts, headline sponsor Aldi, the Royal Albert Hall, and of course, the passionate fans who filled the Hall every night.
“These shows are built on generosity, belief and community. The need for our work is growing, and so is our determination to meet it. The continued support of the music and comedy industries remains vital – and we don’t take it for granted. Together, we’re making sure no young person faces cancer alone.”
This is the second year in a row that the gigs have topped the £2 million mark. This year’s total was boosted by almost £500,000 in merchandise sales which have climbed by 394% since the shows were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid.
These shows are built on generosity, belief and community
Jamie Johnson
Kate Collins, chief executive of Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “We are so grateful to everyone who has helped us raise this record-breaking sum for teenagers and young adults with cancer. Cancer is different for teenagers and young adults than it is for children and older adults – and yet they’re often overlooked. This money will help us provide vital care and support to young people when they need it the most.
“In the 25 years since we held our first Teenage Cancer Trust show at the Royal Albert Hall, a lot of things have changed. But one thing that hasn’t is that teenagers and young adults with cancer still need specialist, age-appropriate care to ensure they can hold onto their identity, independence and aspirations in the face of cancer and ensure that they don’t miss out on all the things that makes being young special and unique. We are just as committed to making sure that happens as we have ever been, and the money raised through these gigs will help us make that a reality.”
Rob Ballantine, director at SJM Concerts – Music Week Awards winners in 2025, said: “Following last year’s record-breaking fundraising from the concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust I’m delighted to announce that for the second year running these shows have raised over £2 million for the charity. We at SJM Concerts are indebted to the industry for their unwavering support of these concerts and this charity. Every year we have so many artists, managers and agents step up to assist and put their artists forward.”
He added: “We are thrilled to start the plans for 2026 shows which are being curated by Robert Smith of The Cure. That will bring yet another new and interesting dynamic to the week of gigs and we are enormously grateful to Robert for taking on this challenge.”
In addition to the performances, dozens of young people had the opportunity to take part in the Ultimate Backstage Experience at the Royal Albert Hall, sponsored by Dominos, including a music workshop courtesy of the Royal Albert Hall’s engagement team. There was also an on-stage moment in the spotlight to take a selfie with the 5,000-strong crowd.
James Ainscough, chief executive of the Royal Albert Hall, said: “It’s a great privilege for us to host the Teenage Cancer Trust shows each year. Over the past quarter of a century, artists from Ed Sheeran to Yungblud to Paul McCartney to Florence + The Machine have headlined the Hall in support of this vital cause, funding essential, age-appropriate support for young people with cancer. We’re delighted that this year’s incredible week of shows have raised a further £2 million for this crucial work.”
This year the Night Of Comedy evening returned, hosted by Micky Flanagan and featuring Scott Bennett, Finlay Christie, Romesh Ranganathan, Katherine Ryan, Jack Skipper and Josh Widdicombe.
Although Roger Daltrey stepped back as curator last year, he remains an honorary patron of Teenage Cancer Trust. Curating duties will be taken over in 2026 by The Cure’s Robert Smith and next year’s gigs will take place from March 23 to March 29.
Exclusive autographed artworks from this year's show series are on sale here.
