As one of the most popular and successful boy bands of all time, the Backstreet Boys have performed all over the world throughout their decades-long career. With millions of devoted fans across the globe eagerly awaiting their next tour announcement, many are wondering if the Backstreet Boys will be performing any shows in London, England in the near future.
The Backstreet Boys’ Upcoming Tour Plans
The Backstreet Boys are currently in the midst of their DNA World Tour, which began in May 2019 and is scheduled to continue through 2023. This massive world tour is named after their 2019 album DNA and is taking the band to countries all over North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
According to their official website and tour schedules, the Backstreet Boys have over 70 tour dates lined up for 2023 so far. These include shows scheduled across the United States and Canada, as well as concerts planned in Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Estonia, Finland and Sweden.
However, at this time there are no tour dates or concerts listed for London or anywhere else in the United Kingdom on their current 2023 tour schedule. Their European leg of the tour seems to be focused on central Europe and Scandinavia, bypassing the UK.
Are Any London Shows Planned in the Future?
With no London concerts currently on their tour calendar, are the Backstreet Boys planning any future shows in England’s capital and largest city? Let’s take a look at some possibilities and factors that may determine if and when the legendary boy band could be performing in London next.
No official announcement of any London tour stops have been made by the Backstreet Boys or their management at this time. However, there are a few reasons why fans might still have hope for potential shows in the future:
- They are very popular in the UK – The Backstreet Boys have had huge success and devoted fandom in Britain since the 90s. They’ve had 8 #1 singles in the UK and likely still have a large loyal fanbase eager to see them live.
- They frequently tour Europe – London is a common stop on tours for North American artists. The Backstreet Boys have performed multiple shows there in the past and it seems likely they would return.
- Their tour is ongoing – With over a year left on their massive world tour, there’s plenty of time to potentially add more European dates including UK shows.
The Backstreet Boys also have a history of adding new tour dates sporadically or extending previously planned tours. Until they announce their 2023 tour is completely finalized, there’s always a chance they could surprise fans with London shows sometime within the next year!
Recent Backstreet Boys Concerts in London
While no London tour stops are currently scheduled, the Backstreet Boys have performed in the UK capital frequently over the decades. Here is a look back on some of their recent London concerts:
| Year | Venue | Tour |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The O2 Arena | DNA World Tour |
| 2017 | The O2 Arena | Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life |
| 2014 | The O2 Arena | In a World Like This Tour |
Their 2019 DNA World Tour included two nights at London’s biggest indoor venue, The O2 Arena. They also played multiple dates at this 20,000 seat arena in 2014 and 2017. The Backstreet Boys have proven they can headline massive arena shows in London consistently over the years.
Setlist Expectations for a Potential London Show
If the Backstreet Boys were to announce a surprise London tour date someday soon, what could fans expect from the potential setlist they might perform? Based on recent London shows and their current DNA World Tour setlists, here are some best guesses:
- Hit singles – “I Want It That Way”, “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”, “Larger Than Life”, etc.
- Fan favorites – “Drowning”, “Incomplete”, “More than That”
- Newer songs – “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”, “Chances”, “No Place”
- Ballads – “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely”, “Shape of My Heart”
- Covers & mashups – “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss”, “Water Runs Dry”, “No Diggity”
With nine studio albums and dozens of hits to choose from, the Backstreet Boys have plenty of material to satisfy fans at a hypothetical London concert. The setlist would likely be packed with their biggest 90s/00s smashes mixed with newer tracks from their recent albums, mashups, and covers.
How and When to Get Tickets
If London tour dates are announced in the future, when and where can eager fans get tickets? Here are some tips:
- Check the Backstreet Boys’ official website and signup for their email list to get announcements directly.
- Follow the band’s social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter for tour updates.
- Look out for presales – special early ticket access for fan club members, credit card holders etc.
- Sign up for presale alerts via sites like Ticketmaster UK or Songkick London.
- Be ready when general public tickets go on sale – have accounts created and payment info saved on ticket vendor sites.
- If instantly sold-out, check for ticket resale on sites like Twickets or fan exchange groups.
With their massive popularity, any Backstreet Boys London shows would likely sell out quickly. By signing up for alerts and being ready to pounce on presales and general ticket launches, dedicated fans should have a good chance at getting to see the Backstreet Boys live in London sometime soon!
How Much Would Tickets Cost?
Based on pricing for their recent UK arena shows, here are some estimated price ranges for potential Backstreet Boys concert tickets in London:
| Ticket Type | Estimated Price |
|---|---|
| Upper level seats | £50 – £80 |
| Lower level/floor seats | £80 – £120 |
| Front pit/VIP floor | £120 – £200+ |
Their 2019 O2 Arena shows had an average ticket price of about £83 including fees. Fans can likely expect to pay 80-150 GBP for good floor or lower bowl seats. Front pit, VIP packages, and premium hospitality/box seats would be over £200.
Compared to other big pop acts, Backstreet Boys London concert tickets would be on the affordable side. Superstars like Taylor Swift or Adele have had much higher average UK ticket prices in the £200-300 range!
Where to Stay in London
For fans traveling to London from out of town to see the Backstreet Boys, where are the best places to stay? Here are some recommended hotels conveniently located near The O2 Arena:
- Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum – 4-star hotel with modern rooms and an indoor pool, located right next to the arena.
- Hilton London Canary Wharf – Upscale chain hotel with a fitness center and restaurant, about 2 miles from The O2.
- Premier Inn London Greenwich – Budget hotel chain with clean, simple rooms about 1.5 miles away.
- Holiday Inn Express London-ExCeL – Affordable suites near the ExCel Exhibition Centre and about a 15 minute walk to the arena.
Ideally, look for hotels as close to North Greenwich station as possible for easiest access to/from The O2. Staying near Greenwich or Canary Wharf stations also provides quick light rail access.
Transportation to the Concert
What is the best way for fans to get to a Backstreet Boys concert at The O2 Arena? Here are some top transportation options:
- Tube – Take the Jubilee underground line to North Greenwich station, a 5 minute walk from the arena.
- Emirates Air Line – Take the cable car over the Thames river from Greenwich Peninsula, also 5 mins away.
- Boat – Catch a Thames Clippers ferry to North Greenwich Pier, 2 minutes from The O2.
- Bus – Several buses like the 188 stop right at the arena.
- Car – Drive and park in The O2’s parking garage. Pre-booking spots is recommended.
- Rideshare – Take an Uber, Lyft or taxi directly to venue drop-off/pickup points.
With its location in Southeast London, right on the River Thames, The O2 Arena offers plenty of convenient transportation options for show-goers. Public transit like the Tube or boats are fastest, but driving or rideshares work well too.
Where Else Might They Perform?
If the Backstreet Boys don’t end up scheduling a London show on their current world tour, but do decide to perform somewhere in the UK, what other cities seem likely? Here are some potential options:
- Manchester – A major metro area in Northern England with big arenas like AO Arena and Manchester Arena.
- Birmingham – England’s second largest city also has venues like Resorts World Arena and Utilita Arena Birmingham.
- Glasgow – Scotland’s biggest city has the OVO Hydro arena which hosts major acts.
- Belfast – The SSE Arena in Northern Ireland’s capital has capacity for over 10,000 attendees.
Along with London, Manchester and Birmingham are the Backstreet Boys’ most visited UK cities. But they also have performed previously in Glasgow, Belfast, Leeds, Newcastle and Cardiff on past tours. Really any large metro area could be in consideration if they add more UK dates.
Potential Opening Acts
If the Backstreet Boys were to bring their DNA World Tour to London, which artists might open for them? Here are some possibilities of who could potentially be an opening act:
- New Kids on the Block – Fellow boy band stars also reuniting for recent tours. The two groups have toured together before and draw similar fans.
- Blue – British boy band with harmony-driven pop sound that was hugely popular in the 2000s.
- Five – Another British boy band that came up alongside BSB and had similar dance-pop hits.
- Jessie James Decker – Contemporary country-pop singer who is touring with BSB on their current US dates.
- 98 Degrees – Close contemporaries of BSB with their own recent reunion, could make for a fun “boy band night.”
The Backstreet Boys tend to collaborate frequently with boy bands who were their peers in the 90s/00s pop scene. NKOTB seems like the most likely supporting act in the UK, but they have plenty of options for opening talent if they do finally make their London comeback.
Conclusion
While no London tour stops are currently listed on the Backstreet Boys’ schedule, their ongoing world tour plans still leave hope for possible future shows in England’s capital. With a massive global fanbase eager to relive their classic hits live in concert, it seems likely the legendary boy band will return to play London again soon.
Dedicated British fans should keep an eye out for surprise new dates in 2023 or beyond. By following official announcements and being ready to buy tickets, they’ll have a great chance of seeing AJ, Nick, Brian, Howie and Kevin back on stage in London performing their iconic pop catalog of songs.
